Digital identity is the creation and perception of identity in the online world. It includes unique descriptive data and relationship information for individuals and businesses. Online credentials, website design, social media presence, and professional networking contribute to digital identity.
Digital identity refers to the ways and means by which identity is created and perceived in the digital world, i.e. online. Includes unique descriptive data and relationship information. That is, it defines a thing in and of itself and in relation to other things. Both a person and a business can have a digital identity and while a person always has a concrete identity in the world, businesses can have a store identity and establish a digital presence as they establish an online presence to do business online. Alternatively, the digital identity can be the only identity. Barnes & Noble® is an example of the first type of business; Amazon® is an example of the latter.
Digital identity also matters in terms of online credentials. There are many websites for which an individual creates a username and password and, returning to that site at a later time, confirms their identity by entering them again. For businesses, outdated digital certificates issued by a Certificate Authority (CA) play a role in the public key encryption system that enables secure communication over the Internet.
For a company, the digital identity is also created by the URL used, the company logo, the website design, the text and the characteristics of the website. Even the use or non-use of social networks such as Twitter® o Facebook® contributes to a company’s online identity, and the types of exchanges that occur there are also important. Further contributions to online identity occur through a business’ choice to use or not use PayPal®, Google Checkout®, wish lists, and other features that make interactions convenient for customers. Professional networking on sites such as LinkedIn® or XING® further contributes to the formation of the company’s digital identity.
For an individual, online identity is self-expression not only through what is said in tweets, posts, emails, blogs, websites, and other online exchanges, but also through representing oneself by names of accounts, usernames, avatars and display names and with artwork, web designs and photographs that you display or share on your site or sharing sites. Your friends, favourites, followers and those you choose to follow – as well as those you choose to retweet, share or like – all contribute to your digital identity, as does the number of friends or followers you can claim .
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