Quote from: Nethaera (Source)
We'd like to make you aware of the new Real ID-related privacy options we've introduced to Battle.net. These options provide Real ID users with additional tools for customizing the service based on their preferences, enabling the ability to opt in or out of the Real ID "Friends of Friends" and "Add Facebook Friends" features or to turn off Real ID altogether.
Real ID offers an optional, convenient way for keeping in touch with real-world friends you know and trust, whether they're playing World of Warcraft, StarCraft II, or one of our future games. The "Friends of Friends" and "Add Facebook Friends" features provide you with even more options to stay connected while you play by making it easier for real-life friends to locate each other on Battle.net. You can easily enable or disable these features through your Battle.net privacy settings by logging in to your Battle.net account at http://www.battle.net/.
This comes as a well wished change to the Battle.net privacy settings. I've always been somewhere in the middle on this issue. I understand both sides of the argument that it can be a great tool, but also an unwelcome security risk. I haven't been affected negatively by the Real ID change but I do have friends who have struggled with it. From wanting the new features like cross realm chat to unfortunately getting hammered with requests from people they don't know through friend of friends.
It's one thing to ask, "Do you trust your friends?" but another to ask, "Do you trust your friends' friends?". Now the easy solution in the past was to just ignore all requests, or turn off Real ID completely making you unable to experience the new features with your true friends. Blizzard has met demands from the community to be able to use the Real ID system without worry and has given the community the ability to control their own privacy and security regarding Real ID. Whether you thought it should have been included at the get-go or that "Hell it's about time..."-(Tychus Findlay) at least it's here.
- You can find these new features under
- Account
- Settings
- Communication Settings
