Your neighbor tells you that they don’t have an online identity. They have no social media accounts and only use the Internet to browse. Is your neighbor right?
- Yes
- No
The correct answer is No.
Despite not having social media accounts or actively participating in online communities, your neighbor still has an online identity. An online identity extends far beyond having accounts on social media platforms; it encompasses any data about a person that is stored or shared across the internet, whether the individual directly creates it or not. Here’s an in-depth exploration of why this is the case and how online identities work, along with their implications.
1. What Constitutes an Online Identity?
An online identity is a collection of information and digital footprints that represent an individual on the internet. It can be built through direct actions such as creating accounts, posting content, or interacting on websites. However, it also includes indirect actions such as cookies tracking your browsing habits, purchasing history on e-commerce websites, or even government databases containing your digital records. In simple terms, an online identity refers to how one is perceived digitally, which includes a broad array of activities beyond social media accounts.
2. Browsing the Internet Leaves a Trace
When your neighbor browses the web, even without having social media profiles, their actions still leave behind identifiable information. This information often takes the form of IP addresses, cookies, browsing histories, search engine queries, and more. Websites, advertisers, and third-party trackers often collect this data to understand user behavior. Every click or page view contributes to this digital footprint, which can be aggregated and associated with an individual.
For instance, when your neighbor visits a website, the website logs their visit, often collecting data such as the IP address, which can approximate the user’s location, the type of browser used, the device, and even screen size. All these elements, when combined, create a unique profile that can be attributed to a specific individual. This is often referred to as “passive data collection.”
3. The Role of IP Addresses
One of the primary pieces of data that forms a part of someone’s online identity is their IP address. An IP address is like a digital return address for your device, allowing it to send and receive information online. Even without signing up for websites or social media platforms, every time your neighbor uses the internet, their IP address is logged by the websites they visit.
Though an IP address alone may not pinpoint someone’s exact identity, it can reveal the user’s general location and is often enough to build a profile about them when combined with other data. Additionally, internet service providers (ISPs) keep records of which IP addresses are assigned to their customers, meaning an individual can still be tied back to their digital activities if necessary.
4. Cookies and Tracking
Websites often use cookies to track visitors and store data about them, such as their preferences, login statuses, and browsing habits. Cookies are small files stored on the user’s device that help websites identify users during repeat visits. Your neighbor may unknowingly build a digital profile through these cookies as websites gather information about their interests, habits, and browsing behaviors.
Many advertising networks use third-party cookies to track users across multiple websites, creating a more comprehensive profile of the individual. Even if your neighbor never engages with social media, advertisers may still know a great deal about their online behavior, interests, and activities based on the websites they visit.
5. Data Brokers and Third-Party Trackers
Data brokers are companies that specialize in collecting and selling data about individuals. They gather information from various online and offline sources, including web browsing data, public records, and customer loyalty programs. If your neighbor has ever purchased something online or signed up for a newsletter, their data may have been collected by these brokers. Even if your neighbor is not on social media, their email address, phone number, or purchasing habits might still be available to advertisers and third-party trackers.
These data brokers compile profiles from disparate sources to create a detailed view of an individual’s interests, shopping behaviors, financial history, and more. Often, people are unaware of the extent of the data that is collected about them.
6. Public Records and Government Databases
Even if your neighbor avoids social media and online shopping, there are likely other entities that hold their data, which contributes to their online identity. Governments, for example, maintain digital databases of various personal records such as birth certificates, tax information, and vehicle registrations. This data can sometimes be accessed online through public records or freedom of information requests.
For instance, if your neighbor has ever registered to vote, paid taxes, or obtained a driver’s license, this information is likely stored digitally. In many cases, elements of this information can be publicly accessible, meaning that your neighbor has a digital identity tied to these records, even if they aren’t using social media platforms.
7. Search Engines and Web Searches
Whenever your neighbor uses a search engine like Google, Bing, or DuckDuckGo, their search queries are logged by the search engine. Search engines track which keywords were searched for, what links were clicked, and the user’s browsing history. Over time, search engines build profiles to improve search results and personalize experiences. Even seemingly innocuous searches can reveal a lot about a person’s interests, habits, and intentions.
This data can then be used to show personalized ads or suggest related content. Search engines are also notorious for storing historical data, which means that even if your neighbor does not actively use other platforms, they are still contributing to their online identity through searches alone.
8. Digital Interactions via Email and Online Services
If your neighbor uses email, that also contributes to their online identity. Email service providers store and analyze email data, including the content of messages, the sender, the recipient, and any attachments. Many websites require email addresses to sign up for services, newsletters, or online shopping, contributing to an individual’s digital identity.
Additionally, service providers like Gmail or Outlook are often connected to other online platforms, which means that user data can be cross-referenced to create a more complete online profile. Even using email without social media creates a traceable identity.
9. Online Identity and Privacy Concerns
Given the vast amount of data collected, people often don’t realize how much of their personal information is accessible or how it contributes to their online identity. Privacy advocates often stress the importance of controlling what data is shared online, even for those who do not have active social media accounts. With online privacy concerns growing, tools like virtual private networks (VPNs), privacy-conscious browsers (such as Brave or Firefox), and incognito browsing modes have become more popular to minimize digital footprints.
However, these tools do not completely erase someone’s digital identity. Even with stringent privacy measures, every interaction with the internet leaves some trace behind. The challenge is not avoiding an online identity but managing it.
Conclusion
In conclusion, even if your neighbor doesn’t have a social media presence and only browses the internet, they still have an online identity. This identity is created through passive data collection, browsing histories, cookies, IP addresses, email usage, search engine queries, and more. An online identity is an unavoidable aspect of using the internet in any capacity, and managing it responsibly is important for protecting personal privacy and security.