Panel 1
(Alli, the cartoonist, speaking directly to the readers)
Alli: What’s in a name? A lot, actually, and that’s why Facebook’s “real” name policy is a problem. Facebook requires users to use their “real” names or risk having their accounts suspended. If the account is suspended, it can only be restored by sending proof of a “real” name to Facebook and changing the profile to match the “real” name.
Panel 2
(Alli standing next to an image of two Facebook profiles, one real and one malicious.)
Alli: “Real” name policies started to prevent identity theft and to keep people from making malicious fake profiles, an admirable goal, but in practice, these policies do a lot of harm.
Panel 3
(Narrow bar of text with Alli as a floating head)
Alli: Problem Number One: The algorithm is kind of racist
Panel 4
(Alli standing next to a person frowning at their computer)
Alli: Native Americans, African Americans, and other people of color are banned disproportionately because, to Facebook, a “real” name sometimes means “traditionally European.”
Person: Banned? But Running Bear is my name!
Panel 5
(A Narrow bar of text with Alli as a floating head)
Alli: Problem Number Two: Abusive reporting is very common
Panel 6
(Alli gesturing to a person who is making multiple “false profile” reports on their phone)
Alli: Facebook allows users to report “fake” names, which can lead to people reporting other simply to try to force them to conform to their idea of a “real” name.
Panel 7
(A narrow bar of text with Alli as a floating head)
Alli: Problem Number Three: The verification system is flawed
Panel 8
(Alli and another person in line at a fax machine holding documents)
Alli: Each time a user is banned for a “fake” name, they have to re-verify their name, which means reporting is an effective silencing tool. Look, Facebook, we know you track all our data, the least you could do is keep a record of previously verified names.
Person: I just had to do this last month! Why do I have to send them my license again?
Panel 9
(Alli again speaking directly to the readers next to a name-tag that says: “Hello! My name is: Nope!”)
Alli: But those are just the technical issues – worse is that Facebook doesn’t understand why anyone might not want to use their “real” name. I’m a cartoonist, so staying off Facebook isn’t a realistic option because it’s part of my job. I don’t want to use my name for safety reasons, but I use it anyway because I can’t afford the down time from work that is a result of verification issues, which is a pretty bad compromise.
Panel 10
(Narrow bar of text with Alli as a floating head)
Alli: Problem Number Four: “Real” names are often dead names – using a dead name can be a real risk to someone’s job security or physical safety.
Panel 11
(A woman speaking to the readers)
Woman: I can’t afford rent right now, let alone a name change, but outing myself as trans with a dead name will make it harder to find work.
Panel 12
(A man speaking to the readers)
Man: I’m in the process of getting it changed, but it does take a while – until then, I’d rather not risk my transphobic coworkers finding out I’m AFAB.
Panel 13
(Narrow bar of text with Alli as a floating head)
Alli: Problem Number 5: “Real” names can be reminders of trauma – and not everyone who has been traumatized can change their name.
Panel 14
(A man speaking to the readers)
Man: I don’t want my ex’s name, but I’m still broke from the divorce and can’t change it yet.
Panel 15
(A nonbinary teenager speaking to the readers)
Teen: I don’t want my abusive stepdad’s name, but I won’t turn eighteen and be able to change it without permission for three years.
Panel 16
(Narrow bar of text with Alli as a floating head)
Alli: Problem Number Six: “Real” names can be dangerous online – even if you don’t plan on changing your legal name.
Panel 17
(A woman speaking to the readers)
Woman: I wished my uncle a happy birthday – he has a public profile. So that’s how my ex found me, and now he’s threatening me and stalking me again.
Panel 18
(A woman speaking to the readers)
Woman: It turns out my rapist is mutual friends with my professor and saw it when I liked something on her page. He sent a friend request yesterday.
Panel 19
(Narrow bar of text with Alli as a floating head)
Alli: It seems absurd to expect hypervigilance and isolation from people who are already marginalized, so Facebook, it’s time to clean up your act.
Panel 20
(A group of four people hugging and speaking to the readers)
Person one: Include people of color instead of questioning them.
Person two: Protect marginalized groups instead of banning them.
Person three: Believe survivors instead of endangering them.
Person four: Support trans folk instead of outing them.
Panel 21
(Narrow bar of text with Alli as a floating head)
Alli: To learn more about the harm done by “real” name policies and read about the experiences of people effected by those policies, please visit MyNameIsCampaign.Org and keep calling Facebook out for the damage it does.
