Google Play user reviews now show Google+ names and photos

By Dave LeClair
on 27 Nov, 2012

Gone are the days of leaving anonymous review on the Google Play Store. Now, Google’s application store show Google+ profile photos and names on reviews, so no longer can users hide behind some made up user name. Google rolled out a similar feature on YouTube where users could opt to use their real name from Google+ when uploading videos, and now that same feature has arrived on Google Play.

Any review left on Google Play will feature your real name, or at least, the name you used when you signed up for your Google+ account. This should help keep users’ reviews more honest since they are no longer using an anonymous username. It could work the other way, where people reading the reviews might trust them more since they can see the name and photo of the reviewer.

This change applies to both the mobile and browser-based versions of Google Play. This means there is no escape, if you want to leave a review, you will be doing it with a Google+ profile. If you have no left a review since the change went into effect, you will receive a message stating, “From now on, reviews you write will be posted publicly using your Google+ name and picture.”

One last thing to note is that, unlike YouTube, this does not appear to be optional. For people who prefer anonymity online, this is probably not going to make you too happy. However, as long as you are not the type who liked to troll Google Play reviews, this should not be a big deal.

[via SlashGear]

http://twitter.com/chadmd23 chadmd23

I don’t like this. I don’t want my last name showing up on a financial app, and an identity thief knowing exactly where to hack me. They could at least just use an initial for the last name.
- http://silverfang77.tumblr.com/ Silver Fang
  
  Then don’t review the app, or use a sock puppet account to review it.
  - http://www.androidcommunity.com Cory Gunther
    
    still.. where’s the opt out?
- Liaw Kim Poh
  
  don’t like it as well, should be an optional choice. maybe they want me to delete my Google+ account
RandoDude

What protects us from questionable devs? If they can see us, we should be able to see the devs! Terrible double standard.

I typically warn people (via GPS reviews) of apps that have sketchy permissions – like games that want contact book access, or apps that pull “switcheroos” by adding tons of permissions and ads at a latter time (See: Disney).. What’s to keep a dev from harassing a legitimate negative reviewer?

Not to mention, Google has no way of permanently disabling Google+ AFAIK. Accidently clicked a G+ button? You just reactivated your G+ account! Bad move, Google.
Allin

I never had a G+ account, and never will. So I will just never again review an app.