Facebook Boots Pseudonymous Blogger, Then Caves to Blogosphere Pressure

Political blogger and humorist Jon Swift isn't too thrilled with Facebook right now. Normally, the pundit would have voiced his ire on his profile, but that's no longer an option. According to Swift's blog, Facebook administrators have deleted his account because it was established under a pseudonym.

The popular social networking site has always prided itself on the authenticity of its users identities. In many ways these policies have been helpful in constructing accurate social graphs, but in the case of Swift (who has named himself after the 18th century political satirist), things seemed to have gone awry.

"Fake accounts are a violation of our Terms of Use," read Facebook's email to Swift. "Facebook requires users to provide their real first and last names. Impersonating anyone or anything is prohibited. Unfortunately, we will not be able to reactivate this account for any reason. This decision is final."

Does anyone else find it odd that something as new and revolutionary as Facebook isn't prepared to cope with a practice as old and studied as satiric writing under a pseudonym? Be sure to check out snippets from Swift's response below.

__UPDATE: __Looks like support from A-list bloggers like Robert Scoble, Dennis Howlett, and Stan Shroeder have softened Facebook's stance. Users creating a group named, "Let Jon Swift Back into Facebook" probably helped too. According to an update on the pseudonymous blogger's site, his account has been reactivated along with an apology from the social networking site. "Since others on the site seem to know you by this name," explained a Facebook staffer to Swift, "and since you don't appear to be using the name to impersonate or to hide your identity, we have determined that you are not violating these Terms. We apologize for any inconvenience this has caused."

From Jon Swift:

"Certainly, I am not the only user of Facebook to use a pseudonym. Are the people who run Facebook familiar at all with the Internet? How many people actually do use their real names on the Internet and are these people able to get real jobs after the human resources department Googles them? And haven't we all been told about the dangers of putting all of our real information on the Internet? Maybe I should just create a new profile under the name "Identity Thief." I wonder how many people who use their real names on Facebook would friend me. Ironically, killing off profiles that didn't use "real names" is what helped Facebook displace Friendster as the social network of choice in the first place. Nothing like following in your old rival's footsteps."

"By banning bloggers who use pseudonyms Facebook has declared war on the blogosphere. More and more bloggers have been using Facebook as a social networking tool, but how useful will it be if so many bloggers will be left out. I know a number of prominent pseudonymous bloggers who still have profiles on Facebook but apparently their days as Facebook members are numbered. I'm not going to rat them out to Facebook's jack-booted thugs, however, even if they threaten to torture me."