[IxDA Discuss] email address as username

[Navneet Nair]

>  5 reasons not to use email for login
>
> http://blog.publicsquarehq.com/view/5_reasons_not_t
>


It does seem that each of the reasons cited by Lars against using
emails can equally be used against usernames.

1. People have more than one usernames, how can you remember which one
you have used for this site?
2. Validating emails is an important part of most registration
processes (whether you use emails or usernames for authentication is
irrelevant)
3. People change emails, so just give them the opportunity to change
the email address they use to log in; what is the big deal there?
4. I believe a user name has more constraints, as Jed points out,
availability of your usual username is so difficult in most cases,
especially if you have a very common name.
5. Display names are different from the email address which is used to
validate the identity. The display name can be common for users who
all wish to be called RockStar###. We have ways in the real world to
differentiate between people who have the same first name and last
name, a well designed social application should also have the same
affordances built in, and relying on a unique username is a lame
workaround to bad design.

Overall there are just my opinions, and I'm sure going by the
'excuses' put forward, Lars has not validated his claims either. Is
there any data available from studies on this?

Regards
Navneet


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Navneet Nair
Interaction Architect
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