IB Digital Society 2.3A Defining Identity in Digital Society Notes

2.3A Defining Identity in Digital Society

Identity as a Concept

1. Identity is one of the seven concepts: the lens for how digital systems shape who we are, as individuals, groups, and communities.
2. Identity is the set of qualities, beliefs, values, and characteristics that make a person recognisable and distinct, including obvious labels (age, nationality) and quieter things (what you care about, how you speak).
3. Works at three levels at once: individual (own traits, beliefs), group (shared with others of the same interests or goals), community (collective values and cultural norms). Sharing a song can express all three at once.
4. Identity is not fixed: it shifts with context and how others see you (a job interview vs close friends, not dishonest). Digital systems constantly change your context and audience and record signals about you at unmatched scale.

Digital Identity: Your Online Representation

1. Digital identity = the online version of you, assembled from your profiles, posts, and the trail of data you leave. It stands in for you without being the person behind it.
2. Built three ways at once: constructed by your activity (post, like, follow, search); stored, often permanently, on company servers you never see; influenced by the platforms, which decide what is shown, in what format, and to whom.
3. Forms whether you intend it or not: even choosing not to post is a readable signal.
4. Most people run several digital identities (roughly one per platform) that rarely line up; keeping the slices apart is constant, active effort.