Entrepreneur exploits LinkedIn loophole, names himself CEO - Here’s why it actually worked

Exploiting LinkedIn’s Lack of Verification

On March 27, Cohen took to X (formerly Twitter) to express his surprise at LinkedIn’s lax verification process. He pointed out that the platform does not require users to provide any proof when listing their current or past work experience.

“Still incredible to me that LinkedIn doesn’t add any verification to prove you work or previously worked at a company. You can literally just say you worked anywhere,” Cohen wrote on X.

To demonstrate this loophole, he updated his LinkedIn profile to state that he was the CEO of LinkedIn. “Anyway, I’m now the CEO of LinkedIn,” he added, sharing a screenshot of his altered profile, where he was listed as the San Francisco-based chief executive officer of the platform.

Viral Reaction Online

Cohen’s prank quickly gained traction, amassing over 10 million views on X. His post also made it to the top of Reddit’s homepage, where users found humor in the situation. Many took the opportunity to joke about LinkedIn’s issues, with some even playfully requesting Cohen to fix the platform’s existing problems while he was “in charge.”

However, Cohen’s tenure as the fake CEO was short-lived. He soon removed the job title from his profile, realizing the potential consequences.

“I removed it slightly after because I’d prefer not to get banned from LinkedIn,” he later admitted.

A Bigger Issue for LinkedIn?

While Cohen’s stunt was meant as a joke, it has sparked serious discussions about LinkedIn’s security measures. The professional