I Verified My LinkedIn Identity. Here's What I Actually Handed Over.

I wanted the blue checkmark on LinkedIn. The one that says &ldquo;this person is real.&rdquo; In a sea of fake recruiters, bot accounts, and AI-generated headshots, it seemed like a smart thing to do. So I tapped &ldquo;verify.&rdquo; I scanned my passport. I took a selfie. Three minutes later — done. Badge acquired. I felt a tiny dopamine hit of legitimacy. Then I did what apparently nobody does.…