What Is A Digital Identity?

Digital identity is defined by referring to an individual’s personality from what pictures they post, what they like, and what they post for the public (Jawed, Et al, 2019). Essentially, the way someone presents themselves on the internet like social media. People have full control in how they would want to be perceived by the public, you can easily put on a facade and hide the true you because you are behind a screen and you are not interacting with people in person. This is why people always say don’t believe everything you see online because it can be fake. However, when you create your digital identity it is now a searchable online “footprint”, meaning when a future employer searches up your name on the internet, they can come across your digital identity, so it is important to think before you post because it is now a part of your footprint (Stoller, 2016).

 

How Do Personal VS Professional Approaches to Digital Identity Affect Social Media Use?

A personal approach to social media would be posts related to your life and directed more towards your interests. You would post you interests, friends, and family on a personal account and you are less filtered. Whereas a professional approach like LinkedIn only pertains to your career. Your profile consists of you background like education and your professional experience. The purpose is to connect with employers and colleagues to expand your connections and be able to find opportunities. I like to think as LinkedIn as a virtual resume because that is what is being portrayed to public. However, you can have professional approaches on other social media too like Instagram, you can make a page for your business and include information that only pertains or relates to what your company does.

 

How Do Digital Identities Converge in Networked Publics – What Are They Impacts And/or Benefits?

Networked publics have an impact on you choose to present you digital identity. This also relates to how external forces around us like our environment can have an impact on our identity. For instance, if you want a more professional and put together presence on the internet you may be more filtered and think things through more than compared to your actual identity. However, you would attract like-minded people based on what you portray creating new connections that you would not have had prior. Now more than ever people are more connected than they once were and that is due to social media.

 

Can A Digital Wallet Provide Trust in Networked Publics?

A digital wallet example is like PayPal or Apple Pay which can be used to make purchases. People enjoy digital wallets because it provides convenience, if you just so happen to forget your wallet or lose it but have your phone on hand, you can still have access to your wallet. However, if an instance occurred where you lost your phone and someone else got their hands on your phone, they would most likely need the passcode, fingerprint ID, or face ID to gain full access. If you were to compare this scenario to a tangible lost wallet with actual credit cards, those security points are non-existent. The person who stole the wallet does not need to enter a passcode, fingerprint ID, or face ID; they have immediate access. I believe in a day and age where everything is already being tracked online, a digital wallet is no different. However, there should be laws or policies in place to make sure there are no data or privacy breaches to protect individuals using digital wallets.

 

References:

Jawed, Saira, et al. “Digital Professional Identity: Dear Internet! Who Am I?” Education for Health (Abingdon, England), vol. 32, no. 1, Jan. 2019, pp. 33–35. EBSCOhost, doi:10.4103/efh.EfH_232_17.

Stoller, Eric. “What is digital Identity.” Youtube, uploaded by University of Derby, 25 11 2016, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u0RryRbJza0