Facebook has always had a existent names policy, where you concur that your profile proper name is "the name [y'all] go by in everyday life." Manifestly, you tin type in a fake proper noun, and you lot may go away with it for a while. But it isn't allowed, and it can cause you problem.

Facebook's Real Name Policy

The unabridged foundation of Facebook is that it'south a site where real people interact with each other without hiding backside anonymous usernames and blank avatars. Information technology'southward why, despite Facebook's many problems, they've never had the same level of abuse and trolling that Twitter and Reddit become. People still fight and debate about annihilation and everything, but at to the lowest degree they know that information technology'due south their racist uncle they're fighting with, and non SpottyTeenager64.

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Facebook's existent name policy is a big part of the reason they have a successful and profitable advertising business concern, while Twitter and Reddit struggle. Advertisers want to exist able to target real people based on actual information nigh them; serving ads to anonymous users just isn't any where near as efficient.

Facebook is pretty clear on what counts every bit a real name. Information technology should exist "the proper name that your friends telephone call you in everyday life" and it should "also announced on [an official] ID." Facebook even has a listing of acceptable ID types, which includes things like passports and driving licences. Basically, if it's not the name the authorities knows you by, information technology's probably not going to fly with Facebook.

At that place are besides a couple of other rules your name must bide by. It can't include:

  • Symbols, numbers, weird capitalization, and the like.
  • A mix of characters from different languages.
  • A title like Medico or Father.
  • Words that aren't your proper name; for example, I couldn't take "Majestic Harry Guinness" as mine, no affair how much I wanted it.
  • Offensive or suggestive words.
This definitely wouldn't arrive past Facebook'south proper name review team.

You are allowed nicknames, if they're "a variation of your authentic name." The name on my birth certificate isn't Harry, but Harry is a common affectionate form of information technology.

Can You Use a Fake Name on Facebook?

Past now it should be pretty clear that Facebook really doesn't like people using fake names, to the betoken that, if they suspect you are using ane they'll lock you out of your business relationship and crave you lot to ship them a photograph of your official ID to confirm that "Justin Pot" or "Cameron Summerson" or whatever other makey-upy name you've come up up with is what your parents named yous.

However, Facebook has over 2 billion active monthly users. That is a hell of a lot of people to police. Presumably, since Facebook loves algorithms, they utilize some automatic tools to flag accounts that they call back are using imitation names. For example, if you change your name to something drastically different or add together common dictionary words, it's probably going to be reviewed by a human. Just if you just change your surname, or perhaps go past your middle name instead, at that place is a good chance you'll be able to get away with it. Certainly, I know plenty of people who've used believable fake names for years without any outcome.

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On the other hand, we really can't recommend you use a fake proper name. Non only does it violate Facebook'due south Terms of Service, simply information technology also makes the social network more abrasive for everyone, including y'all. While anyone who knows me is likely to accept a friend request from "Harry Guinness," there'south a good hazard they'll ignore "Garry Budweiser." Similarly, when someone goes looking for your profile to transport you a message, tag you in something, or just transport you a friend asking, they won't be able to notice you lot.

RELATED: How to Gear up a Facebook Page

If the reason you lot want to utilize a pseudonym is that it's a stage or professional name, Facebook already has other options available. They recommend y'all ready up a Facebook Page using your real account. You can then invite all your friends to similar the page and handle anything related to your other persona through information technology.

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