• What is a digital identity?

Digital identity refers to information on computer systemsā€™ entities whose role is representing external agents. The concept relates to an individualā€™s presence online, including the aspects they post and share.

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

Personal approaches to digital identity prompt individuals to post content that distinguishes them from other people based on, among other factors, qualities and beliefs. On the other hand, professional digital identity approaches lead to online interactions that depict an individualā€™s professional self-concept (Jawed). The two approachesā€™ effect on social media use is profiles and posts that depict a mix of personal and professional identity. Users also experience a challenge in balancing between personal and professional posts.

  • How do digital identities converge in networked publics ā€“ what are the impacts and/or benefits?

Digital identities converge in the networked public through crucial selves. The selves introduce approaches in social media norms, hence impacting individual identities. Some selves are the performative, public self, quantified/ articulated self, and participatory self.Ā 

An impact of the networked public is assessing the transformation of relationships social and cultural shifts created by technologies. A benefit of the networked public is proposing technologies to trigger desired relationship transformations in culture, politics, and infrastructure. A digital wallet can provide trust in the networked public because a merchant does not see a holderā€™s card number.

  • Can a digital wallet provide trust in networked publics?

Privacy is essential in digital identity as it ensures that an audience accesses the only information that a user intends them to access. On the other hand, security would protect digital users from being tracked by malicious persons. One example would be the digital wallet. The platforms agency that will secure the user’s information and credit data. A company such as Alipay allows people to connect their bank account to the app and make payment through the online wallet, the company operates more than 65 financial institutions to provide payment service from their platforms and other businesses. Similarly, security would prevent an individualā€™s account from misuse by attackers. The sense of agency assures users that they control their actions on online platforms. Essential matters for communities to attain digital identityā€™s accountability would be security. In this context, Alibaba ensures only legitimate users access accounts. Consequently, it would be easy for authorities to track rogue users and minimize unwarranted conduct.Ā 

References

Jawed, Saira, Usman Mahboob, and Rahila Yasmeen. “Digital Professional Identity: Dear Internet! Who Am I?”Ā Education for Health (Abingdon, England), vol. 32, no. 1, 2019, pp. 33-35.

Spracklen Karl.Ā  ā€œIdentity-Making and Social Media.ā€ In: Digital Leisure, the Internet and Popular Culture. Leisure Studies in a Global Eraļ¼ˆPalgrave Macmillan, London). https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137405876_6

Davos (2019), Press Conference ā€œThe Value of Digital Identity for the Global Economy and Societyā€ Available at:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-V7lyxrOmw&feature=youtu.beĀ uploaded by World Economic Forum on 5th Feb 2019.