Why Profile URLs Instead of Email?
BadgeFed uses profile URLs — not email addresses — to identify badge recipients. Here's why that's actually better for you.
The Simple Version
Email = Phone Number
- You didn't really pick it — your provider gave it to you
- If you switch providers, you might lose it
- If someone gets it, they can contact you whenever they want (spam!)
- You can't really prove you're you just because you have a phone number
Profile URL = Your House
- It's YOUR place — you put your name on it
- You decide what's visible from the street
- If you move, you can set up mail forwarding (redirects)
- Visitors can walk up, see it's really your place, and verify you live there
Profile URLs = your house. Email = a phone number someone else controls.
Why This Matters
Your email is not really yours
Your email address is rented from a provider — Gmail, Outlook, your employer, your university. If that provider shuts down your account, your email stops working, and every badge tied to it becomes unverifiable.
A profile URL that you control stays with you. Even if you move to a new platform, you can redirect or update your URL. Your badges travel with you.
Badges are meant to be shared — emails aren't
When your email is attached to a badge, that address becomes part of a credential that may be publicly shared. That means:
- Spam risk. Your email can end up in unwanted mailing lists.
- Tracking. Services can link your badges across platforms using your email.
- Exposure. If a badge service is breached, your email leaks along with your achievements.
A profile URL only reveals what you choose to publish at that address.
Verification is simpler for everyone
With a profile URL, an employer clicks it, sees your profile, and confirms the badge belongs to you. Done.
With an email-based badge, verification requires special tools and your email address. No hiring manager is going to do that.
Your badges keep working even if services change
Profile URLs work on the open web. They don't depend on any single company staying in business. Your badge remains verifiable by anyone, anywhere.
Technical note: "But OpenBadges supports hashed emails…"
Yes — the OpenBadges spec allows hashed emails. This sounds good in theory, but:
- Verification gets harder. The verifier must already know your email and hash it to check.
- It's not truly private. Email hashes with a known salt can be reverse-engineered.
- It still ties your identity to email. If your email changes, the hash no longer matches.
- Poor user experience. Clicking a URL is simple. Dealing with hashes and salts is not.
Hashing emails is a workaround. Profile URLs solve the problem directly — public, verifiable, and private by design.
What URL Should I Use?
Your URL should be a stable, public web address that represents you. Here are your options:
LinkedIn Profile
RecommendedThe easiest option for most people. Simply copy your profile URL from the address bar.
https://linkedin.com/in/janedoe
Best for: job seekers, professionals
Your Own Website
RecommendedA domain you own is the most durable form of online identity. Even if you change hosting, the domain stays yours.
https://janedoe.com
Best for: freelancers, educators, creators
Mastodon / Fediverse
Unlock full experienceBecause BadgeFed is built on the same open network, Fediverse profiles unlock:
- Automatic badge sharing to your followers
- Decentralized verification — no middleman
- Native display on your profile and feed
- True portability — move your whole identity
https://mastodon.social/@janedoe
New? Sign up free at mastodon.social — takes 2 minutes.
Badge Wallet
Unlock full experienceA lightweight profile that can verify and link multiple profiles — your LinkedIn, GitHub, personal website — all in one place. Think of it as a badge wallet.
https://hub.vocalcat.com/login/@janedoe
GitHub / GitLab / Codeberg
Ties your badges to your work and contributions. Supports profile READMEs where you can display badges.
https://github.com/janedoe
Best for: developers, open-source contributors
Link-in-Bio / About Me
Services like about.me, Linktree, or Keyoxide give you a lightweight profile page without building a website.
https://about.me/janedoe
Best for: anyone who wants something quick and easy
What Makes a Good URL?
| Quality | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| You control it | You can update, redirect, or migrate it |
| It's public | Anyone can visit it and confirm your identity |
| It's stable | It won't disappear if a company changes its rules |
| It represents you | It's clearly tied to your real or professional identity |
What to Avoid
- Temporary or throwaway URLs (link shorteners, pastebin, etc.)
- URLs you don't control (someone else's website, a company intranet)
- Pages behind a login wall (verification tools can't reach them)
- Profiles on unstable platforms
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I just use my LinkedIn?
Yes! For most people, your LinkedIn profile URL is the simplest and best choice.
Do I need to be technical to use this?
Not at all. If you can copy a URL from your browser's address bar, you have everything you need.
What if I don't have a personal website?
That's completely fine. LinkedIn, GitHub, or even a free Linktree page all work. You don't need to own a domain.
What's the Fediverse?
A network of independent social platforms (like Mastodon) that all connect to each other. Think of it like email: you can have an account on any server and still communicate with people on other servers. No single company owns it. Signing up is free and takes 2 minutes — try mastodon.social.
Why do Fediverse profiles get extra features?
Because BadgeFed is built on the same open network (ActivityPub). When your badge and your profile speak the same language, automatic sharing, live verification, and native display just work.
Can I use both LinkedIn and a Fediverse profile?
Absolutely. Many people use LinkedIn as their primary professional URL and add a Fediverse profile for richer badge features.
Can I change my URL later?
That depends on the badge issuer's setup, but in general it's best to pick a URL you plan to keep. Your LinkedIn profile or personal website is a safe bet.
Why not just use email like everyone else?
Because email addresses are private contact info that can lead to spam and tracking, they're controlled by your provider (not you), and they make badge verification harder. A profile URL is public, yours, and easy to verify.
TL;DR
Use a URL that is yours, public, and likely to still exist in five years. LinkedIn or your own website are the easiest starting points. Want the full experience? A Fediverse profile unlocks automatic badge sharing and decentralized verification — and it only takes 2 minutes to set up. You can also create a free profile here.
You own your identity, not your inbox.