IMDb has worked with GLAAD and many other organizations in the film, television and media industry to update its policies and products.
Through the standard or free IMDbPro membership plans, entertainment industry professionals can now choose whether to self-submit and/or verify their age/birth year, birth name, alternate names, and other demographic fields and decide whether to display this information on the IMDb and/or IMDbPro websites and apps. These product and policy updates are part of an ongoing commitment from IMDb to support progress towards more equitable hiring in the entertainment industry, and align with the IMDb mission to be the most accurate and complete source of entertainment information.
In addition to GLAAD, the collaboration features many leading organizations specializing in anti-bias, bullying prevention, and diversity, equity, and inclusion, including ADA Lead On Productions, ADL (the Anti-Defamation League), CAPE (Coalition of Asian Pacifics in Entertainment), Easterseals Southern California Disability Services, EIN SOF Communications, IllumiNative, Lights! Camera! Access!, Mulberry Tree Group, Muslim Public Affairs Council Hollywood Bureau, NAACP Hollywood Bureau, The National Association of Latino Independent Producers (NALIP), Outfest, ReFrame, SAG-AFTRA, Dr. Stacy L. Smith, Brenda Robinson, and Dr. Katherine Pieper (USC Annenberg Inclusion Initiative), and WIF (Women In Film).
Those who have IMDbPro memberships have been able to decide whether or not their age/birth year is displayed on IMDbPro for more than a decase, but this marks the first time they can choose whether their age/birth year is displayed on the IMDb website and apps for entertainment fans and general consumers. For IMDbPro members who choose not to show their age/birth year, the month and date of their birth will continue to display. On-screen talent can also choose whether to self-submit an age-playing range to display on their IMDbPro name page and in IMDbPro search results to help casting directors, producers, and other industry decision-makers who rely on IMDbPro as part of the talent discovery process.
Since 2019, IMDb has also enabled professionals to decide whether to display their birth name (in instances where it differs from their professional or chosen name) on their IMDb and IMDbPro name pages by contacting customer support. The new policy and updates make it easier with a more convenient self- service tool for IMDbPro members to decide whether or not to display their birth name and any alternate names by which they have been credited on IMDbPro and IMDb name and title pages and in search results.
“The significant updates we are announcing today reflect our continuing commitment to being the most accurate and comprehensive source of information about movies, TV shows, talent, and entertainment industry professionals,” said Col Needham, founder and CEO of IMDb. “As trusted sources for entertainment fans and industry decision-makers to discover talent from all backgrounds, IMDb and IMDbPro are uniquely positioned to help support and accelerate progress towards a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive entertainment industry. We are profoundly grateful to GLAAD, SAG-AFTRA, and other leading organizations for collaborating with us to support their communities and champion more inclusive discovery and hiring throughout the entertainment industry. By working closely with these groups, listening to our customers, and advancing our products and policies to empower entertainment industry professionals to self-identify and verify information about themselves and their careers—with the aim of helping industry decision-makers discover and hire them—we believe we are best supporting all IMDb customers and the entertainment industry overall.”
“GLAAD knows that it’s crucial for LGBTQ professionals working in entertainment to authentically represent themselves, and the product and policy advancements IMDb is announcing today illustrate their commitment to supporting the entertainment industry’s evolution towards greater inclusion,” said Nick Adams, vice president of the GLAAD Media Institute. “We are proud to have worked closely with IMDb on these important updates.”
Read the full announcement here.