LinkedIn is taking a significant step in promoting online authenticity by expanding its free verification system beyond its own platform. The professional networking site has partnered with Adobe to integrate its verification system, allowing users to display a "Verified on LinkedIn" badge on their profiles across other platforms.

The move marks a crucial step in LinkedIn's efforts to combat online inauthenticity, which has become a growing concern in the digital age. According to Oscar Rodriguez, LinkedIn's vice president of trust, the ability to pretend to be someone else online has become increasingly easy and credible. By expanding its verification system, LinkedIn aims to empower its members and partners to understand specific attributes of someone's identity that have been verified.

The partnership with Adobe is a significant one, with the company integrating LinkedIn verification into its new Content Authenticity app and existing Behance portfolio platform. This means that creators who have gone through LinkedIn's verification process can now display a "Verified on LinkedIn" badge on their profiles, providing an added layer of authenticity to their online presence. Furthermore, if verified creators use Adobe's digital Content Credentials tools, their identity will also appear alongside their work whenever it's shared on LinkedIn.

LinkedIn introduced its verification system in 2023, allowing users to confirm specific details such as their identity, workplace, or education history using government-issued ID or company emails. Since then, over 80 million people have verified themselves using the tools. The company has also partnered with other enterprise platforms, including TrustRadius, G2, and UserTesting, to expand its verification system.

The move comes as online platforms face increasing pressure to address issues of inauthenticity. This week, social media network Bluesky introduced its own verification system for "authentic and notable" accounts, aping Twitter's blue checkmark design. Twitter's verification program, once the de facto standard online, was wound down following Elon Musk's purchase, and the checkmark is now exclusive to paying X Premium subscribers.

LinkedIn's expansion of its verification system is a significant step in promoting online trust and authenticity. By allowing users to showcase their verified identity across multiple platforms, the company is providing a valuable tool for creators, professionals, and businesses alike. As online inauthenticity continues to pose a threat to digital trust, LinkedIn's move is a welcome development in the fight against fake online identities.

The implications of LinkedIn's expanded verification system are far-reaching. As more platforms adopt similar systems, the online landscape is likely to become a more authentic and trustworthy place. With Adobe on board, the partnership is likely to have a significant impact on the creative industry, where authenticity and credibility are essential. As the digital world continues to evolve, LinkedIn's move is a crucial step in promoting online trust and authenticity.