I’ve recently suggested that Second Life Should Cut The Facebook Cord due to the fact that Facebook is not Second Life avatar friendly. Back in July I suggested that Linden Lab Should Embrace Google+. This was based on the fact that Google + had changed their naming policy to one where people can now use any name they like. Prior to that Google + required you to use a name you were known as, which did allow Second Life avatars to have a presence of sorts, but was still a grey area. There’s no real grey area with Facebook, they want people to use their real name only for accounts.
A good way for Linden Lab to encourage people to embrace the better fit of Google + would be for them to include their Google + page in their connect with us or follow us sections on their website. The Google + page isn’t as popular as the official Facebook page but has had over 4 million views, which is none too shabby.
However like Second Life in virtual world terms, Facebook is where it’s at in terms of social networking. Personally I’m not a fan, I mean I’m really really not a fan. However I do have a Facebook Page. Why do I have a Facebook page? Well because it’s not a breach of Facebook’s terms of service to do so, whereas using my Second Life name as a Facebook account is a breach of the Facebook TOS.
Many Second Life users have tried to use Facebook under their Second Life name and many have found themselves having their accounts deleted, due to that TOS breach. So if you absolutely must use Facebook with your Second Life name, then create a Facebook page for your avatar.
Now Facebook pages do not have all the features of a full Facebook account, if you want the full kit and caboodle of a Facebook account then you should use your real name, plenty of people are happy to do so. However if you want to avoid the pain of having your Facebook account removed, a page is the safer way to go.
Pages allow you to share links, post pictures etc. so they are not completely nerfed. There is also the option to convert your personal profile to a page :
Why should I convert my personal account to a Facebook Page?
It’s against the Facebook Terms to use your personal account to represent something other than yourself (ex: your business). If you’re using your account to represent something other than yourself, you could permanently lose access to your account if you don’t convert it to a Page.
Whereas I’d much prefer Linden Lab and Second Life to embrace the much more avatar friendly Google +, I appreciate that they are unlikely to. Google + really is a far better fit and allows people who social network in Second Life to extend that to Google + using the names people know them as in Second Life. I mean really, this is just so much more sensible.
However Facebook remains the weapon of choice and of course there are some nifty features for Second Life use with Facebook (and other social networks) such as SL Share. However if you watch the video I’m going to embed on that feature you may come to realise why Facebook really isn’t a good fit for Second Life social networking. Facebook should be reserved for Second Life promotion.
One Reply to “Second Life Avatars Should Create Facebook Pages”