Digital Identity Myths You Probably Still Believe

Why Identity Confusion Persists

Most people think they know what “digital identity” means. A username, a password, maybe an email or two-factor code. Something you set up and manage yourself. It sounds straightforward, but that definition doesn’t really hold up anymore.

In The Privacy Problem with Big Tech, we looked at how platforms collect and profit from personal data. That was a conversation about privacy and surveillance. But beneath it is something deeper: we’ve lost track of what our online identity actually is.

This piece isn’t just about data breaches or shady privacy policies. It’s about the stories we still tell ourselves about identity—and how those stories let platforms stay in control. If we believe identity is just a login, we’re less likely to question how it’s being tracked, profiled, or sold.

These myths aren’t harmless. They shape how we move through the internet and how much control we believe we have. The first step to reclaiming some of that control is understanding what’s really going on.

Myth #1: “Digital identity is just your username and password.”

Most people think staying safe online is just about protecting your login. Use a strong password. Turn on two-factor authentication. Avoid sketchy links. That’s good advice—but it misses a much bigger picture.

Your digital identity today isn’t just what you enter into a form. It’s built passively, through patterns. The sites you visit, how long you hover, the device you use, and the way you scroll are all behavioral signals. These are constantly collected to recognize and profile you, even when you’re not logged in.

You might assume that if you don’t post personal details, you’re anonymous. But your browser and device are already giving you away. Many platforms don’t need your name to know who you are.

That’s the shift: identity isn’t only something you provide—it’s something that’s inferred about you. And if we treat identity as just a login, we overlook how much is being built behind the scenes.

To push back, use browsers that block trackers, reject default permissions, and limit passive data collection. Staying private isn’t just about what you share—it’s also about what’s silently gathered while you’re browsing.

Myth #2: “Only governments or hackers care about my identity.”

A lot of people think digital identity only matters if you’re someone important. If you’re not a politician, a journalist, or doing something secretive, why would anyone care who you are online?

But your identity doesn’t have to be sensitive to be valuable. Companies, advertisers, data brokers, and even AI developers are constantly collecting bits of information about how you live, shop, scroll, and browse. What time you’re online, how long you pause on a video, what you buy, and where you click—it all gets fed into systems that predict what you’ll do next.

You’re not being tracked because you’re suspicious. You’re being tracked because you’re profitable.

The global data broker market is projected to grow from $433.9 billion in 2025 to over $616 billion by 2030, fueled by the ongoing demand for detailed personal data. Even if your information is never breached, it’s still being bought, sold, and used to shape what you see and experience online. Prices may shift depending on your profile. Job listings might never appear in your feed. Some services may quietly decide who gets better offers—and who doesn’t.

You don’t need to panic. But it’s smart to pay attention. Consider using tools like email aliases or masked phone numbers to reduce how much personal information you give away by default. Be cautious about apps that ask for more access than they need, and block trackers where you can. These small actions can help limit how much data gets collected in the first place. You don’t have to be famous to be targeted. You just have to be useful to the system.

Myth #3: “Verification means my identity is safe.”

Verification feels like a security badge. You upload your ID, scan your face, or click a code sent to your phone, and the platform confirms that you are who you say you are. It feels official. It feels secure.

But verification is only the first step. What happens after that is what really matters.

Just because a company verifies your identity doesn’t mean they protect it well. In many cases, your personal information is stored in large databases, reused across services, or quietly shared with partners. You rarely know who sees it, how long it’s kept, or where it ends up. And once your face, ID, or name is out there, you can’t take it back.

The real risk comes from confusing access with safety. Verifying your identity may unlock a service, but it doesn’t guarantee that your data is stored responsibly. The systems that ask for sensitive information don’t always have strong protections in place.

If you want to stay safe, look for platforms that keep verification local to your device or delete your data after it’s confirmed. Avoid services that require ID uploads without explaining why. Choose tools that give you more control over what’s shared and when. Verification may be necessary, but real security depends on what happens next.

Myth #4: “Biometrics are safer than passwords.”

Biometrics feel like the most secure option out there. Scanning a fingerprint or unlocking your phone with your face seems faster, smarter, and harder to fake. Since your biometric traits are unique, it’s easy to believe they offer better protection than a password ever could.

But security depends on more than just what’s being used. It also depends on where that data goes.

