The Google+ Name Game Continues

theodp writes "'Sticks and stones will break my bones,' the old nursery rhyme goes, 'but names will never hurt me.' Unless, of course, you're on Google+. While touting what it calls a move toward a more inclusive naming policy for Google+, the search giant's Name Policy would still make Sister Aloysius Beauvier smile. Names like 'Doctor Stan Livingston,' 'Bill Smithwick DDS,' and 'Rev. Jim Copley, S. P.' are cited as examples of violations that could cost you your Google+ privileges. And since new Google account users are reportedly now forced to join Google+, one wonders if the Name Policy might even preclude one from establishing one of those adorable dear.sophie.lee or dear.hollie accounts."

Comments

Google Inflating User Amount

[Christopher B. Linn]

I think this news article is much larger news: New Google account users forced to join Google+

So not only is Google inflating the number of users on their social network so they can boast millions of users, they are forcing everyone to make a profile that is public by default. How can you take Google's number of users seriously when you know they are only what they are because Google pulls tricks like this? And surely this is a seriously evil thing to do, too.

I hope your torches and pitchforks aren't nearby, because Google — the Company That Claims It Does No Evil — is doing something that might make you want to reach for 'em. Apparently the search engine giant is now forcing new Google account users to join Google+ and Gmail.

Until now, creating a Google account was quite simple. You could either use an existing email address or create a Gmail account.

The newly redesigned sign-up process for Google accounts now includes fields which ask for your name, gender (required, thanks to Google+) and mobile phone number (optional). Once you've got those fields filled out, you're led to a page which asks you to create your Google profile — better known as your Google+ account.

There is no option to skip this step and avoid the creation of a Google+ account (and a Gmail account), which is something you might want to do if you're interested in using only some other Google services.

Re:Google Inflating User Amount

[dward90]

Going to invalidate my mod points (I already modded you informative) just to give a clarification:

I tested this out myself, and it's true that it takes you to a page to create your google plus account, and does not give you the option to skip. This is terrible design.
However, if you just leave the bloody page, you have a google account without g+.

Re:Google Inflating User Amount

[snotclot]

Are you kidding? Youtube is a drain on money, and is unlikely to replace real entertainment anytime soon (although we can see where they are trying to head).

Google depends and dies on search. They gave Mozilla $300 million just to be not replaced by Bing, although they'd rather everyone use Chrome. And Mozilla just partnered with Twitter and FB on that stupid lame whine video about search results.

I'm not biased towards any one company, although I would like to see the evil that is FB be replaced.

Re:Google Inflating User Amount

[HJED]

Alternatly you set your age on your google account to under 18, the only thing it does is turn off google+

Allow it both ways

[Skapare]

They SHOULD allow titles. But it would make sense to appropriately tag the title apart from the name. There should be a place to enter a prefix title and a suffix title. Then in places where it is appropriate to display a name without title, it can be omitted, and where it is appropriate to display a name with title, it can be included. Searches can be matched both with and without (I know Google knows how to do that).