Usernames and Display Names

Robo-Andrei

IDs + Username Recycling

There should be a way to not refer to account by username: IDs. Unique unrecyclable numeric codes assigned to every account. This way, you can recycle usernames.

Display Names + Changeable Usernames

I think usernames should be changeable, but for a price (virtual proprietary currency, not real money). I also think you should add display names, which should be changeable as well. Usernames should be changeable once per month and display names once per week. But how will you find your favorite Scratchers? Add an option to search by username.

CodeComet6161

9.1 Changing usernames or changing display names
If a user could change their username (or even set a certain “nickname” or “display name”), this could be very confusing for the Scratch community, especially for those following that user. In addition, this would make moderation of the website more difficult because it would be harder for the Scratch Team to keep an eye on what a user may be doing. The Scratch Team has allowed username changes only on very rare occasions, such as if the username contains personal information or causes gender dysphoria. Generally, the Scratch Team does not change usernames on request (including for reasons such as “I do not like my current username anymore”).

9.5 Recycle usernames or delete inactive accounts
The only potential benefit to these suggestions is that Scratchers could reuse usernames. However, this is problematic in several ways. Deleting inactive accounts might mean that the user's projects get deleted, which would be extremely unfortunate should they decide to return to Scratch. Even if the account is already deleted, someone may attempt to impersonate the deleted user with the new username. In addition, there are reasons that the Scratch Team may need to refer back to the deleted account.

However, deleting accounts with absolutely no activity since account creation is NOT rejected. (Note, however, that some accounts may have had activity even if it doesn't look like they do.) You can discuss it on this topic.

cookedasparagus8

CodeComet6161 wrote:
9.1 Changing usernames or changing display names
If a user could change their username (or even set a certain “nickname” or “display name”), this could be very confusing for the Scratch community, especially for those following that user. In addition, this would make moderation of the website more difficult because it would be harder for the Scratch Team to keep an eye on what a user may be doing. The Scratch Team has allowed username changes only on very rare occasions, such as if the username contains personal information or causes gender dysphoria. Generally, the Scratch Team does not change usernames on request (including for reasons such as “I do not like my current username anymore”).
9.5 Recycle usernames or delete inactive accounts
The only potential benefit to these suggestions is that Scratchers could reuse usernames. However, this is problematic in several ways. Deleting inactive accounts might mean that the user's projects get deleted, which would be extremely unfortunate should they decide to return to Scratch. Even if the account is already deleted, someone may attempt to impersonate the deleted user with the new username. In addition, there are reasons that the Scratch Team may need to refer back to the deleted account.

However, deleting accounts with absolutely no activity since account creation is NOT rejected. (Note, however, that some accounts may have had activity even if it doesn't look like they do.) You can discuss it on this topic.

By the way, this is from The Official List of Rejected Suggestions

Robo-Andrei

Did you guys read the whole post?

eikh2

Robo-Andrei wrote:
Did you guys read the whole post?

They are rejected suggestions.

Robo-Andrei

eikh2 wrote:
Robo-Andrei wrote:
Did you guys read the whole post?
They are rejected suggestions.

I don't justify. Every other platform allows username changes, but not Scratch.

Last edited by Robo-Andrei (Jan. 20, 2026 15:39:53)

hydrofungus

Robo-Andrei wrote:
eikh2 wrote:
Robo-Andrei wrote:
Did you guys read the whole post?
They are rejected suggestions.

I don't justify. Every other platform allows username changes, but not Scratch.

yeah but scratch aint adding them unless you give a suitable solution, like mine here

Quantum-Cat

Robo-Andrei wrote:
(#6)
eikh2 wrote:
Robo-Andrei wrote:
Did you guys read the whole post?
They are rejected suggestions.

I don't justify. Every other platform allows username changes, but not Scratch.

Not really. Many platforms have high restrictions on how frequent the changes can be made (e.g. only x changes over the lifetime of an account).
Ignore this ^

Last edited by Quantum-Cat (Jan. 20, 2026 16:16:04)

7heGame

As referred to by previous posts, most of this is rejected.
However, IDs actually do exist, and are just very invisible. The username system is better for finding users, and more convenient for all scratchers.

cheddargirl

Robo-Andrei wrote:
eikh2 wrote:
Robo-Andrei wrote:
Did you guys read the whole post?
They are rejected suggestions.

I don't justify. Every other platform allows username changes, but not Scratch.

I wouldn't say that's quite true. An older system might not allow for username changes if the design was built in with permanent usernames in mind. Scratch (which is going to be two decades old next year!) is one of those older sites - the profile URL is attached to usernames, comment replies are attached to username, so allowing for usernames to change easily will break those links. Which is not good especially if you're trying to draw in an audience offsite to come to Scratch and are not on top of all those username changes. And search engines like Google or Bing would certainly not know of username changes to correct their engine results content accordingly! :yikes:

Hence why we don't allow for username changes except in exigent circumstances. The engineering overhaul to allow for accounts to be trackable when a username changes is pretty large, and might not really be worth it with the way things are right now.

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