Digital identity and reputation - The power of Twitter verification

Digital identity and reputation is back in the spotlight following the false report Australian music superstar Gotye had killed himself and his defence ‘I’m not dead’ from his verified Twitter account.

The report of Gotye’s death on CNN was made by a fraudulent member of the news channel’s social network team and became a worldwide headline in a matter of hours, forcing the artist to deny the rumours. Although the story was quickly removed and apologies made, the story highlights the vulnerabilities of online identity. 

Trust online 

That Gotye used his verified Twitter account to dispel the rumour shows this is widely trusted as validation of identity - we believe that Gotye is really behind his Twitter handle.

And while it has to be said that the official blue verified tick badge on a profile is usually a good indication that the Twitter account is operated by that person, or an agent on their behalf, there are many cases of Twitter accounts being wrongly verified.

Twitter’s verification process is unclear and the selection of accounts to be verified seems confined to celebrities and public figures. There’s still no way for the general user to get Twitter verified so how do the rest of us protect our online identity.

Owning and protecting online identity

Monitoring and managing your reputation online is vital for everyone in this digital age.

This month we’re focusing on professional reputation as we increasingly use social networks to further our careers, grow your own businesses and connect and collaborate online.

Earlier in the week we blogged about a case of mistaken identity that left Luke Judge fighting for his reputation. What this and now the Goyte story tells us is that we all need more ways to be able to prove and protect our real identities online.

This is where we think miiCard fits, by allowing individuals to assert their true identities across the web, on their social networks, email, anywhere they need to create a high level of trust online.

This month we are encouraging people use their miiCard to prove their identities and build trust in their networks. We are also running a series of tips to help you take control of your professional reputation online.