The "Suggested Post" Phenomenon: How LinkedIn's Well-Intentioned Feature Might Be Leading Us Astray

Welcome to the digital age, where even your social media feeds know what you had for breakfast before you do. LinkedIn, our beloved professional networking site, seems to have caught the bug too, with its "suggested posts" feature trying to play Cupid by matchmaking us with content it thinks we’ll love. But is it truly love if you have to force it?

Remember when LinkedIn was the place you'd go to escape the chaos of cat videos and what your friend had for lunch? It was our digital sanctuary of professionalism, where the only thing viral was the enthusiasm for industry news and networking. But these days, it feels like LinkedIn's algorithm is the overly eager friend trying to set you up on a date with someone who has "great potential" – except it's not a date, and the potential is questionable at best.? LinkedIn's attempt to spice up our feeds with “suggested posts” is like that friend who insists you'd love trampolines because you once enjoyed went skydiving, never understanding that theirs is a much shallower version of the original that doesn’t come close to delivering the same feeling.

The concept behind suggested posts isn't malevolent. It's like a chef suggesting the dish of the day, hoping you'll like it. However, imagine going to a steakhouse and being constantly recommended vegan options because you once liked a post about vegetable gardening. That's LinkedIn for you these days.

Each scroll feels like a gamble – will I find something genuinely engaging, or will I be bombarded with "10 Ways to Boost Your Synergy" posts that are usually not remotely deep enough to get me thinking? And it's not just the irrelevance; it's the repetition. Seeing the same type of suggested post multiple times doesn't make it any more relevant or less irritating.? Like a DJ who only has one track, LinkedIn's algorithm keeps playing the same tune, hoping we'll eventually dance. Spoiler: we won't.

This isn't to say all suggestions are bad. When they're on point, they're like discovering a new coffee shop that gets your order right without you having to say a word.? But when the algorithm misses the mark, it feels less like a serendipitous find and more like being stuck in an elevator with someone who won't stop talking about their cat's dietary habits.? LinkedIn seems to be having trouble ensuring those hits are more frequent than the misses.

So, how do we find our way back to the LinkedIn we know and love, where connections were made over shared professional interests and not just because an algorithm thinks you might like the same kind of motivational quotes? What we need is a middle ground—a way to tweak these suggestions to better align with our actual interests and professional needs. Giving users more direct control over what types of content gets suggested could be a start. Think of it as setting the genre before hitting shuffle.

In the end, LinkedIn's heart is in the right place with its suggested posts, but its aim needs work. We're here for the professional insights and connections, not a wild goose chase through a forest of vaguely relevant articles. With a bit of tuning and a lot more user input, LinkedIn's algorithm could yet hit the right note, blending seamlessly into the professional harmony we originally signed up for.? And who knows? Maybe along the way, we'll rediscover the joy of serendipitously stumbling upon content that truly resonates, without an algorithmic cupid in sight.