With personal websites, blogs, e-portfolios, and the like, one creates a digital identity. Sometimes it is anonymous, as you cannot readily see the person behind it. At other times, the author/owner is clearly identifiable. Not everyone is comfortable with being open on the web, but they may change their mind in the future. There may come a time where they want their name to be their domain name for their online site or blog.

Have you had difficulty registering a username, finding that you have to add 1001 or some other number behind the one you want? The shorter and more common ones are likely to be taken. One recommendation was to choose your username and register it consistently on many social media sites so that your username is part of your identity and carried from site to site. Of course, the contrary argument is to use something obscure and different for security reasons.

Returning to the domain name issue, many have purchased their name with one or more extensions such as .com, .net, .org, or .ca. Fortunately, many people have not given their personal domain name much thought, so your name may still be available. It is inexpensive and easy to register your personal domain name. You do not actually have to use it until you are ready to do so. If you are using a hosted site, such as a blog on WordPress or Blogger, you can point your domain name to it. There are lots of options, and your friends and colleagues are likely to offer you advice.

For me, my personal domains, www.tonyratcliffe.com,
www.antonyratcliffe.com, and www.aeratcliffe.com, are just three of the ways I maintain my identity online! Is your digital identity/name secured? I look forward to your comments, questions, and suggestions.

A.E. (Tony) Ratcliffe
PhD Research Student, BDRA