What is digital identity?
You can consider your digital identity to be a unique online version of yourself. In the same way that you have a name, a face, and some information about yourself in real life, you have a name and information about yourself on the internet. This online version of you allows websites and applications to recognize your identity when you use them. It’s similar to flashing your ID card when you want to enter a building. Your digital identity may include your email address, username, and maybe a photo of yourself. This allows websites to remember you and protect your information as you buy online, communicate with friends, or play games. Just as you are cautious about your physical identification, you should be cautious about your digital identity as well, so that only the proper individuals may access and use your information.
A digital identity, from an institutional standpoint, is a combination of electronic credentials and information that uniquely identifies an individual or entity in the online world. It’s similar to a virtual ID card that organizations and systems use to verify and connect with online users. Individuals, organizations, and governments frequently develop digital identities, which comprise information such as a login, password, email address, and other personal characteristics. These identities are used to access online services, perform transactions, and participate in numerous internet activities.
When it comes to digital identities, institutional perspectives emphasize the necessity of security and privacy. They are concerned with putting safeguards in place to secure personal information, prevent identity theft, and guarantee that only authorized persons or organizations have access to particular resources and services. According to this viewpoint, a digital identity is an essential instrument for creating trust and responsibility in the digital environment, enabling secure online interactions and transactions while protecting sensitive information.
An institutional view of a person’s digital identity journey refers to the perspective of a firm, government agency, or educational institution as it interacts with and administers individuals’ digital identities through time. This journey includes the many stages and exchanges that occur between the individual and the institution during their partnership. The institutional perspective of a person’s digital identification journey is shown in the following figure:
Figure 1.1 – An institutional view of digital identity
Trust, openness, and data privacy are key components for sustaining a healthy connection between the individual and the organization throughout the journey. Institutions may improve user pleasure, preserve user data, and promote their image by managing digital identities responsibly and offering a smooth and secure experience.
To address these difficulties, governments, organizations, and technology providers must work together to build safe, user-friendly, and privacy-aware digital identification solutions. Striking a balance between ease, security, and privacy will be critical in the future to develop a sustainable and inclusive digital identity ecosystem.
Now that we have covered the fundamentals of what a digital identity is, let’s take a closer look at the evolution of digital identities.
