Posted on 09/19/2016 4:50:24 PM PDT by digger48
SAN FRANCISCO (CNNMoney) — Donald Trump fans are learning that fake names don’t fly on Facebook.
The social media company is forcing users who include “deplorable” in their profile names to change them because it violates Facebook’s Terms of Service.
Some Trump supporters have embraced the moniker after Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton said “you can put half of Trump supporters into what I call the basket of deplorables.” Clinton’s comments last week criticized Trump and his supporters for their bigotry, specifically citing racism, sexism, and homophobia.
Facebook’s community standards require people to use their real names, and if Facebook suspects an account is violating these terms, users must provide documentation, like a driver’s license, to confirm their identity. Facebook users can report others for violating the community standards.
Facebook has previously faced scrutiny for its real names policy. Some advocates, especially within the LGBT community, say the policy is discriminatory and potentially harmful to people who use pseudonyms. In late 2015, Facebook implemented changes to how people report fake names, and provided new options for people to claim and verify their identities.
If a user does not change his or her name or provide documentation confirming their identity, the account becomes inactive and the user loses access.
According to a Facebook spokesperson, “real names” are the identity friends and family know you by. If it’s different from the name on your ID or birth certificate, additional forms of verification can include a magazine subscription or library card.
Facebook declined to give any information regarding how many people have been reported for changing their name to include “deplorable,” but a Facebook search turned up hundreds of accounts using it. The news was first reported by the blog LawNewz.com.
Trump supporter Philip Zito said he changed his name to include “deplorable” on Tuesday or Wednesday of last week, and was contacted by Facebook about it on Saturday. On Monday, he said Facebook “asked nicely” if he would agree to change his name back.
“I changed it in solidarity with the rational people that pay attention to public affairs and would crawl over broken glass to vote against Hillary Clinton,” he said, adding that he agreed to change his name so that he wouldn’t be suspended. “The unsettling aspect of this is [Facebook’s] similarity to a public utility and what appears to be an attempt to control speech.”
Some Trump supporters have said they will quit Facebook in response.
Only for climate. Journals & USDA
Sorry....
I've zero use for facebook.
I don’t use the facebook but could they use schmaschmorables?
Facebook allowed users to include “Hussein” in their names in 2012, and other liberal causes since then
Well Facebook is selective on how it enforces this rule. People have used Whodat (a New Orleans Saints thing) as middle names for years on facebook.
Highlight facebook’s hypocrisy and report them. I would but my usual response to anything about facebook is, “What’s facebook”?
No Facebook here either. Ever.
Free Republic articles and astute commentary is plenty for me.
Bless this site.
Is this really the hill we want to make a stand on? Facebook is not a utility, it’s a private company. By joining, members agree to abide by the terms of service — which do indeed include using your real name. Yeah, I know, they’re selective in enforcing their rules. Life’s not fair.
And do we really want to have to deal with the liberals crying “censorship” if they signed up on FR, spouted off pro-Hillary stuff, and got zotted? If we can do it to the people we disagree with, so can they.
Well, part of the hill I’m willing to make a stand on is NO FACEBOOK.
Oh golly. Maybe it will be harder to keep in touch with people I haven’t seen in 30 years...but if I haven’t seen them in 30 years, why in the heck do I care?
I won't be doing that since many of the people that are doing this are old friends.
They should try setting up a group page and call the group Les Deplorables.
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