This only sparked increased discussion about the value of pseudonymity. When the community reacted with outrage, Google Plus leaders tried to calm the anger by detailing their “new and improved” mechanism to enforce “real names” (without killing off accounts).

At first, Google Plus went on a deleting spree, killing off accounts that violated its policy. Everyone’s abuzz with the “nymwars,” mostly in response to Google Plus’ decision to enforce its “real names” policy.