Attach Your Name to Everything

All my social media accounts, my usernames, everything — use my real name: Shouryan Nikam, or some variation of it.

I understood very early that everything online is permanent, and can be traced back to you. There are countless examples of high-profile figures using alternate emails or usernames and still getting caught.

Using your real name allows you to build an online brand that you can be proud of. Here is Perplexity’s “Deep Research” about me. I stand by everything it found about me. AI is seriously glazing me there, and I’d be happy to send that link to anyone I’d like to impress.

Using your real name means you have nothing to hide. This is freedom. Using your real name means you always think twice about what you post online. There is no chance you would post something disrespectful or hateful if it can be traced back to you. In a way, it might help you be a better person. You won’t be caught browsing embarrassing content on Reddit either. The world would melt over if everyone’s Reddit accounts were tied back to their real names.

Being named is freedom. The same way discipline is freedom. It reduces the number of choices you have to make, the amount of thinking you have to do. The choices are already made for you. It makes life simpler.

Attach your name to everything. Do so with pride. If you are not proud to attach your name, your work is shoddy. Your choices are poor. Your name is your brand. Your seal of approval and quality. Use it!