What Is a Ghost Identity on DeadArk?
A ghost identity is DeadArk's free, private way to join — explore public spaces and participate without an invite or payment, forever. Here is how it works and its limits.
- A ghost identity is the free, open way to be on DeadArk — no invite, no payment, and you can use it forever.
- It lets you explore public spaces and participate, with some limitations compared to a full profile.
- It is the open door of DeadArk's layered access model: anyone can join as a ghost, and a profile is the fuller identity you earn or upgrade into.
- Ghost identities exist so you can show up and take part without committing anything up front — the platform is genuinely free to join.
The plain definition
A ghost identity is the free, open way to be on DeadArk. With a ghost identity you can join, explore public spaces, and participate — without an invite, without a payment, and for as long as you like. It is the answer to a simple question many platforms get wrong: *can I actually use this before I commit anything?* On DeadArk, yes — a ghost identity is free forever.
What a ghost identity can do
A ghost identity is a real, usable presence, not a locked preview. With one you can:
- Explore public spaces and see what communities, organizations, and people are about.
- Participate in the open parts of the network.
- Stay — there's no trial clock. A ghost identity is yours to keep for free.
It exists so that the front door of DeadArk is genuinely open. You don't need permission or a purchase to show up and take part.
What a ghost identity doesn't do
A ghost identity is the base layer, so it comes with some limitations compared with a full profile. The fuller capabilities — the richer, more accountable presence — live in a profile, which is the next layer up. Think of the ghost identity as the open door and the profile as fuller standing inside.
The point isn't to frustrate you into upgrading. It's that joining and fully belonging are different things, and DeadArk prices them differently: joining is free and open; fuller participation is something you earn through an invite or grow into over time. (We make the full case for this in Free to Join, Earned to Belong.)
Ghost identity vs. profile, briefly
- Ghost identity — free, open to anyone, usable forever, with some limitations.
- Profile — the fuller, more capable identity, granted by an invite (which gives the first tier) or upgraded through paid tiers.
For the full breakdown and how to move from one to the other, see Ghost Identity vs Profile: Which Should You Use?.
Why DeadArk offers a free ghost identity at all
Plenty of networks make you hand over personal details or wait for approval before you can even look around. That optimizes for the platform, not for you. DeadArk starts from the opposite place: let people in for free, let them explore and participate, and make fuller belonging something earned rather than a toll at the door. A free ghost identity is how the network stays genuinely open while still keeping its inner layers accountable.
The definition, stated plainly
A ghost identity is your free, no-strings way onto DeadArk. Come in, look around, take part — and decide later whether you want the fuller standing a profile gives you.
Frequently asked questions
What is a ghost identity on DeadArk?
A ghost identity is the free, open way to join DeadArk. It lets you explore public spaces and participate with no invite and no payment, and you can use it forever. It has some limitations compared with a full profile.
Is a ghost identity really free?
Yes. A ghost identity is free forever — there is no trial clock, no invite requirement, and no payment. It is the open door of DeadArk: anyone can join and take part as a ghost.
What are the limitations of a ghost identity?
A ghost identity is the base layer, so it has some limitations on capabilities compared with a profile. The fuller, more accountable presence lives in a profile, which you get through an invite or by upgrading tiers.
How do I upgrade from a ghost identity to a profile?
You get a profile through an invite from an eligible member, community, business, or institution — which grants the first tier — or by upgrading through paid tiers. See the ghost identity vs profile guide for details.
More in Definitions
Doxxing is publishing someone's private information to expose or intimidate them. Here is what it is, how it happens, and practical ways to protect your community.
The fediverse is a network of independent social servers that talk to each other, so no single company runs it all. Here is how it works, in plain English, and its trade-offs.
Your social graph is the map of who you're connected to and how. Here is what it is, why platforms guard it so closely, and why it should belong to you.
DeadArk is a local social network for people, communities, businesses, projects, publications, and institutions to connect through shared interests and place. Learn more at deadark.com.