Facebook Cracking Down on Stage Names for User Profiles

SAN FRANCISCO — Drag personality Sister Roma has stepped up her argument against Facebook, taking to Twitter and letting followers know that "this issue is not going away."

Sister Roma is complaining about Facebook's "real name" policy that requires users to use their real identities on profiles in lieu of any stage names.

This week, Sister Roma said that she complied with Facebook's demands after her account, which she's had since 2008, was suspended by the social network giant.

And, apparently, Sister Roma wasn't alone. According to reports, Facebook has targeted other gay and trans personalities and performers, as well as at least one BDSM performer and director.

“I was automatically logged out and told my account was suspended because it appears that I’m not using my real name,” Sister Roma told the Daily Dot. “I was instructed to log in and forced to change the name on my profile to my legal name, like the one that appears on your drivers license or credit card.”

Sister Roma, who adopted the name 27 years ago,  said she added her name, Michael Williams, on her profile in order to get back into the account. But that's not who she is, she said.

According to Facebook, profile names cannot include symbols, numbers, unusual capitalization, repeating characters, or punctuation characters from multiple languages. Also banished are titles of any kind (e.g., professional, religious), phrases or nicknames in place of a middle name, as well as offensive or suggestive words. Nicknames can only be used if they’re variations on a real name.

Roma complied with Facebook’s demands, changing her profile’s name from Sister Roma to her legal name, Michael Williams.

Another drag personality, Olivia LaGarce, started a Change.org petition addressing the impact of Facebook's "real name" enforcement.

The policy has extended well past drag performers, who have made it be known that they have been disproportionately picked on by the social media giant.

According to a report on ZDNet, BDSM adult performer and director Julie Simone was targeted by Facebook last month over a "real name" violation.

Simone had her Facebook account changed to show her legal name, without advising her, she said.

"So Facebook reinstated my performer account but changed my legal name and had it locked for 30 days so I couldn't change it back," Simone said in a tweet.

Copyright © 2024 Adnet Media. All Rights Reserved. XBIZ is a trademark of Adnet Media.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited.

More News

AEBN Celebrates 25th Anniversary

The Adult Entertainment Broadcast Network (AEBN) is celebrating its 25th year in business this week.

Nebraska Legislature Passes Republican's Age Verification Bill With No Votes Against It

Nebraska’s unicameral legislature has passed the state’s version of the age verification bills being sponsored around the country by anti-porn religious conservative activists.

Performers in Meta Blacklisting Lawsuit Seek to Preserve Antitrust Claims

Adult Performance Artists Guild board officers Alana Evans, Kelly Pierce and Ruby have informed a California court that, although they want to drop their lawsuit claiming that Meta conspired with OnlyFans to blacklist rival premium fan platforms’ talent, they may still have antitrust claims that they may pursue in the future.

FSC, Co-Plaintiffs to Ask US Supreme Court to Review Constitutionality of Texas Age Verification Law

Free Speech Coalition (FSC) and its co-plaintiffs in the challenge to Texas’ controversial age verification law have filed a petition before the United States Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit asking to stay its recent upholding the law because they intend to appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court to review the law’s constitutionality.

FSC Vows to Fight Florida Age Verification Law

Free Speech Coalition (FSC) issued a statement vowing to continue fighting Florida’s age verification law, which was signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday as part of a comprehensive bill targeting minors’ use of social media.

Kansas Republican Aims to Create New Bureaucracy to 'Investigate' Porn Websites

Republican state legislators succeeded Monday in moving forward Kansas’ version of the age verification bills being sponsored around the country by anti-porn religious conservative activists, despite serious concerns raised by House Democrats about the cost of establishing a new bureaucracy tasked with investigating websites for pornographic content.

SK Intertainment Launches 'Skinfluential Management' Agency, FansFuel Joint Venture

Mr. Skin/Mr. Man parent company SK Intertainment has launched new creator agency Skinfluential Management, as well as a new joint venture with Showbizz Media's creator stats and affiliate marketing platform, FansFuel.

Industry Attorney, Free Speech Champion Clyde DeWitt Passes Away at 75

Noted industry attorney Clyde DeWitt passed away on Friday in Las Vegas at 75, according to friends and colleagues.

APClips Names Avery Jane 'Creator of the Month'

APClips has named Avery Jane its Creator of the Month for March.

JustFor.fans Offers Gumroad Users Platform to Sell NSFW Artwork

JustFor.fans (JFF) is offering Gumroad users a platform to sell NSFW artwork after the latter banned adult content.

Show More