Filed under: News, Social Software
Facebook allows one-time username changes
- If you haven't claimed your vanity URL, you can do so here.
- If you want to change your username, you can change it here.
Now that some time has passed, I'm sure some people feel like they picked a username that doesn't sound so great anymore. In fact, some people picked terrible names, like the guy who just held down the 'a' key. To address the problem, Facebook is letting users correct their mistakes with one name change per person.
Why did Facebook wait until now to allow name changes? Perhaps the announcement that names would be permanent was a way to deter people from choose stupid names, celebrity names, or trademarked brands. The one-time change serves the same purpose. After the big Facebook land grab when usernames were first introduced, though, users switching now might find their top choices unavailable.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Chuck said 7:31PM on 7-23-2009
I wonder what happens if people legally change their name (marriage)
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honeybee604 said 3:40PM on 7-27-2009
i think that rule is only for your made up username, not your real name. if you change your real name, you should still be able to change it.
Mimzy said 9:21AM on 7-24-2009
If it's technically possible to change a username once, shouldn't it be possible to change it again? Either the Facebook team is trying to teach us all a moral lesson about making wise decisions, or they're just too lazy to allow more username changes.
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WL said 5:58PM on 7-25-2009
will the old user names be available to other users once they have been changed?
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Sandy said 9:08AM on 7-27-2009
Change your name?! Don't go trying to change anything else - FaceBook has NO customer service!! I set up an account for hubby - used it once and then tried to get back into it, the very next day - info did not work - huh? E-mailed FaceBook for help - NEVER got a response!! Waited a couple of days - asked again for help - to cancel the account - NEVER got a response. Understand, it's a "free" program. SO - if you say you're "all that" then you better be. Four years ago a cousin from out of state asked me to do a MySpace page - I kept putting it off. Finally I did it - it's GREAT! MySpace has MANY features that FB does not! MUSIC on your own page is the BIG reason I like MySpace. Plus, on MySpace - I can read messages to ME - not the 700 comments to my friends-friends on the "Wall". MS got a bad rap - from a few stupid people & people did not want to be associated with that 'name'. MySpace is an AWESOME platform for musicians - who want to have online exposure - without the cost of running their own website. FaceBook has NO music. MySpace is more like a personal website - FaceBook is LAME!!! Somehow - all of the "grown-ups" decided they were too "adult" for MySpace and switched to FaceBook - which was set up by "kids" and run (apparently still is) by kids. It was meant to be a "study forum" for college kids - hence the wall... I use it once a week or so to keep up with friends and family from out of state. MySpace is much better!!
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john said 12:13PM on 7-27-2009
I totally agree, my friends say ms is slow and fb is fast..I find the oppisite and the browsing is better along with the music..
Bret said 2:30PM on 7-27-2009
I "love" it when "people" use "quotes" around every "word" they think is "clever" and/or "needs quotes"; "whatever" "they" may be. Face Book is "free". That "usually" means that "customer service" will be somewhat "non-existent". Have a "great" day.
Violet said 9:49AM on 7-27-2009
I use Xanga. It's WAAY better than MySpace and facebook combined.
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julie said 10:02AM on 7-27-2009
I'm sorry not all people can be pleased at one time. I personally LOVE Facebook. I don't worry about persons I don't know wanting to be my friend. I am focusing on friendships that made me the person I am today. Going all the way back to early childhood, Jr and High School, the neighborhood I grew up in, as well as friends of today.
So you may prefer "myspace", but there is no need to bash Facebook. Enjoy yourself, do what you want, what makes you happy, but don't try to corrupt someone elses day with your opinion.
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Jon Baay said 10:48AM on 7-27-2009
Amen to that
Sekinu2 said 11:40AM on 7-27-2009
Only old people use facebook anyways so who cares
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Steph said 11:54AM on 7-27-2009
I hope Myspace decides to do this too (it always seems they are trying to do whatever facebook is doing anyway). My username/URL is pretty stupid. I'll blame it on being 16 at the time haha.
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LuLu said 1:17PM on 7-27-2009
MySpace already has usernames
Nimrod Yaffle said 12:05PM on 7-27-2009
mmmbacon will forever be mine!!
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fredricktilman said 12:04PM on 7-28-2009
There should be at least two screen name changes because of the need to have a secure site and to make any required adjustment when moving from one location to another. Thank you for this opportunity to speak.
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mspms101 said 9:11PM on 7-27-2009
cant get on
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LuLu said 1:13PM on 7-27-2009
this is old news
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LuLu said 1:15PM on 7-27-2009
Steph ---Myspace has had usernames for years.
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Carol said 7:10PM on 7-27-2009
well i deleted facebook been trying to get it back and it wont let me i even went to other screenname why cant i get it back and says i cant?
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