The Race for Facebook Usernames

Saturday, June at 12:01 AM, Facebook users will be able to choose custom usernames for their pages. For the first time, everyday users will be able to brand the url of their pages in the same manner as corporate entities. The obvious benefit of this, is that it makes it easier to pass along your information with a name that is easier to remember than the current id number system.

The drawback this social networking giant faces is the same one posed to just about any e-mail company that gains popularity: Names are available on a first come, first served basis. This can be frustrating to people with common first and last names, like “Joe Smith” or “Bob Jones.” These folks might want to log in at midnight on the dot, and cross their fingers for luck.

For people with uncommon names, I doubt that they will have anything to worry about. Never before has it been more beneficial to have parents who just decided to make up some crazy name for their child. For example, my friend O.J. (not THAT O.J.) told me about a woman who named her daughter “La-a”(pronounced La-DASH-Aa).

If you laugh, the terrorists win.

I doubt La-a will have any problems getting her own name on Facebook, even if she waits 12 years to sign up. The other problem with this system is that it is certain that some people will choose the most ridiculous and offensive names possible, just because that’s what a large number of people do on the internet when given absolute freedom of expression!

All name issues and silly attempts at username humor aside, this should be a convenient way to keep tabs on your Facebook account, and let people know where you are without making them do a search for your name and sort through the results.