Registration Screen

[Nebulous's iconNebulous]

Some registration screens on forums ask for way too much personal info. Some ask for your real first/last name, phone number or even your home address (rare, but it happens).

What information do you think is necessary and what do you think is unnecessary during the registration process?

 

[gaze-universe]

On forum registration screenname, email address and birthdate is enough in my opinion. At least I can't think of anything else that would be necessary. Optionally a short description of why you're registering depending on what type of forum it is, only shown to the admin/mods for example.

 

[Jazzy]

Depends on what I am registering for. I have registered for classes using their online registration form. They ask for full name, address, email address and phone number. I would never online give out my full birth date or social security number to anyone.

Registering for a forum, all they really should need is my chosen username, and email address.

 

[.Xstinct]

Phone number? Are they nuts?
Side note: Always makes me laugh women who hide their birth date....it always makes me wonder,am I dealing with a young one or a old one

 

[Nebulous's iconNebulous]

I can't remember what ours asks for, I think its just username and email.

What would we even do with any other information? ...nothing, so no point in asking for it.

 

[gaze-universe]

I think birth date is so you won't let under 13 year old on board without parents consent... I thought there was a law or something about that in the USA?

 

[RidleyMclue]

I can't remember what ours asks for, I think its just username and email.

What would we even do with any other information? ...nothing, so no point in asking for it.

Exactly. Basic information to register on a discussion forum is all that should be required. Anything else is an invasion of privacy.

 

[Bluezone777]

The only things a forum should ask for that are needed are the following

Username
Display name*
Password
e-mail address
DOB

* Some forums offer users a way to have a name be displayed that's different from their log in which allows for multiple people to have the same name as opposed to only one which is helpful when people like using real names that are common as screen names.

I don't see how asking for other information is an invasion of privacy unless they demand it as a prerequisite for joining. I know some have plenty of other things they ask for that aren't mandatory that are stuff that many would have given anyway when they went to fill out their profile such as IM details, location, referral info and the like which I hardly see as being invasive if they don't demand it.

 

[draco99]

When I am presented to put in such info, it kinda puts me off - unless this is a forum which upholds extra security for specific reasons which are understandable. I usually put in fake information for things like this - you can't trust anyone.

 

[Nebulous's iconNebulous]

I usually put in fake information for things like this - you can't trust anyone.

That's what I do too. Sometimes obviously fake information just to see if they'll call me out on it or not.

 

[Evil Eye]

Username, password(, display name). And email's a good idea as well.

I think birth date is so you won't let under 13 year old on board without parents consent... I thought there was a law or something about that in the USA?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Children%27s_Online_Privacy_Protection_Act