One of the websites I administer has had an active user registration and log in for a long time, which was mostly used to confirm users and send merchandise. So far, there has been no user to user interaction where the users' profile would have been exposed to other users. For this reason, users so far registered without a nickname and with only their contact information.
This site now gets an upgrade where users can comment on other users' generated content, thus requiring a nickname for at least those users, that upload content.
So far the implementation steps in consideration have been:
- new users register with a nickname
- existing users can pick a nickname in their profiles, but are not forced to do so
- users without a nickname uploading content get prompted to pick a nickname in the upload process
How or what other processes would you suggest in this scenario?
Should all users be prompted to register a nickname?
Should it be a concern that quick users might grab desired nicknames?
Should the website suggest nicknames based on the users first name and DoB, for instance like: *Would you like to register John_75 as your nickname?*