LinkedIn has introduced new tools to combat fake profiles and fraudulent work histories. The platform now allows members to vouch for the professional experience of colleagues and classmates. To prevent abuse, the person providing the vouch must have a verified profile, be connected for at least one year, and use two-factor authentication.
Companies now have the authority to remove accounts that falsely claim employment from their brand pages and search results. LinkedIn is also testing a feature that requires new members to complete workplace verification via work email to associate with a company page. These changes do not alter the member's personal profile, but remove the link to the company page.
The platform is expanding its identity verification partnerships to include Truecaller and PeerSpot, joining existing partners like Adobe and UserTesting. These integrations allow users to display their verified LinkedIn status on other services. LinkedIn reports that verified users receive 50% more post views and 90% more impressions than non-verified accounts.
To date, LinkedIn has verified 115 million users and over 700,000 companies. According to VP of Product Oscar Rodriguez, the company views authenticity as a critical asset for internet users. These tools are designed to provide context and signals to help members make informed decisions regarding professional connections.