If a company stores your biometric data in a centralized system, that becomes a single point of failure. If that system is ever breached, there’s no easy fix. You can reset a password. You cannot change your face. What starts as a convenient login method can turn into a permanent vulnerability if the company handling your data isn’t careful.

That doesn’t mean biometrics are always risky. They can work well when used responsibly. The most secure systems process your fingerprint or facial scan directly on your device, without saving copies to external servers or sending your data across the internet. In other words, they verify you without storing you.

If you’re using biometric login features, make sure the service you’re trusting isn’t keeping more than it needs. Choose platforms that prioritize local authentication, and stay away from apps that ask for face scans or voice data without a clear reason. Convenience is great—but not if it costs you control over something you can’t take back.

Myth #5: “Giving consent means I’m in control.”

Clicking “I agree” has become routine. Whether it’s a privacy policy, cookie banner, or app permissions request, most people assume that tapping the button means they’ve made an informed decision.

But online consent rarely works that way.

In many cases, you’re agreeing to terms you haven’t read—or couldn’t easily understand if you tried. The language is often dense or vague, and the design encourages compliance. Pre-checked boxes, hard-to-find opt-outs, and pop-ups that steer you toward “accept” make it easier to go along than to opt out.

One study found that 91% of people accept terms and conditions without reading them. That’s not real control. It’s manufactured agreement.

True consent should be clear, specific, and revocable. You should know exactly what you’re agreeing to—and have a real choice in the matter. Until that’s the norm, the best way to protect yourself is to reduce how often you’re asked to consent in the first place.

Use browsers that block third-party cookies. Turn off permissions you don’t need. Choose tools that default to privacy rather than burying it in the settings. Clicking “yes” should mean you understand what’s happening—not that you’re just trying to move on.

Myth #6: “Identity theft is just about stolen accounts.”

When people think of identity theft, they usually picture stolen credit cards or hacked bank accounts. It feels like a one-time event—something that happens when someone breaks into your account and takes something valuable.

But identity theft today often targets something more personal: your likeness.

Criminals are no longer just stealing credentials—they’re stealing faces, voices, and other traits that make up who you are. Deepfake technology can now clone someone’s voice for scams or use their face to pass identity checks. Photos from social media, voice clips from videos, and even casual selfies can be repurposed without consent. In many cases, the victim doesn’t even know it’s happening.

These attacks don’t require access to your account. They rely on the digital footprint you’ve already left behind. And the rise of synthetic identities—made from a mix of real and fake data—means someone could be impersonating you without ever logging into anything you own.

To protect yourself, think beyond passwords. Be mindful of where and how your image or voice is shared. Use privacy settings on social platforms, avoid uploading ID documents to untrusted services, and consider tools that detect or block unauthorized use of your likeness.

Your identity isn’t just something you type—it’s also something you show. And that, too, deserves protection.

Myth #7: “There’s nothing I can do—it’s too late.”

A lot of people feel like the damage is already done. Maybe your data has been leaked. Maybe you’ve signed up for dozens of services without reading the fine print. It’s easy to assume that once your information is out there, you’ve lost control of it for good.

But even if you can’t erase the past, that doesn’t mean you’re powerless moving forward.

The tools to protect your identity are better than they used to be. Private browsers limit tracking. Reusable credentials let you prove who you are without handing over extra information. Decentralized ID wallets give you the option to share just what’s needed—and nothing more. You don’t have to vanish from the internet to regain control. You just have to be more intentional about how you show up.

Start with small steps. Review what data your apps and accounts have access to. Change settings. Revoke permissions you don’t need. Use privacy-first services that put you in charge of what gets shared and stored.

You can’t take back everything. But you can make sure the future looks different from the past.

Conclusion: Why These Myths Matter

These myths may seem small, but they shape the systems we use every day.

If people think identity stops at a login, they stop questioning what’s being collected behind the scenes. If they believe privacy means staying silent, they don’t look for tools that let them stay visible on their own terms. And if they assume nothing can be done, they don’t take action—leaving platforms free to build systems that thrive on passivity.

The good news? None of this is set in stone.

Challenging these myths is the first step toward shifting power. The more we understand how identity is shaped, tracked, and used, the more pressure there is to demand systems that are transparent, respectful, and user-first.

You don’t need to overhaul your life to push back. You just need to start asking better questions, choosing better tools, and noticing the tradeoffs you may not have questioned before.

Awareness is step one. Action is step two.