13 replies to this topic

[+Mephistopheles]

Google Begins Practically Begging You to Use Your Real Name on YouTube

Pretty please?

YouTube comments are a notorious cesspool of sexism, racism and vitriol, and the fact that the vast majority of users go by anonymous handles probably doesn’t help mitigate the problem. Google appears to know this all too well–its obsession with keeping Google+ free of pseudonyms is a good indication that the company isn’t a big fan of anonymity.
Now, the search giant is taking its distaste for anonymity to a whole new level, instituting a pop-up dialogue box urging YouTube users to employ their real names.

When you try to comment on a YouTube video, a box will pop up that displays your username as it’s currently seen, along with a side-by-side comparison to what it will look like if you let YouTube pull your name from Google+. You can choose “I don’t want to use my real name,” but that will lead to another dialogue box that basically guilts you into agreeing. If you still insist on remaining anonymous, you have to tell Google why: “My channel is for a show or character” or “My channel name is well-known for other reasons” are two options. “I want to remain anonymous,” is–unsurprisingly–not one.

Google+ integration is a step beyond Google’s move last year that requires all YouTube users to login with a Gmail account. The company is clearly not a fan of anonymous users like “HugeDouche.”

As noble as it may be, this whole concept–first brought to our attention by designer Jim Younkin–kind of misses the point: If people wanted to use their real names on YouTube, they’d just make their names visible on their YouTube channel. Most people don’t do this, and it’s probably because they’d like to remain anonymous.

Of course, forcing people to own their identities can help to elevate the discourse on YouTube videos, which is definitely in dire need of a makeover. But can a community that has relied on anonymity for so long really be convinced otherwise?

We reached out to YouTube to ask when and why they implemented this measure. We’ll update when we hear back.

UPDATE: A YouTube representative got back to us and said they began adding that option to existing users on June 29th, adding, “Note that it is not only for commenting – YouTube users with existing Google+ profiles see this option when they comment or upload a video.”

Source: betabeat.com via Slashdot

[+ViperAFK]

I've also been getting an annoying box that pops up every time I like or comment on a video saying "HEY DID YOU KNOW YOU HAVE A YOUTUBE CHANNEL?"

YES I KNOW, THERE'S LIKE 30 VIDEOS UPLOADED TO IT

[Growled]

Why not require Youtube users to register a Google+ account? Problem solved.

[ThunderBuddy]

Yeah I got that today, I accepted it though since I hated my username

[+Chris123NT]

Good thing my youtube account isn't linked to my google+ account. My youtube is a google apps domain name, and a while back they forced me to seperate my google+ account because it no longer supported business accounts. Heh Heh, joke's on you google

[illegaloperation]

Next up, Google will require you to sign up for Google+ to comment on YouTube videos.

[curme]

I don't want people to know who I am. I use youtube to upload videos of my gaming mods. I don't want random people on forums to know my real name, there are too many creepy trolls out there.

[dead.cell]

curme, on 24 July 2012 - 01:28, said:

I don't want people to know who I am. I use youtube to upload videos of my gaming mods. I don't want random people on forums to know my real name, there are too many creepy trolls out there.

No kidding. There are some ugly people out there...

[theyarecomingforyou]

I opted out of it. I have no interest in connecting my YouTube account with my real name, especially not with all the nutjobs out there.

[migo]

They could just disable comments on YouTube.

Of course their objective isn't to clean up YouTube comments, their objective is to get people to relinquish their anonymity.

[Nashy]

Growled, on 24 July 2012 - 00:43, said:

Why not require Youtube users to register a Google+ account? Problem solved.

That's the dumbest idea ever. I don't want a ****ing G+ account.

[MtnDewCodeRedFreak]

Nashy, on 24 July 2012 - 01:49, said:

That's the dumbest idea ever. I don't want a ****ing G+ account.

Agreed a million percent!

If they force me to say my real name, don't worry my dear. I already prepared a fake name, anyway.

*makes a smartass smirk*

[+Blank]

PalletTown, on 24 July 2012 - 00:46, said:

Yeah I got that today, I accepted it though since I hated my username

same.

[TRC]

If this is their idea to clean up the comments they are failing miserably. Even if they somehow forced you to use your real name it wouldn't matter, people post idiotic and racist things on Twitter and Facebook under their real name all the time. The only way to fix it is to hire moderators and ban accounts that post stuff like that, or improve the ability for the community to remove them. Either that or just get rid of comments.