Your Digital Identity in the Metaverse: Design Your Avatar

With so much talk about the metaverse, it is natural to wonder what this virtual world means for your identity. One of the fascinating elements is the fact that you can have a 3D avatar version of yourself. Here’s what you need to know about designing your avatar and developing your identity online. 

User experience is said to be revolutionised with web3. So, how does one establish their digital identity? As the physical and online worlds become blurred, your online self in this evolving world is important to understand. 

What Is Digital Identity?

Traditionally, digital identity is informed by your virtual address or domain, as well as information collected about your web behaviour, from demographic details to your search and purchase history. This creates an online profile with identifiers that relate to you. 

In the metaverse, the definition of digital identity is changing. After all, this is a new decentralised space that relied on blockchain technology tied to digital and real-world identities. In this new online world, users are said to have control over their information and interactions with others, with the option of being selective in how much information is disclosed. 

Importantly, the metaverse contains both individual and business-based identities. A user can have a collection of identities that are closely linked to their real-world selves, with the ability to separate their work and personal identities online, in the same way, that people do in the real world by compartmentalising. 

Digital identity is a serious matter that has developed recently with the likes of digital passports. These can be used to access environments with verification of their details. As people expand their lives in the metaverse, they are likely to want to build on their online profiles, curating details and the value they bring to be brought to the forefront. A favourable identity can be leveraged in various scenarios. 

Businesses from various industries are investing in the metaverse, where billions of dollars in opportunities reportedly await. It is recommended that businesses choose a well-suited domain name and use selective keywords as they build their brand’s identity in the metaverse. Other tips include publishing tailored content with a deep understanding of your audience and goals to succeed. In other words, it is an online extension of your current branding, and it needs to be well established from the get-go. 

Digital identity in the metaverse is based on avatars with built-in utility. These avatars allow for digital self-expression in ways that haven’t been possible before, from expressing interests and appearances to demonstrating moods. This will help users to interact and actively participate in the metaverse in a community setting. 

One needn’t be tied to their own identity either, as you’ll be able to transform into other identities too, experiencing what it’s like to be Elvis Presley in The Sandbox Metaverse, for example. If that’s too much for you, your own avatar can enjoy an interaction instead. 

Avatars are backed with AI capabilities, which introduce a new element of interaction online, leaving room for surprise and wonder among the characters. In other words, these avatars go way beyond the aesthetic value of designing your online representative and counterpart. Now, there will be deeper functionality and a more realistic take on immersive interactions. 

As mentioned above, avatars are not only a way to establish yourself in terms of looks. The identity of your avatar will include important information that establishes trustworthiness and accessibility. Having avatars that are connected to real people is important, instead of having an army of fake avatars in the meta world. This is said to be integral to keeping the metaverse safe from cybercriminals like scammers and fraudsters.

How to Design Your Avatar

There are various ways to design an avatar. There are services and tools designed for this very purpose since the metaverse goes beyond traditional 2D images that we commonly use as display photos. These 3D avatars are realistic and full-body representations. Once you have your figure, you can dress it up with changeable clothing and accessories. These can be saved and imported into games and apps, with easier transitions expected as the metaverse continues to develop. 

Are you ready to design your avatar and begin exploring the metaverse worlds? 

For all things meta, speak with the team at Nexa.