If you are an avid commenter on YouTube, you may have noticed some changes in the last few days. When attempting to comment on a video, having logged in, the global video-sharing site will now prompt you to use your full name.
It may come as good news for those of you who are sick of the distasteful (and sometimes very strange) anonymous comments on the site, but bad news for the footloose and fancy-free trolls out there.
This new feature means that users who now try to upload videos or post comments will be prompted to use their full names associated with their Google+ accounts.
The switch is by no means compulsory. If users decline, though, they must choose an explanation, including “My channel is for a show or character,” “My Channel is for a music artist or group,” “I’m not sure, I’ll decide later,” and a few other selections.
Time will tell whether this push for real identities will help improve discussions on YouTube.
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SÃle Cleary is a regular contributor to Toronto Standard. Follow her on Twitter at @silecleary.
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