Review

A review of the application of digital identity in the Metaverse

¹ School of Journalism and Communication, Communication University of Zhejiang, Hangzhou, 310018, China
² School of Art and Design, Nanjing University of Finance and Economics, Nanjing, 210000, China

^* Corresponding authors (email: zhechuanwsw@163.com (Siwen Wang); wangweicaida@163.com (Wei Wang))

Received: 8 November 2022
Revised: 20 March 2023
Accepted: 30 April 2023

Abstract

The development of the internet has immensely expanded people’s social scope, which has necessitated the utilization of digital identity. In regard to social networks, the utilization of anonymity or pseudonyms increases the attractiveness of the network. Nevertheless, because online payments, online transactions, and online assets are becoming prevalent features, virtualization is gradually exhibiting highly negative impacts. With respect to the Metaverse, digital identity is potentially a key factor, which can influence the balance that affects the association between anonymity and pseudonyms. To enhance the contemporary scenario and to facilitate the potential utilization of digital identity, this study considers the application of digital identity in the Metaverse, and it utilizes the “Enterprise IA” miniature model (Morey et al.). With regard to the current debate on digital identity, we analyzed the most prominent topic; thus, we explored the application rules pertaining to digital identity. We propose that the Metaverse is primarily characterized by its ability to digitalize the physical world. Furthermore, with respect to digital identity, the power of ownership still represents the fundamental issue. Using technologies such as blockchain and privacy filters, we can not only alter the governance logic and methods, but we can also balance the correlation between private rights and public interests. Thus, to solve the burgeoning identity trust crisis, individual competition for identity authorization rights, and privacy problems that characterize the Metaverse, we explore novel governance approaches.