We live in a time that’s plagued by an epidemic of loneliness and isolation, wherein the need to form thriving, healthy, and sustainable connections is stronger than ever. Fulfilling this need is contingent on building trust, which begins to feel like a scarce commodity in the landscape of 2024 where scams, catfishing, and unethical usage of synthetically generated media proliferate. This lightning talk breaks down the unique challenges in ensuring authentic digital identities in the context of today and how we might expand the concept of authenticity beyond biometric verification. Aimed at all trust and safety practitioners, this talk offers nuanced approaches to authenticity, such that users aren’t left wondering whether what they see online is real.