If you have logged into your Youtube account during the last week you may have noticed that Youtube has tried to get you to change your alias to your real name. So why are they doing this?
Ever had nasty comments put on your Youtube video? Well, we have and possible more than 90% of other videos have too. So Youtube is pushing for users to use their real names when commenting on videos. I am guess there is hope that this will stop the abuse that seems to be dished out on the most popular video site on the Internet. Everything from racial attacks to knocking one's beliefs and even more rarely death threats has been the way on Youtube has operated since its conception in the late 90’s
Personally, I think this is a good and bad thing, because if someone does have to leave their real name on a video, and it is not something that someone agrees with it could be easier to for someone to make threats a reality. On the other hand, it could also stop the negative comment in the beginning.
I am all for freedom of speech but sometimes comments on Youtube are just pointless and are only there to provoke fights, so if someone has got something to say maybe hiding behind names like Nikelove452 or whatever is pretty gutless, especially if it is something controversial. People are less likely to spam as well when using a real name.
Integration of Youtube into Google+ is another obvious tactic for pushing for real names, as it will be easier for the company to suggest a Google+ account if the user isn’t already using one.