Fb takes on Reddit with launch of nicknames for Fb Teams | TechCrunch

Fb Teams are getting extra Reddit-like with newly added help for nicknames. The function, which permits customers to publish underneath a customized username as an alternative of their actual title, gives an alternative choice to posting anonymously. With nameless posting, customers can share with out the publish being related to their Fb profile and real-life identification, however this strategy additionally doesn’t permit different group members to get to know them or their persona, or to comply with their updates over time.

Meta says that nicknames will permit individuals to take part in teams extra personally whereas sustaining privateness, significantly in teams the place customers need privateness however nonetheless need to construct a recognizable presence. It additionally might make Fb Teams perform extra like different web boards and message boards — like Reddit or Discord, as an example — the place individuals publish underneath usernames. This marks a deviation from Fb’s long-standing “real name” coverage, which has insisted that individuals present up on the platform with the title they use in on a regular basis life.

That coverage labored when Fb was largely a social community constructed on high of real-world relationships with household and pals, however the addition of Fb Teams expanded customers’ circles of interactions to incorporate on-line strangers, which necessitated extra privateness protections.

After customers in a bunch set their nickname, they’ll then publish, remark, and react underneath that nickname inside teams that help the function. This enables customers to cover their primary profile and profile photograph from different members however not from group admins, moderators, or Fb’s personal techniques.

Nonetheless, others within the group will be capable of view a consumer’s full publish historical past underneath their nickname in that group, in addition to the feedback and reactions made within the group over the past seven days.

Fb will recommend nicknames to customers, however customers can change this nickname to one in every of their selecting. The title has to adjust to Fb’s Group Requirements and might’t already be utilized by one other group member. The corporate may also recommend a profile image for the nickname, although customers can decide their very own from these obtainable, together with choosing a coloured background.

To entry the function, customers will discover the choice subsequent to “Post anonymously” when making a publish after which select the choice to customise a nickname. The choice to make use of the nickname might be turned off at any time, permitting customers to publish underneath their actual title once more.

Whereas customers can change their nickname, they’ll solely achieve this as soon as each two days. Moreover, altering a nickname doesn’t permit customers to distance themselves from previous posts and feedback. As a substitute, when modified, their new nickname might be utilized to their previous posts, feedback, and reactions, although this may increasingly take time to look throughout units and teams. If customers have completely different nicknames in numerous teams, the title change will solely influence the posts, feedback, and reactions within the group tied to that particular nickname.

The corporate says customers with nicknames can’t use some options like Reside Video, content material sharing, or non-public messaging. Customers can block others by nickname, as properly.

The function is out there globally however requires group admin approval to allow in every group.