User:DoctorWho42/Facebook real-name policy controversy

Facebook real-name policy controversy refers to the controversy over social networking site Facebook ' s real-name system with how people register user profiles.

Background
The social networking site Facebook has maintained the real-name system policy for user profiles. According to Facebook, the real-name policy stems from the position "that way, you always know who you're connecting with. This helps keep our community safe." Likewise per this policy, a "real name" is defined by "The name you use should be your real name as it would be listed on your credit card, driver's license or student ID."

However, Facebook's real-name system does not reflect adopted names or pseudonyms used by the LGBT community.

A user via the anonymous Android and iOS app Secret began reporting "fake names" which caused user profiles to be suspended or deleted, specifically targeting the stage names of drag queens.

On October 1, 2014, Chris Cox, Chief Product Officer at Facebook, offered an apology: "In the two weeks since the real-name policy issues surfaced, we've had the chance to hear from many of you in these communities and understand the policy more clearly as you experience it. We've also come to understand how painful this has been. We owe you a better service and a better experience using Facebook, and we're going to fix the way this policy gets handled so everyone affected here can go back to using Facebook as you were."

Reaction
Seattle drag performer Olivia LaGarce started a Change.org online petition titled "Allow performers to use their stage names on their Facebook accounts!".