On digital identity

I want to discuss the topic of digital identity in future posts. Let me introduce a couple of thoughts here.

In particular, I want to discuss “identity politics” in the Web 2.0 age. I don’t mean the traditional definition of identity politics. I define “identity politics” in the context of Web 2.0 in terms of the way in which an individual’s identity is portrayed across multiple and different media and how that individual chooses to portray that identity.

The issue of digital identity is important, both in terms of the way in which multiple identities can so easily be promulgated, but also in terms of how multiple digital authentications could be simplified by a single digital identity. Thus, on the one hand we have the issue of multiple identities and how they aggregate for an individual, and on the other hand, we have the need to create a single and authenticated digital identity to work within the Web 2.0 space more efficiently and effectively.

Taking up the latter point, I recommend this podcast by Dick Hardt, called “Identity 2.0″.