Can LinkedIn Save the Internet
I was nervous to start writing online. What will the anonymous collective have to say about my thoughts? I once considered the internet to have a persona that rivaled the bully down the street, the one that would have you peddling on the other side of the block to preserve your safety.
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Then one day I took a big gulp of air. Chunked my fear out the window, if only for a brief moment, and committed to a LinkedIn post. I was nervous about the post, what would people think about it, am I as stupid as I sometimes allow myself to believe?
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I made a positive comment on a post regarding fitness and then something incredible happened, I received positive feedback.
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Positive feedback from the internet? This must be a rip in the fabric of normal. I was excited, I was confused, I didn’t understand what I didn’t understand.
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Fast forward a few months later and hundreds of comments later and I realize that LinkedIn is different. The community is positive, the thoughts are encouraging and I am still a little confused.
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The social discourse, the old “your team versus my team” political exercise doesn’t exist on LinkedIn. The mirror-selfies that make us curious, sad, and judgmental all in one emotional ticktack…they are less prevalent.?
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How did this happen, how did we manage to create a space that allows the exchange of ideas absent the judgment on the origin of the idea? I’m not exactly sure about the science but I know the result is surprisingly pleasant. Is this how the internet evolves…all we had to do was add our face?
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What makes LinkedIn such a pleasant place to create:
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I’m not sure. My guess is the lack of anonymity takes the prize.
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Who am I on the internet with no name and no face? I am a virtual bank robber. I am a version of myself that is allowed to chunk my morals down the stairs and allow the negative version of myself to take full control of the joystick. Anonymity weakens our moral fiber.
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It doesn’t take many negative voices to silence the crowd. The thought of harsh judgment in the face of vulnerability…that’s the adult version of freeze tag.
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When we show up with our faces we show up with our hearts and we show up for each other.??
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For those creators on the fence, may this word hit you like a fresh spring breeze. You can create in the absence of anonymous scrutiny, you can create in an environment where people encourage your work, these things are possible. Hard to imagine, but possible.
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Could the other social characters learn from LinkedIn, will the digital bridge from other socials eventually infect LinkedIn? Fate will choose the narrative. Enjoy this moment and create!
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P.S. – Tell your friend who would benefit from this message…you could be providing needed oxygen to a creator.
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I Help People Heal.
1 年What a wonderful article. I've found that my experience here on LI has been much better than on other social media platforms. I'd love to read more of your work in the future.
??Genius Marketing Solutions ??Scale Your Online Business to 6+ Figures ??I Build Iconic Brands for Ambitious Coaches & Entrepreneurs ??From Unknown to Unstoppable & Fully Booked ??Book your free BRAND POTENTIAL call?
1 年Great perspective James Scott. Being real and authentic vs hiding is so valuable! Building meaningful connections and engagement are the core.
Mind Training Coach | @thestickyfairy - 200K+ YouTube, IG & TikTok Audience | HELPINGS - private mind training community
1 年Anything works for the right reasons. If you're in it to win it, you'll most likely ditch "your community" along the way when they're no longer needed to feed the algorithm. If you're in it to build relationships, you'll do that.
Marketing & Visibility Strategist for Smart, Strategic, High-Impact Visibility with Virtual Expos ?? Be More Visible, More Credible, More Profitable Exhibiting your Expertise Globally
1 年Agree, James Scott - it's up to each one of us to create the environment we wish to be in - so our posts and comments are important. Encouraging and uplifting, professional rather than negative and demeaning also reflects on self - the more positive you speak and write, the more you feel that way!
Sales Professional at Retex Roofing and Exteriors.
1 年James, Thanks for the article. I totally get those nerves when it comes to writing anything online. It can feel like a wild, unpredictable place. But you know what? I felt the same way before I recently took a leap on LinkedIn. I was nervous about my first post, wondering what people would think. Surprisingly, I got positive feedback! It made me wonder: What's different about LinkedIn? I realized the lack of anonymity – real names and faces are the norm. That changes everything. We tend to be more respectful and considerate without the mask of anonymity. Plus, most of us are trying to improve our situation on Linkedin. So, for all you creators on the fence, know this: You can put your work out there without fearing trolls. On LinkedIn, it's generally a supportive place. As for other platforms learning from LinkedIn, who knows? But for now, let's enjoy this unique corner of the internet and keep creating!