SYANGJA — Along with the increasing use of social media, challenges of digital security are also being added. While incidents of hacked accounts, fake profiles, and online fraud are increasing concerns, digital identity management has started to emerge as a new area with potential.

Chandra Kafle, 20, from Arjunchaupari Rural Municipality Ward No. 3, Chhap, Syangja, is active in this field. He has been doing work related to profile verification, account security, and digital management.

The beginning of this journey of his was not from formal education or training. During the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown, as online activities increased and he saw incidents of account hacking and misuse rise, he started working in this field by learning himself. “After seeing the problem, the curiosity to find a solution kept increasing,” he says.

Starting work from social media page management in the beginning, Kafle gradually started paying attention to technical aspects. Currently, he is involved in works like the verification process, profile optimization, and Google Knowledge Panel management. Additionally, he is also active in protective measures such as Two-Factor Authentication (2FA), recovery systems, and monitoring of suspicious activities.

In Nepal, this field has not yet been developed in a managed and formal way. Mostly, work is happening based on experience and self-study. However, recently, public figures, players, and individuals involved in various professions have started demanding such services to keep their digital identity secure and verified.

Kafle has worked with more than 25 individuals so far. His clients include Gyanendra Malla, Aarif Sheikh, Aasif Sheikh, Kamal Singh Airee, Nandan Yadav, Gulshan Jha, Sompal Kami, and Karan KC, among others. Additionally, he has even worked on the digital profile management of foreign player Ruben Trumpelmann.

According to him, the biggest foundation in this work is trust. “Since there is a direct connection with personal accounts and information, privacy and security are the first priority,” he says.

Coming from a rural background, the start of Kafle’s digital journey was simple. The interest toward technology that started from television later reached mobile and the internet. He had started understanding digital systems during his school life.

Along with technical work, he also has an interest in writing. Having started writing since his teenage years, his materials have already been published in various online media.

However, challenges in this field are also not few. Lack of formal recognition, constant changes in cyber risks, and fluctuations in social media policies make the work complicated. Uncertainty of income is also another aspect. “Technology is always changing; therefore, learning must also be continuous,” Kafle says.

In the coming days, he has made a plan to expand his work to the international level. According to him, digital identity has now become not just an online profile but an important part of an individual’s public identity, the security of which is becoming indispensable.