this post was submitted on 30 Jul 2023
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Do you mean the same username or different usernames? I may be misunderstanding your point.
That's entirely up to you, it can be the same username if you want. Speaking as an instance admin, there is no problem with users creating multiple accounts across instances, even if they're the same username.
Spam would be creating as many usernames as you can on any given instance (e.g. trying to register 100 users on lemmy.world because reasons) - there's obviously a problem with that. Creating you@instance1, you@instance2 and you@instanceN is perfectly fine.
I thought that you had to have the same username to identify yourself.
There are no requirements, and they wouldn't be enforceable even if somebody tried. The admin of instance1 has no way of knowing that you already have an account on instance2. Your identifiable details (IP address, e-mail address) are private to the instance that you sign up with and it would be a violation of privacy (and inherently scummy) for those to be shared between instances - they're not.
You can be anonymous on the fediverse, just like the Internet in general used to be before Facebook.
I choose not to be. I like to have a clear breadcrumb trail for myself and not confuse people.
I get that, I've been "SoNick" or some variation of it for a few decades now. However, a friend of mine uses different - but thematically similar - usernames for different services, when I asked her about it she explained that as a girl on the internet she has attracted more than a few stalkers; changing up the username makes it harder for them to find her on different services.
That makes sense then.
That's fine too, the short of it is it's entirely up to you.
I personally don't understand why people feel the inclination to pose as multiple accounts under different names. I used to use anonymity as revenge before I learned that it's a way to hide your accountability for things that you may have said or done controversially. I didn't make fake accounts after that. Use your name; claim that responsibility, restore your trust, and move forward. But that's my opinion and may be unpopular.
Pseudonymity has been a thing on the internet for a long time. And while it can be used to “hide from accountability,” as you put it, it can also be used for a lot of other things.
For example, I can use the platform formerly known as Twitter under one account name to follow and interact with nerdy interests, while I can use it with a different username to follow and interact with more mainstream interests. A huge benefit to this is that I can prevent the algorithm from muddying things up (too much, and at least on my end), but also, I get to separate my circles in such a way that it's a lot easier to navigate. It can be argued, however that it's at the expense of having to juggle multiple usernames which makes it way harder, but that's the price I'd gladly pay.
I wouldn't want to go through the trouble. I want people to know who they're talking to.
Yeah, I get that.
I'm just pointing out that there are ways to do that without sacrificing privacy (by using one's real name for example). The way I've personally settled on is through the use of persistent pseudonyms. And that a person might use more than one of those.
Dismissing such behavior (using more than one username to access a site/platform) as “hiding from accountability,” just seems unfair to me.
If there is abuse, impersonation, or whatever wrongdoing committed then let it be dealt with by the mods and admins with the powers they have.
Furthermore, you are free to branch out Lemmy source code, implement the features you think are needed (say, restricting one IP to one username and vice versa), and fire up your own instance using that fork. And if there are many others who share your view on things, then not only you could find others to code the features, you also could find people willing to share admin and other front-facing work with you.
The only times when I have created a fake identity were out of spite or revenge against others which I no longer condone.