Before the net, community was found at your local centre, restaurants, clubs, and schools. People gathered together to make connections with one another, building a social network. Now the meaning of digital identity is ever-evolving. A digital identity can be described as your digital footprint. How are you perceived online by content you have created, shared, posted and reposted? How can you verify you are who you say you are? 

What is a digital identity?

A digital identity is your online presence and how you are perceived online. Your digital footprint is how you showcase what you create, write, design, and who you are. It can almost be viewed as a ‘pre-interview’ with future employers or new friends (Stoller 2017). This includes profiles on social media platforms such as Instagram, Snapchat, Tiktok, VSCO and LinkedIn. Each picture, follower and comment can be viewed as an impression of your identity. Additionally, both professional and personal pages make up our digital identities.

How do personal versus professional approaches to digital identity affect social media use?

Stoller notes that digital identities can be both a positive and negative image for future employers. We have seen the consequences that poor jokes or party images have had on someone’s career. Yet, we have also seen the overwhelmingly positive impact that a story, image or idea has boosted success. Even more so, with the recent popularity of TikTok, the ‘rags to riches’ storyline of influencers sharing their passions on social media have transformed career paths and created completely new ones. The question becomes, how do you balance personal versus professional approaches to digital identity? I’d like to personally share my unique approach to this question as my passions and career have collided into one. As a business student studying digital marketing, I am very present online. I currently work with companies and individuals to create digital identities for brands, creating video/digital content for social media platforms. I view my digital identity, much as Stoller points out, as a showcase of my work. My profiles on Instagram and Tiktok highlight my personal image, including images of my passions in fashion, lifestyle and more. This is an indicator of my work and my understanding of social media marketing. Additionally, I include my personal achievements, friendships and relationships on these platforms. Whereas my LinkedIn strictly remains professional, sharing only my academic and professional achievements. Because both of these remain visible to future employers, I must constantly ask myself ‘what impression will this give to someone who doesn’t know me?’ This has influenced the transparency or authenticity of my digital identity and how I use social media overall.

How do digital identities converge in networked publics – what are the impacts and/or benefits?

Every moment you spend online is tracked and analyzed, as the world continues to shift online, governments and commerce need a creative solution to this problem. What about your economical digital identity? With the appearance of constant transparency comes the risk of privacy and identity fraud. The 2019 Davos conference highlighted several innovative approaches several countries have taken to this problem. How to confirm the legitimacy of identification online? Estonia introduced a secure digital ID for its citizens. You are able to bank, register government documents, sign official contracts and refill prescriptions digitally. Providing efficacy, security and participation in the online economy. (Davos 2019) This benefit is also challenged the by risks of privacy. How can our private data remain private?

References:

Spracklen, K. (2015). Identity-Making and Social Media. In: Digital Leisure, the Internet and Popular Culture. Leisure Studies in a Global Era. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137405876_6

University of Derby. (2016, November 25). Eric Stoller – What is Digital Identity? [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-V7lyxrOmw

World Economic Forum. (2019, February 5). Davos 2019 – Press Conference The Value of Digital Identity for the Global Economy and Society [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-V7lyxrOmw