Digital identity in higher education: a bibliometric review of scientific output (2005-2025)

Abstract

Digital identity has become a key element of the student experience in higher education, in a context marked by the digital transformation of universities and the expansion of virtual learning environments. The objective of this study was to analyse research trends on digital identity in higher education through a bibliometric review of scientific output indexed in the Scopus database from 2005 to 2025. The study was conducted using a quantitative approach, with a non-experimental design and a descriptive–analytical scope. Through a systematic search and the application of inclusion and exclusion criteria, a corpus of 64 scientific articles was compiled. The analysis was conducted using the Bibliometrix/Biblioshiny and VOSviewer tools, which enabled the examination of the temporal evolution of publications and the co-occurrence of keywords to identify the main thematic clusters. The results show sustained growth in scientific output since 2019 and a fragmented structure of the research field. Thematic analysis identified digital identity as a central theme, linked to higher education, social media use, and psychosocial dimensions. It is concluded that digital identity in university education constitutes a multidimensional phenomenon in the process of consolidation.