Facebook began offering vanity URLs last week. Unnoticed by many Facebook users their URLs were actually a strange mix of geeky numbers, i.e. www.facebook.com/profile?php.id=98765432. But now Facebook, much like twitter will allow its users to customize their URLs with whatever name they choose.
For me this is another interesting diversion from the clear identity base that Facebook was founded on. Initially, Facebook was restricted to users with a .edu address. Because of this, the majority of people on Facebook used their actual names. This trend of using ones actual name to some degree has continued inspite of Facebook no longer requiring the .edu address. With the advent of Facebook vanity URLs I wonder if Facebook will head in the direction of other online social networking sites with users hiding behind aliases.
I actually thought it was a strength and a distinguishing factor that Facebook users identify themselves by their actual names. It adds a measure of accountability to users actions online.
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