You can now nickname your Google + profile

When Google + first opened its virtual doors last year, many people rushed in out of curiosity to see what this “Facebook killer” was all about. Accounts were created, features were tested and, obviously, the criticism beast was fed. Among many of the problems found by those people (and by newcomers that kept signing into the social network) there was one in particular that upset most of them: the impossibility to use nicknames and pseudonyms.

Although it may seem as a minor thing, people see social networks as a place to express themselves as an affirmation of their identity. That’s what sharing their thoughts, interests and photos is all about. And having a name, be it a real or an adopted one, is a big deal for identities. That’s why many users were turned off by this limitation and decided to shut the door for good.

But, apparently, Google was listening all along, taking notes of what bothered the users and in the months after its release, some of the most criticized flaws were address. Except for this one. However, the company was working on the subject (and, as they say, it’s still are) and today it announced (via Google +, of course) that they’ll be taking the first step to keep everyone happy.

The remedy for all issues?

But before you get all excited, this doesn’t mean that you’ll be able to rename yourself to something like “Papa Drinker” or anything as silly, you should now that the new nickname system has certain restrictions.

According to Bradley Horowitz, VP of product at Google +, the social network will “be adding support for alternate names – be they nicknames, birth names, or names in another script – alongside your common name.” This means that you can be named John “Papa Drinker” Smith or John Smith (Papa Drinker) but not “Papa Drinker” alone.

Additionally, and if you happen to be an artist or a renowned person that goes by a pseudonym (Maddona or Prince, for example), you have the possibility to appear that way in Google +.

However, Google requires you to provide evidence that you are who you claim you are by giving them “references to an established identity offline”, “scanned official documentation” or “proof of an established identity online with a meaningful following.” This basically means that only famous get the special treat.

The new feature will be unveiled some point next week and you’ll be able to complete it via the Edit Profile option. It’s nice to see Google trying to please the users while addressing their concerns, but this late addition makes one wonder whether prohibiting it from the get go was the right move. Well, now the damage is done and we’ll have to see if this is really, as Horowitz claims, the remedy for the majority of these issues.