Facebook usernames and the battle over your digital identity
The lack of usernames on facebook has been interesting to observe. It makes it easier and friendlier to use. There’s no chance your name is already taken and you end up having to be studman87. Real names make people more accountable for behaviour.
This all works so long as relationships exist solely withing facebook whilst on the web. This isn’t how people behave however. They jump from site to service, across the small pieces loosely joined. For a site to be part of peoples distributed conversations it needs to be pointable. It needs a short clear url that can be shared with friends.
