This was just changed today and cg didn't make an announcement about it, but I feel like it's a somewhat major change and deserves its own thread instead of being hidden in the change log.

From the change log:

  1. We no longer log previous usernames, since they're personal data. This means you can now change your username to one that was previously used by another user.
  2. Usernames can now be changed every 30 days, instead of once a year. This is done so users can more easily modify their personal data.

After all this time suggesting the limit to be reduced, it finally happened! No more having to wait an entire year to change your username.

I still think the most previous username should be logged for at least 31 days though, if you want to go back to your previous username after changing it and regretting that.

And this confirms (as I already suspected) that your previous usernames were locked to your account in the past (some people claimed this was not true).


Also, I don't know if you guys saw the announcement on SteamTrades, but you can now change your username there (and view your comment history).

6 years ago

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What do you think about these changes?

View Results
I like both of them.
I like only change #1.
I like only change #2.
I dislike both of them.

Still not enough to solve my problem.

6 years ago
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6 years ago
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  1. Change name to Student123
  2. ...
  3. Profit.

usernames (...)are personal data

wtf? This new EU regulation is stupid itself, but the way that cg tries to cover any possible interpretation of it is just overkill.

6 years ago
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Anything that can identify you is personal data. Weird that it took them so long to understand it.

6 years ago
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Anything that can identify you

If I will use my personal data as username - I still can change it. But how can anybody identify you by "pb1" or me "propofolpls". I have something completely different in my ID.

6 years ago
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It's hard to write a script that would distinguish between "identifiable" and "non-identifiable" usernames, therefore it's simpler to treat them as personal data a priori.

I remember a case when some guy shared a disturbing personal story on a forum and he used the same nick as he had in another place on the web. A few hours and one phonecall later, his parents were putting him under psychological observation. Yes, nicknames are very personal data...

6 years ago
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his parents were putting him under psychological observation

Good for him I guess? :D
But seriously - you want to be anonymous? Use onion sites.
You are too lazy to actually care about being anonymous? Don't post anything personal on the internet, especially stories about yourself or your pictures.

And the whole idea of a nickname is to hide your personal info. If you can be identified by your nickname - you are doing it wrong xD
But yeah - people have problem to understand those basic rules. So I guess that you are right here - nicknames indeed can be "personal info".

I have an idea. Because everybody has to log-in with their steam account - remove nicknames here and use steam name instead. In that case steamgifts don't have to log any nicname! And possible problems with protecting "personal data" is now up to valve and their lawyers.

6 years ago
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And the whole idea of a nickname is to hide your personal info.

Only if you plan to do so, not in general.

6 years ago
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True. But if you don't want to hide your info then what's the point in hiding it later? To avoid consequences after writing something controversial?
Changing names. Removing posts. People will start using "print screen" more often :D

6 years ago
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Print screen is useless if you can change your name afterwards :P
And it's not the point of hiding it, or the logic behind it. Laws saying one has the right to do so, so services need to have a system that allows users to hide their info if they want to. Almost (?) every right is being misused by a bad few, in the vast majority of cases this shouldn't cause an issue either.

6 years ago
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Print screen itself is useless but you can also do some steam profile stalking, connect the dots and so on. Then you can use photoshop with your picture made with "print screen" and other gathered informations, post it as "proof" and get suspended for calling out xD But still..

I don't like those new laws at all. People will start to believe that they are safe and anonymous on the internet and that would lead to disaster :D But that's different topic. I just think that cg tries a little bit too hard to fulfil any possible interpretation of those laws. Not everybody can afford army of lawyers I guess ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

But in that case nicknames should be removed at all. Steamgifts would log no personal info at all. Just show steam name.

6 years ago
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Then having any username at all fits that same bill. ;)

6 years ago
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Neither for or against this change. Though, name change abuse must be kept in mind. I hope cg includes a method to keep track who is who despite name changes.

6 years ago
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don't worry usernames are blocked for 1 month, and remember the account is linked to a steam account with unique identification numbers... you can keep track with steamrep for example

6 years ago
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It's part of the evolution...

6 years ago
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i will rename to CG+ muahahahaha

6 years ago
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View attached image.
6 years ago
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I can see the flames coming, but I am fine with both changes although perhaps 1 month is too short a time. Maybe 3 months is better to avoid username "games"-trolling.. As for the second..well it's not as if everyone will be abandoning their name and suddenly an "imposter" would surface to claim it. It may happen but do you really think it's that easy to slip under our users' radars? We have freeking professional "stalkers" here, nothing escapes. No worries! You can fool some people some of the time, but you cannot fool all the people all the time..
Abraham Lincoln.. Bob Marley.. your choice

6 years ago
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6 years ago*
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Meh.
If the changes are made to comply with the updated privacy and personal data regulations, then it's fine. If not, that is also fine :P

6 years ago*
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Closed 3 years ago by rafaelgomesxyz.