What If LinkedIn Was a Dating App?

As a digital product manager and innovator, I've spent my fair share of time exploring platforms designed to connect us. But recently, I found myself asking a provocative question: What if LinkedIn was a dating app?

Yeah, you read that right. LinkedIn. That polished professional network where we show off our resumes, exchange business cards, and congratulate strangers on their work anniversaries. But what if there was more potential beneath the surface?

When you think about it, dating apps today are largely focused on looks and superficial bios. But what if we turned to LinkedIn, where the focus is on professional accomplishments, skill sets, and career paths? Could it redefine what we find attractive in potential partners? Imagine starting conversations not with a corny pickup line, but with a mutual admiration for each other's business acumen, educational pursuits, or shared interest in nerdy technology. It's a more meaningful way to connect, right?

Instead of judging somebody based on a selfie using filters that make them look like a Barbie or Ken doll, you'd be intrigued by how they launched a successful startup or led an innovative project. Suddenly, ambition becomes the new sexy! Hmmm, just sayin'.

Now, consider LinkedIn's algorithm. It's already fine-tuned to show us connections who align with our professional goals and networks. If that same algorithm matched us based on shared passions, values, and goals, not just career-wise but relationship-wise, wouldn’t that create deeper compatibility?

And, what if you could lookup, research, and review relationships the same way you do companies? Imagine gaining wisdom from relationship insights instead of company insights. Aha! Imagine being matched with someone whose personal vision for life aligns with yours. You could filter potential matches by entrepreneurial spirit, leadership skills, or even soft skills like empathy and communication. Doesn't that get you excited?

We’ve all experienced swiping fatigue on dating apps, scrolling endlessly through profiles with minimal context. LinkedIn offers an escape from that. Profiles already give a deeper look into someone's journey, showcasing what drives them, what they're passionate about, and where they're headed. It's not just "Hey, great to connect. Do you like hiking on weekends?" Instead, it's "I see you've been building an app to help under-served communities thrive. Care to tell me more over coffee?"

Linked In Love [if that were a real thing] could blend professional respect with personal attraction. You might admire someone's expertise in AI, and before you know it, you're discussing future tech trends on your first date.

It's easy to be attracted to someone's appearance, but how about their drive, leadership, or vision? The digital world has taught us that attraction is evolving, and maybe LinkedIn is where the modern love story begins. If we're seeking long-term, meaningful connections, then looking beyond surface-level attraction might be the shift we need.

Dating on LinkedIn would mean getting real about what we value in a partner: ambition, intelligence, resilience, confidence, loyalty, compassion. And let's face it, there's something sexy about a well-written elevator pitch ;).

Some might argue that LinkedIn should remain a professional safe space, and they have a point. After all, mixing business with pleasure can be risky. But in a world where the lines between work and life are increasingly blurred, could it be the next evolution in how we connect?

As a single professional, I'm not saying LinkedIn should outright become the next Match. But hey, we can dream, can't we? What if our next date came from a "People You May [Want To] Know" suggestion, where compatibility runs deeper than just a swipe?

At the end of the day, maybe we're not so far off from LinkedIn as a place where love and career intersect. After all, isn't that the dream... to find a partner who's just as passionate about life as they are about their work? Hmmm, just sayin'.