Social networking giant Facebook seems to be joining the Aadhaar bandwagon with its new feature for those signing up.

Facebook is testing a new feature asking users to enter their name according to their Aadhaar card to create an account on the social networking website. The move comes as a bid to encourage users to use their real names on the social media website.

While the option is has not yet been rolled out fully, it is available for selected users on a trial base in India, say reports. It aims to curb fake accounts and make Facebook a more safe and secure platform.

Only a small percentage of users who access Facebook on mobile are currently seeing the prompt. As the spokesperson mentions, it is not mandatory to use the name as per Aadhaar, just a prompt for users. Facebook, of course, wants you to use your real name, and this is just one way to encourage said use.

When a person tries to create an account on Facebook, they get a message saying, "What's your name? Using the name on your Aadhaar card makes it easier for friends to recognise you."

A Facebook spokesperson quoted by Hindustan Times said that it is a small test where they provide additional language when people sign up for an account to say that using the name on their Aadhaar card makes it easier for friends to recognise them. The spokesperson said that it is an optional prompt which they are testing.