What is a digital identity?

Digital identity is a trendy yet vague concept. It can be defined as an individual’s or group’s appearance and footprint in the web-based or online realm, including how one utilizes digital tools and engages in such surroundings. Digital identity is displayed in the posts shared on online platforms, in the form of tweets, portfolios, and blogs, among many others (University of Derby, 2016). Through such posts, the public—like an organization- perceives an individual’s personality and can use this digital identity to make decisions regarding the person or group.

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

There are a few key ways in which professional and personal approaches to digital individuality can impact the utilization of social media. First, suppose someone is using social media primarily for personal reasons. In that case, they may be more likely to share information that is not work-related or inappropriate for a professional context. This can lead to problems if the person’s employer has strict policies about what can and cannot be shared on social media. Second, people using social media for professional reasons may be more likely to carefully curate their online presence, from how they present themselves to the types of content they share (Spracklen, 2015). This can lead to a more polished and professional online persona, which can benefit networking and a positive reputation. Finally, people employing social platforms for personal reasons might be more likely to interact with friends and family. In contrast, people using social media for professional reasons may be more likely to interact with colleagues, clients, or customers. This can affect the types of interactions people have on social media and the types of relationships they develop.

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

Digital identities are the online identities that people use to represent themselves in the digital world. These identities can be in the form of a username, an avatar, or even just a profile picture. In recent years, these identities have converged in networked publics. This means people use the same digital identity across multiple platforms, such as social media, email, and online banking.

There are several benefits to this convergence of digital identities. First, it makes it easier for people to keep track of their online presence. Second, it allows people to build a more consistent and cohesive online persona. Third, it can help people connect with others with similar interests. Finally, it can make it easier for people to find and communicate with friends and family online. There are also some potential impacts of this convergence of digital identities. First, it could make people feel they must present a particular image of themselves online. Second, it could make people feel they have to share more personal information than they are comfortable with (Mahboob et al., 2019). Third, it could lead to people being more easily tracked and monitored online. Finally, it could make people more susceptible to identity theft and other online crimes. Overall, the convergence of digital identities in networked publics has benefits and potential impacts. People must be aware of both when creating and using their online identities.