The Facebook “Gamer” Report Button Is Real, But It’s Not What You Think

Well, technically it’s real, but it’s not some kind of dystopian crackdown on people who play video games participating in society. Images floating around of an option to report accounts for being “gamers” haven’t been doctored, but don’t take them out of context.

It’s likely the inclusion on a complaint list right underneath harassment that is causing some people to have a knee-jerk reaction to the term “gamer,” but this option has actually existed on Facebook for a while with legitimate reason. The option only exists after you’ve already begun a report for an account that is not actually a real person.

Facebook has been very strict with its “real name” account policy, which has problems of its own, but in this instance, it’s just to keep every Facebook account tied to a real person.

After you choose to report an account for Facebook misconduct, this is what you’ll see:

If you choose, “This is a fake account,” that’s when the following dialogue pops up:

Can’t wait to explain why I reported my wife’s Facebook when she gets home.

The “gamer” option is for fake accounts that have been created for the sole purpose of playing Facebook games and using multiple accounts for in-game bonuses. It’s been there for a long time, and it’s not an across-the-board discriminatory action towards gamers.

It’s also not a way to report “fake gamer girls.” Sorry, disappointed misogynists.

With tensions running so high surrounding the word gamer, it might just be better if Facebook found a word to better explain the option so people don’t get so confused.

(via The Daily Dot)

Previously in Facebook

• A 113-year-old woman lied about her age on Facebook, because technology is great
• Facebook wants to help with your healthcare woes
• They’ve apologized for treating transgender users unfairly, too

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Dan Van Winkle

Dan Van Winkle (he) is an editor and manager who has been working in digital media since 2013, first at now-defunct Geekosystem (RIP), and then at The Mary Sue starting in 2014, specializing in gaming, science, and technology. Outside of his professional experience, he has been active in video game modding and development as a hobby for many years. He lives in North Carolina with Lisa Brown (his wife) and Liz Lemon (their dog), both of whom are the best, and you will regret challenging him at Smash Bros.

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