Who are you online? An insight into digital identity

Our lives are shifting more and more to online, which is leading to a new dimension of identity – the digital identity. Every click, every post, every like further shapes this facet of us. In today’s digital era, digital identity goes far beyond just a username and profile picture. It is a complex construct made up of the numerous data points we generate online and reflects who we are or want to be.

Put simply, digital identity comprises all the information you leave online. For example, when you buy online or interact on social media. Every piece of information you share online is another building block of your digital identity.

Serious consequences

In today’s society, a digital identity may be as significant as a physical one. And it harbours both opportunities and risks: a well-maintained digital identity can open doors – professionally and privately. However, neglecting or mismanaging digital identity can lead to serious consequences, including identity theft and damage to your reputation.

Everything is becoming digital

We live in a world in which most aspects of our lives are led at least partly online. From communication and work to shopping, and even the most basic things such as our health records – everything is becoming digital.

In the series of articles on “digital identity”, we delve deeper into this topic. We want to give you helpful tips and tricks on the subject of digitisation. In the articles to come we will deal with the following topics, among others:

• How do you identify and prevent digital data theft?
• Electronic patient files: what are they and why are they important?
• Digital move: how do you relocate your online life?
• The digital legacy: what happens to my online presence if I die?

First steps for protecting your digital identity

• Create strong passwords and update them regularly.
• Be sure to only share your personal information on secure websites.
• Regularly check your online presence for unwanted or incorrect information.
• Be careful what you share on social media. Always remember that the Internet never forgets.

Your digital identity is valuable – protect it as best you can.

Note: This article is the start of a series. It serves as an overview and introduction to the topic. In future posts, we will look at specific themes to do with digital identity in more detail.