Image via CrunchBase
Two weeks ago, I wrote about Google's decision to link
Despite that, well, it's safe to say, the switch didn't go well. Yesterday, CNET reported:
When asked about the complaints, Google said to CNET that the company is "working hard" to fix the problems "quickly," including those involving spam and abuse.
"We've already made a number of changes in the last 24 hours to reduce spammy comments and bad links, and we have more fixes coming soon."
Proof the backlash is largely legit. But concerns about "the inability to weigh in on videos anonymously or even have a separate (and completely innocuous) online persona," as USA Today put it, are not completed founded.
It's not that hard to switch back to your YouTube account name, but it gets complicated once you want to comment. Here's how it goes:
1) Click on your account settings on the front page.
2) Directly below your Google+ name, you will see "Return to [YouTube username] and disconnect Google+ profile.
3) Google will confirm this is what you want.
Simple enough, but then you might want to comment on a video.
4) When you click on the comment box, a dialog appears.
5) If you choose, "I don't want to use my full name," then you are presented with a series of choices that include the channels you are currently connected to on YouTube as well as option to choose a better name or go back to Google+. The obvious choice is to keep your YouTube username, but ...
6) When you choose your YouTube username, you agree to create another Google+ page. So, yeah, it's a little like the Godfather that way and how that affects commenting down the road is still a question worth keeping open.
