---
title: "Digital Credentials: Fact Versus Fiction"
description: As digital credentials gain popularity in the world of learning and achievement, there are a lot of misconceptions about what they are (and aren’t). Here’s a list of things digital credentials are...
---

[Blog ](https://learn.credly.com/blog)

# [Digital Credentials: Fact Versus Fiction](https://learn.credly.com/blog/digital-credentials-fact-versus-fiction)

 Written by [Credly](https://learn.credly.com/blog/author/credly) | Feb 26, 2023 10:59:11 AM

Digital credentials are quickly becoming the standard record for learning, skills, and achievement. Credly has issued over 70 million digital credentials and given learners the power to own their own records of achievement. As the traditional four-year degree declines in popularity and [skills-based hiring](https://resources.credly.com/blog/how-to-write-a-skills-based-job-description) is quickly becoming the norm, it’s time to clear up exactly what a digital credential is (and isn’t). 

[Digital credentials aren’t a gamified version of achievement](https://learn.credly.com/blog/gamification-badges-arent-the-same-thing-as-digital-credentials). Digital badges (the visual representation of the skill learned to earn a credential) are well-designed and often reflect the brand that has issued them. But the badge itself is just the outward representation of a credential that has extensive [metadata](https://resources.credly.com/blog/post/no-guts-no-glory-story-metadata) and learning behind it. While it's easy to share and view the badges, effective digital credentials aren't simply digital stickers that can be shared and swapped like baseball cards.

- Digital credentials *are* a powerful tool for branding and marketing. Digital credentials lend themselves well to sharing on social media for several reasons. First, the digital badge itself is the perfect social media status update, and second, it allows the earner of the credential to #humblebrag about themselves in a way that isn’t obnoxious. For organizations that are issuing digital credentials, [they’re a powerful marketing tool](https://learn.credly.com/webinars/credly-webinar-202003-marketing-101-slides) that generates free marketing buzz for the brand. 

- **Digital credentials aren’t self-reported**. Whoever earns a credential had to prove that they know exactly what they said they know. Digital credentials are third-party verified by the issuing organization. 

- [Digital credentials are a data-rich tool](https://learn.credly.com/blog/empower-and-retain-employees-with-digital-credential-data) for making informed hiring decisions. Organizations like [IBM ](https://resources.credly.com/blog/can-digital-credentials-save-your-company-money)and Microsoft all rely on digital credentials to have an accurate and up-to-date snapshot of the skills of their workforce. Hiring is [expensive](https://resources.credly.com/blog/post/learning-development-retention-workplace), time-consuming, and laborious. Digital credentials allow the issuing organization to see exactly what [skills](https://resources.credly.com/blog/how-to-create-a-productive-workforce-in-3-steps) their workforce has, and where they need to fill the gaps with learning and development. This allows for easy promotions or internal hires. 

If you’re interested in learning more about exactly what a digital credential is, and the impact it can have on your organization, schedule a demo with our team now! 

[View full post](https://learn.credly.com/blog/digital-credentials-fact-versus-fiction)

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