diff --git a/shatter-backend/docs/API_REFERENCE.md b/shatter-backend/docs/API_REFERENCE.md
index 134d5bb..cefde56 100644
--- a/shatter-backend/docs/API_REFERENCE.md
+++ b/shatter-backend/docs/API_REFERENCE.md
@@ -559,7 +559,7 @@ Update a user's profile. Users can only update their own profile.
 | `password`     | string | Minimum 8 characters |
 | `bio`          | string | |
 | `profilePhoto` | string | URL |
-| `socialLinks`  | object | `{ linkedin?: string, github?: string, other?: string[] }` — `other` replaces the whole array on update |
+| `socialLinks`  | object | `{ linkedin?: string, github?: string, other?: Array<{ label: string, url: string }> }` — each `other` entry has a required `label` and `url`; the array fully replaces the previous one on update |
 | `organization` | string | Where the user works/studies |
 | `title`        | string | Job title or role |
 
@@ -853,7 +853,7 @@ Join an event as a guest (no account required).
 | `socialLinks` | object | No* | Social links |
 | `socialLinks.linkedin` | string | No | LinkedIn URL |
 | `socialLinks.github` | string | No | GitHub URL |
-| `socialLinks.other` | string[] | No | Array of additional social/profile URLs |
+| `socialLinks.other` | `Array<{label, url}>` | No | Additional labeled social/profile links. Each entry requires both `label` (display name) and `url`. |
 | `organization` | string | No* | Where the guest works/studies |
 | `title` | string | No | Job title or role |
 
diff --git a/shatter-backend/docs/DATABASE_SCHEMA.md b/shatter-backend/docs/DATABASE_SCHEMA.md
index ef47b29..4cc4a4d 100644
--- a/shatter-backend/docs/DATABASE_SCHEMA.md
+++ b/shatter-backend/docs/DATABASE_SCHEMA.md
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@
 | `title`            | String            | No       | —          | Trimmed |
 | `bio`              | String            | No       | —          | Trimmed |
 | `profilePhoto`     | String            | No       | —          | |
-| `socialLinks`      | Object            | No       | —          | `{ linkedin?: String, github?: String, other?: String[] }` — `other` is an array so users can add multiple miscellaneous links |
+| `socialLinks`      | Object            | No       | —          | `{ linkedin?: String, github?: String, other?: Array<{ label: String, url: String }> }` — each `other` entry has a required `label` and `url` so users can add multiple labeled miscellaneous links |
 | `authProvider`     | String (enum)     | Yes      | `'local'`  | One of: `'local'`, `'linkedin'`, `'guest'` |
 | `lastLogin`        | Date              | No       | `null`     | |
 | `passwordChangedAt`| Date              | No       | `null`     | |
diff --git a/shatter-backend/src/controllers/auth_controller.ts b/shatter-backend/src/controllers/auth_controller.ts
index 76d7df3..7aa3c11 100644
--- a/shatter-backend/src/controllers/auth_controller.ts
+++ b/shatter-backend/src/controllers/auth_controller.ts
@@ -285,7 +285,12 @@ export const linkedinCallback = async (req: Request, res: Response) => {
 	let statePayload: { linking?: boolean; userId?: string };
 	try {
 	    statePayload = jwt.verify(state, JWT_SECRET) as { linking?: boolean; userId?: string };
-	} catch {
+	} catch (e: any) {
+	    console.error('LinkedIn state verify failed:', {
+		name: e?.name,
+		message: e?.message,
+		stateLen: state?.length,
+	    });
 	    return res.status(401).json({ error: 'Invalid state parameter' });
 	}
 
diff --git a/shatter-backend/src/controllers/event_controller.ts b/shatter-backend/src/controllers/event_controller.ts
index dfa4a8b..7cd1f26 100644
--- a/shatter-backend/src/controllers/event_controller.ts
+++ b/shatter-backend/src/controllers/event_controller.ts
@@ -277,7 +277,7 @@ export async function joinEventAsGuest(req: Request, res: Response) {
     const { name, email, socialLinks, organization, title } = req.body as {
       name?: string;
       email?: string;
-      socialLinks?: { linkedin?: string; github?: string; other?: string[] };
+      socialLinks?: { linkedin?: string; github?: string; other?: { label: string; url: string }[] };
       organization?: string;
       title?: string;
     };
@@ -295,7 +295,7 @@ export async function joinEventAsGuest(req: Request, res: Response) {
     const hasSocialLink = socialLinks && (
       socialLinks.linkedin?.trim() ||
       socialLinks.github?.trim() ||
-      socialLinks.other?.some((s) => s.trim())
+      socialLinks.other?.some((entry) => entry?.url?.trim())
     );
     const hasOrganization = organization && organization.trim();
 
diff --git a/shatter-backend/src/controllers/user_controller.ts b/shatter-backend/src/controllers/user_controller.ts
index 42c7d7b..12b29ae 100644
--- a/shatter-backend/src/controllers/user_controller.ts
+++ b/shatter-backend/src/controllers/user_controller.ts
@@ -121,7 +121,7 @@ export const updateUser = async (req: Request, res: Response) => {
       password?: string;
       bio?: string;
       profilePhoto?: string;
-      socialLinks?: { linkedin?: string; github?: string; other?: string[] };
+      socialLinks?: { linkedin?: string; github?: string; other?: { label: string; url: string }[] };
       organization?: string;
       title?: string;
     };
@@ -174,6 +174,7 @@ export const updateUser = async (req: Request, res: Response) => {
     const result = await User.updateOne(
       { _id: userId },
       { $set: updateFields },
+      { runValidators: true },
     );
 
     if (result.matchedCount === 0) {
diff --git a/shatter-backend/src/models/user_model.ts b/shatter-backend/src/models/user_model.ts
index 1b7e0f6..1eea569 100644
--- a/shatter-backend/src/models/user_model.ts
+++ b/shatter-backend/src/models/user_model.ts
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ export interface IUser {
   socialLinks?: {
     linkedin?: string;
     github?: string;
-    other?: string[];
+    other?: { label: string; url: string }[];
   };
   authProvider: 'local' | 'linkedin' | 'guest';
   lastLogin?: Date;
@@ -85,7 +85,18 @@ const UserSchema = new Schema<IUser>(
     socialLinks: {
       linkedin: { type: String },
       github: { type: String },
-      other: { type: [String], default: undefined },
+      other: {
+        type: [
+          new Schema(
+            {
+              label: { type: String, required: true, trim: true },
+              url: { type: String, required: true, trim: true },
+            },
+            { _id: false },
+          ),
+        ],
+        default: undefined,
+      },
     },
     authProvider: {
       type: String,