[Marazan]

Realnames stopped influencers who didn't use their Realnames from signing up.

If you didn't have contact with either marginalised groups who as a matter of survival didn't use their real name or ancient extremely online people who for the entirety of their internet experience had been known as a handle it wouldn't have crossed your radar.

But it was a huge thing.

[cannonedhamster]

The irony here is that no one in this comment chain is using their real name, which proves the point that there are indeed chilling effects on speech when you could be punished for a simple difference of opinion. Real names is what made me drop g+. If I want to publish something as me, I don't want another platform controlling that for me. I absolutely concur with your comment that for the people this was big for, it was huge. For the rest of the population there was no compelling reason to switch.

[skinnymuch]

That’s because HN culture isn’t to use real names or post too much in your description. Hell thats the only public thing you get. One description box. HN not using real names means nothing. They essentially and culturally have pushed that through.