Is LinkedIn Becoming “LinkedOut”? Are We Losing the Plot?

LinkedIn started with a noble vision—connecting professionals, fostering networks, and offering a platform for career growth. But as the platform evolves, a nagging question emerges: Is LinkedIn fulfilling its original purpose, or is it becoming just another channel for content noise?

The Rise of “LinkedOut”

At first glance, LinkedIn looks like a goldmine of insights. Every day, your feed is flooded with success stories, motivational quotes, job advice, and endless blog posts. But let’s be honest—how many of these posts do we actually read, let alone engage with meaningfully? It feels like we’re scrolling through LinkedIn not out of interest or necessity, but to avoid missing out—welcome to LinkedIn FOMO.

Informational Burnout

We’ve seen this play out on other social platforms: initially, engagement is authentic. Over time, users flock to post more content, but quantity quickly overtakes quality. LinkedIn is no exception. Every connection seems to be sharing a daily anecdote about their “5AM productivity hacks,” “career pivots,” or yet another article summarizing the obvious.

The result? Informational burnout. Instead of enriching our professional lives, LinkedIn can start to feel like a relentless obligation—an endless stream of “insights” competing for attention but rarely offering anything of substance. If you’re not posting, liking, or commenting, it feels like you’re falling behind, professionally or socially.

What’s the Real Purpose of LinkedIn?

Here’s the kicker: Is LinkedIn still about professional networking, or has it become a content mill disguised as a career platform? Originally, the idea was simple: connect professionals, help them grow their networks, and provide a space for genuine knowledge sharing. But now, the pressure to maintain a “visible” presence has shifted the focus away from networking to content creation—whether or not that content is useful.

There’s nothing wrong with people sharing stories or insights, but it raises the question: Is LinkedIn transforming into a professional version of Instagram, where appearances matter more than connections? The push for likes, comments, and follows creates an ecosystem that rewards visibility over value. Everyone seems to be branding themselves, but at what cost? Does it feel authentic—or just exhausting?

LinkedIn’s Value: Real or Perceived?

LinkedIn users are now stuck in a cycle:

1. Post content to stay relevant.
2. Engage with posts to build visibility.
3. Scroll endlessly to keep up with trends and updates.

But here’s the catch—how much of this engagement translates to real career opportunities? Do we truly connect with professionals, or are we just part of a massive content consumption game? In a world where relationships are built on algorithms, the value of genuine interaction feels questionable.

It’s becoming harder to discern if LinkedIn’s purpose is to foster meaningful connections or just to create the illusion of productivity through hyper-engagement. When was the last time you made a valuable, lasting connection on LinkedIn—not just an accepted request, but a relationship that resulted in something meaningful?

LinkedIn FOMO: The New Professional Anxiety

The pressure to maintain an active presence on LinkedIn feeds directly into our insecurities. Are we posting enough? Are we engaging enough? Are we missing out on important updates that everyone else seems to know about? This anxiety is real, and it mirrors the social media FOMO we experience on other platforms—except now, it’s creeping into our professional lives.

The line between meaningful professional engagement and performative networking has become blurred. It’s no longer just about showing up to work; it’s about showing up online—constantly. And the question is: Is it sustainable?

Time to Rethink LinkedIn?

I belive LinkedIn is at a crossroads. If it’s going to remain relevant, it needs to refocus on its core mission—building real professional networks and fostering meaningful career opportunities. The platform should empower users to prioritize quality over quantity, encourage genuine interactions, and help us move away from the noise that leads to burnout.

Otherwise, it risks becoming just another social platform we scroll through mindlessly—not because we want to, but because we fear being left out. And that’s when LinkedIn becomes “LinkedOut.”

If you really read all the way to the end, let me know by commenting #LinkedOut