LinkedIn is introducing a new feature to make the verification process more inclusive for users who go by alternative names. The platform will now allow individuals to list their legal name as a secondary identifier when completing the ID verification process.
Currently, LinkedIn offers an optional identity verification badge, which places a checkmark on your profile to confirm that your identity has been authenticated using a government-issued ID through an authorized third-party service. So far, around 80 million users have taken advantage of this feature, adding an extra layer of credibility to their professional profiles.
However, many users prefer not to use their full legal name publicly. To address this, LinkedIn is updating the process to allow the addition of a verified legal name alongside your profile name. This adjustment aims to maintain trust while being more flexible and respectful of personal identity preferences.
With this change, users can still go by their chosen display name, while their verified legal name appears discreetly, offering both authenticity and personal comfort.
LinkedIn has clarified that your legal name won’t replace your current LinkedIn name, but will instead appear in parentheses next to it, offering a subtle way to verify identity without compromising public-facing preferences. Importantly, your verified ID name won’t be visible on public profiles to anyone not logged into LinkedIn, helping to preserve a degree of privacy.
When this secondary name is added, it appears in brackets after your profile name, giving LinkedIn an additional reference point for cross-checking your identity with official government records.
While the ability to add a secondary name to your profile has been available for some time, what’s new is that this option is now integrated into the identity verification process. This helps align your profile with LinkedIn’s internal data-matching systems, enhancing verification flexibility.
However, LinkedIn also points out that if you choose to delete your verified ID name, it will remove both your legal name and the verification badge from your profile.
For users concerned about privacy, LinkedIn reiterates that if you opt to include your real name as a secondary identifier, it won’t appear in public search engines or be visible to users who aren’t signed into the platform.
While this won’t suit every situation, the update does open the door for more users to verify their identity without compromising how they present themselves professionally online. It’s a small but meaningful step toward making LinkedIn’s verification system more adaptable to diverse user needs.
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