The digital individual

Abstract

This paper discusses the concepts of virtual self and the digital individual as social entities that have real‐world implications. It examines how individuals use communication with others through face‐to‐face and digital channels to form images of themselves. The social nature of digital information is emphasized and examples of social objects within the digital realm are described. The criterion of engagement is suggested as a test for whether or not a virtual self is a social entity. The paper concludes with a discussion of how the digital individual might replace traditional forms of computerized identification.