What’s in a (User)name?

In a sea of faceless, voiceless human beings across the internet – one thing we are not is nameless. Instead of Chase, you might know me as BieberFan302 (for the record, you don’t). In this case, I’ve chosen to represent myself in a way that is more specific than my own real name would allow – “Hey, nice to meet you. More than anything else in my life I want to be associated with the Beebs at all times on the internet.”

Please, love me for who I am.

This identity is very important to me, even more important than my avatar because it says a lot more than what a blue hat could tell you. Now, as obsessed as I am with how I choose to represent myself online, you can only imagine how image conscious kids approach the situation.

The idea of anonymity on the web is somewhat of a misnomer. Though real names are rarely given out, the youth community online is comprised of strong personalities and those wishing to develop strong personalities. A report issued earlier this year stated that the number one desire of tweens is fame. As disconcerting as that conclusion might be, it says a lot about how reputation-conscious children approach their online personas.

They will carry their username across the web to different communities they join. In one week they can be an elf, mage, teen heartthrob, robot, dolphin and socialite… but no matter what, they are always “BieberFan302.” For good or for worse.

Now, this can be hard for an online operator who wants to develop an online community but doesn’t want to login to see PoopedMyself3214 running around the main area of their game. Or worse, a child with their real name as a username.

The upside to this is there are several cost-effective remedies to approaching the problem, and we’ve worked very closely with our clients to help implement them.

Usernames are to games and virtual worlds what profile pictures are to social networks. It is the most outward-facing representation of how we wish to be perceived by others. Without our usernames, we’re just another number – faceless and generic. If I’m not allowed to let the world know what an undying fan of Justin Bieber I am well, what’s the point?

-Chase Straight