Protecting digital identity in a hyperconnected world

Illustration: TBS

A few evenings ago, as I sat at my desk wrapping up some late work, a colleague hesitantly approached me and said, "You might want to see this." 

Apparently, my photo — my very LinkedIn profile picture — had somehow found its way onto Facebook, not for a CSR campaign, not for a corporate event — but to describe someone whose son had been arrested on serious allegations. 

For a moment, I froze, as I do not use Facebook. Then I panicked. Then, oddly enough, I laughed. Because what else can you do when your digital self is out there, doing crimes you have never heard of, living a life you never lived?

In that brief moment of panic, dozens of thoughts ran through my head: Who would do this? How many people have seen it? What if someone actually believes it?

But what followed was even more surreal. As my colleague scrolled through some of the posts, I began reading the comments. And somewhere between disbelief and absurdity, I found myself laughing. It was not funny, but it was — in that twisted way that only social media can make something simultaneously disturbing and ridiculous.

Apparently, I was "almost viral" for all the wrong reasons. In today's hyperconnected world, virality has become both an aspiration and a nightmare. We all want our words to reach farther, our stories to resonate deeper, our ideas to spread wider. But what happens when it is not your idea but your identity that goes viral?

We cannot control what people post, but we can control how we respond. Staying calm helps — even when instinct says otherwise. Reporting the posts to the platform, alerting friends or colleagues, and keeping a record are practical steps.

Thankfully, many of those posts were soon deleted or taken down. The storm passed quickly — perhaps too quickly for people to even remember what had caused it. But it left me thinking: what do you really do when your identity is hijacked in the digital space, not by hackers, but by misinformed users?

The truth is, it can happen to anyone. A wrong tag, a misused photo, a mistaken identity — and suddenly your face becomes part of someone else's story. In a country where Facebook is the main source of "news" for many, misinformation travels faster than facts can catch up.

We live in an age where the "share" button moves faster than thought.

See something scandalous? Share.

See a headline that confirms your bias? Share.

See a random face attached to a story? Share again.

That moment of moral reflection — "should I verify this?" — has been replaced by "this will get engagement." And this tiny gap between curiosity and carelessness is where reputations collapse.

The experience made me realise how fragile our digital identities are. We carefully curate our professional profiles — uploading the perfect headshot, listing our accomplishments — but once that image is out there, it is no longer entirely ours. Anyone can repurpose it, distort it, or attach it to a narrative we have no control over.

So, what can we do?

We cannot control what people post, but we can control how we respond. Staying calm helps — even when instinct says otherwise. Reporting the posts to the platform, alerting friends or colleagues, and keeping a record are practical steps. 

And above all, keeping perspective matters — most viral misinformation has a short shelf life. Outrage burns bright but burns out quickly. Because sometimes, laughter is the only sane response in a world that often mistakes speed for truth.

Digital citizenship is not only about security — it is also about empathy. Every time we click "share," we become part of a digital chain of accountability. If that chain leads to someone's humiliation, defamation, or distress, then it is not just a "mistake" — it is participation in harm.

Social media may be free, but freedom without responsibility has a cost. And sometimes, that cost is someone else's peace of mind.

Shafiq R Bhuiyan is a storyteller who examines the intersection of social progress, effective communication, cultural development, and corporate social responsibility while sharing insights to inspire change. 

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions and views of The Business Standard.