LinkedIn by Microsoft Verifies 55 Million Members for Free; Badges Coming in November

Numerous popular social media platforms such as X, Facebook, and Instagram provide users the option to verify that their accounts belong to actual individuals. Typically, this verification process involves a fee, as users are required to subscribe to a paid service to obtain a verification badge.

In a significant move, LinkedIn, which is owned by Microsoft, announced that it has successfully verified 55 million user accounts without any cost, starting from April 2023. As reported by CNBC, the platform will introduce its unique user verification badge in the main feed around November. LinkedIn aims to reach a total of 100 million verified accounts by 2025, with its user base exceeding 1 billion.

Oscar Rodriguez, the vice president of trust and safety at LinkedIn, was interviewed by CNBC. Although he did not disclose the financial details regarding the investment in the verification process, he characterized it as “a sizable investment.”He emphasized:

Understanding the authenticity of individuals will be critical to the future evolution of the internet. Our aim is to make this process widely accessible and foster a trusted community on LinkedIn.

Like any social networking platform, LinkedIn faces challenges with fake accounts generated by malicious actors. The company asserts that it removes 99 percent of these fraudulent accounts from visibility before they can be reported by users.

For users affiliated with large or specific companies, LinkedIn verifies accounts by reaching out via their official company email addresses. Additionally, users can provide government-issued IDs through third-party partners such as Clear and Persona, with LinkedIn covering the associated costs.

LinkedIn reports that verified members enjoy a 60 percent increase in profile views compared to their unverified counterparts, along with a 30 percent rise in connection requests. Beyond individual accounts, the platform also authenticates job postings and company profiles.

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