The Demise of LinkedIn

Over the past few months, I have been increasing my use of LinkedIn for two main reasons, one, a career shift, and two, increasing my networking to provide consultative services. Unfortunately, LinkedIn no longer seems like the productive business-oriented social networking site that it used to be when I joined in 2007. It has descended down a negative path.

I predict LinkedIn will be significantly disrupted in the near future unless Microsoft can course-correct this $26B acquisition made back in 2016.

Some things that I believe are contributing to LinkedIn’s current death spiral…

No. 5. - Increasingly bad algorithms

The whole point of using algorithms is to do targeted messaging and “link” ideas, people, and objectives on a platform such as LinkedIn. Have you ever wondered why you are getting such mismatched ads, recommendations for obtuse irrelevant jobs, or poor network suggestions? The LinkedIn algorithms are constantly missing the mark and it seems to be getting worse on a continual basis.

No. 4 - Just another job board

Networking for the purpose of advancing one's career on this site is not what it used to be. Recruiters used to develop strong relationships with candidates and over time these relationships resulted in mutual opportunities and professional growth. These relationships also developed over time with hiring companies and managers. Today, LinkedIn has become nothing more than another virtual billboard for open positions relying on sheer numbers and a hit-or-miss method to match candidates and open roles. It’s not differentiated in any way from Indeed, Monster, Glassdoor, etc. And of course, the constant barrage of poorly matched roles (again due to erroneous algorithms) ending up in one’s email box is just infuriating. There is a tremendous amount of wasted time spent deleting things that LinkedIn sends you that are simply irrelevant. Relationships are still best, but LinkedIn seems to have forgotten.

No. 3 - Just another social media site

Do you miss the days when LinkedIn seemed like a site with purpose and focus? I certainly do. Blending the site with cute animal photos, clips from Tik Tok, political discussions, religion, and off-topic viral media just degrades the purpose of the platform from the original intent. Can LinkedIn ever just get back to business or has it just become too massive of a deviation? Certainly, this dilution lowers its value, and credibility as a tool comes into question. As with No. 4, managing this barrage of off-purpose information requires more wasted time for the user via deleting and directing the platform to get its “act” in order.

No. 2 – Presence of growing competition

If you search LinkedIn alternatives, you’ll notice that there is a growing number of sites and platforms that are built with purpose and FOCUS – the same key attributes that LinkedIn started with many years ago. These emerging platforms are very specific and would present a better alternative if you are looking for interests such as investing, startup ventures, job opportunities, professional networking, etc. In trying to do too many things, LinkedIn has become the “master of none,” being nothing more than a “Rolodex” of contacts with an abundance of distractions.

No. 1 – The increasing presence of scammers and fake accounts

This by far is the most frustrating aspect of LinkedIn that I deal with daily. I waste more time blocking fake accounts and scammers that constantly reach out trying to connect or obtain my network information. I get 10 or more of these connection requests a day, sometimes more. Reporting these to LinkedIn doesn’t seem to help. Remember that point about bad algorithms? It applies here too. LinkedIn can’t seem to get its head around this problem. It shouldn’t take a rocket scientist to spot these fake accounts. When someone claims to be a Standford, MIT grad, claims to work for Space X, and has an elaborate 20-year background but only has 5 contacts – something is definitely not right! I’ve even had a fake account titled “Forgive me for doing this” reach out to me in their profile title. With an abundance of these now populating LinkedIn’s ecosystem, the platform’s value continues to be driven down.

I’m curious, what has been your biggest gripe with LinkedIn since joining it? Are you seeing or dealing with the same issues I face on the platform?