Social networks – Identity 2.0
While most identity schemas of the 1980s and 1990s were supported in some way by the CA model, the next notable revolution in digital identity was accelerated by social networking sites. Social networking sites function by allowing individuals to publish their social graphs, institutions, hobbies, and beliefs, among other things, publicly. While billions of IDs can be accessed, social network identification has grown in popularity due to its ease of use for SSO and identity reuse. It is referred to as the Identity 2.0 generation.
As the internet evolved, a new wave of invention and connectedness arose, ushering in the internet’s second generation. The emergence of social networks characterized this period, revolutionizing the way individuals interact, exchange information, and engage with one another online. Individuals might utilize social networks to build profiles, connect with friends and family, and exchange material in a more engaging and user-centric manner.
Social networking has its origins in the early 2000s when numerous pioneering platforms arose. Friendster, which debuted in 2002, is widely regarded as the first contemporary social networking service. Users could make profiles, interact with friends, and share updates. However, technological problems and scalability limitations hampered its long-term viability.
In 2004, a Harvard University student named Mark Zuckerberg founded Facebook, a social networking website. Initially confined to Harvard students, Facebook swiftly moved to other colleges before opening to the general public in 2006. Because of its simple design, emphasis on actual identities, and comprehensive privacy safeguards, Facebook has become enormously popular. It transformed the social networking scene and paved the way for the subsequent social media explosion.
Following Facebook’s popularity, several social networking sites arose, each with its own set of features and target demographic. MySpace, which rose to prominence in the mid-2000s, enabled users to customize their accounts with music and themes. LinkedIn focuses on professional networking, connecting people based on their professional interests and achievements. Twitter, a microblogging site, pioneered the idea of sending out brief, real-time messages known as tweets.
People’s online communication and interaction have been transformed by social networks. They provided a platform for people to keep in touch with friends and family even when they were separated by large distances. Real-time interactions and involvement were made possible by features such as private messaging, comments, and likes. Social networks also made it easier to find new connections and common interests, establishing online communities and virtual partnerships.
The capacity for users to generate and share content was a fundamental motivation behind the growth of social networks. Photos, videos, status updates, and blog articles have all become commonplace in online conversations. The advent of the sharing economy, in which individuals could monetize their talents, assets, and knowledge through platforms such as YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok, resulted from this shift toward user-generated content.
Concerns over security and privacy have become increasingly prominent as social networks have gained popularity. There were concerns about the handling and misuse of the large amounts of personal information being shared on these platforms. Social networks came under scrutiny due to issues such as privacy settings, data breaches, and targeted advertising. Regulations were increased as a result of these concerns and greater emphasis was placed on user privacy and consent.
In addition to news and information, social networks have become important sources of information for many users. Sharing news articles, opinions, and personal experiences shaped public discourse and spread information rapidly. In addition, this brought with it challenges such as the spread of misinformation, the creation of filter bubbles, and the manipulation of social networks as political tools. While maintaining an ecosystem of healthy information and upholding freedom of expression, platforms faced increasing pressure to address these issues.
The introduction of smartphones and mobile apps drove the expansion of social networks even further. Users can now access their social media profiles while they were on the road, share information, and communicate with others in real time. Mobile applications added elements such as location tracking, augmented reality filters, and live streaming to social networking experiences, making them more participatory and immersive.
The advent of social networks was a watershed moment in the growth of the internet. These platforms transformed the way people interacted, communicated, and exchanged material on the internet. Social networks provided a platform for self-expression, community building, and knowledge sharing, but they also included privacy, data security, and societal implications. As social networks expand, their impact on how we interact and engage in the digital world remains significant, determining the future of online connectedness and communication.
Building on our study of Identity 2.0 in social networks and its implications for digital identity management, let’s move on to a more sophisticated and safe method of identity verification: biometric identification. In the next section, we’ll look at how biometric technologies such as fingerprint and facial recognition are transforming identity identification and improving security across several platforms.
