LinkedIn changed, and I don't mind

When I first joined LinkedIn, it felt very... formal. It was dry, businesslike, and intimidating. It was a space where you polished your profile to perfection, held your breath, and hoped someone would notice you - or hire you. I joined because I had to. I was looking for a job (and then I found a job, thankfully not miserable now). But the anxiety of "putting yourself out there" stuck with me. It still does.

And now, as I’ve gotten older (gulp, middle-age is real), even though I'm in a job I actually enjoy and feel valued, the fear of being back in that uncertain space hasn’t disappeared. The idea of being discarded in a world that’s constantly evolving is terrifying. Even when you know you’ve got a lot to offer, it’s hard not to feel vulnerable at times.

But something’s shifted. Not just in me—but in LinkedIn. It’s more personal now. More open. I see people sharing their wins, struggles, holidays (even when they’re technically on holiday), and, yes, their pets. And I like it.

It feels like a natural evolution for those of us who grew up with MySpace, Facebook, and everything that came after. Our work lives and personal lives blend more than ever—we carry our worlds in our pockets, after all. Where we once clocked out at 5 pm and switched off until Monday morning, we now stay plugged in, interacting, commenting, networking.

So why shouldn’t LinkedIn reflect that? Why shouldn’t it be a little more human? A little more honest?

I still see comments from the “This isn’t Facebook!” crowd. But honestly? It kind of is. And that’s OK. We’ve made it this way. We’ve brought our personalities here, and, in doing so, we’ve made the interactions more real.

So, if you’ve got a great story, a big win, or even a dog pic to share—go for it. If you’ve run a marathon or ditched your laptop for a well-earned break in the sun (but are still here posting about it, let’s be real)—keep doing it.

Let’s keep making LinkedIn more connected, more social, and more fun. The business stuff will fit in where it’s needed.

In the spirit of sharing, here’s a photo of two of my cats. I have five, but here we have Cola, my Cornish Rex, and Tilki, my Egyptian Mau.

What do you think? Do you like the direction LinkedIn is heading?