To hate LinkedIn with a passion?

Thepeopleversuswork · 2025-08-01T09:41:06+00:00

I know, I know, it's the only acceptable "professional" social media network and its essential for finding jobs and for building your brand and building connections bla bla bla. I use it for a living and I recommend clients use it. But its just professional sycophancy dressed up as "insight" with a very transparent veneer of "authenticity". People post self-serving shit designed to suck up to their boss/shareholders or be picked up by algorithms and people line up to say "so insightful" and other platitudes. A tiny fraction of the things posted on LI are genuine or thoughtful. They are all just corporate drivel disguised as commentary. For all their toxicity and addictive qualities (and God knows I hate Elon Musk) at least X, Facebook and Insta are, dare I say it, real?

LemonKitten · 03/08/2025 11:46

I say it on every I HATE LINKEDIN post on here, but - you need to curate your feed so you don't see that shite. https://nikki-pilkington.com/clean-up-your-linkedin-feed-in-2-easy-steps/

Clean Up Your LinkedIn Feed In 2 Easy Steps - Copywriting UK

If you're sick of seeing the same old content on LinkedIn, stop making posts complaining, and follow these 2 simple steps to clean up your LinkedIn newsfeed.

https://nikki-pilkington.com/clean-up-your-linkedin-feed-in-2-easy-steps/

AgnesX · 01/08/2025 20:09

As long as you realise everyone's blowing their own and their organisation's trumpet that's fine.

There's definitely a high degree of twattery in the comments sometimes.

Howmanycatsistoomany · 01/08/2025 20:07

Totally agree OP. I mean, it has brought me several clients so it's not all bad but dear God, the utter drivel some people post. And why is my feed full of graduation photos?

Frazzled2108 · 01/08/2025 19:53

Totally agree!

Original poster

Thepeopleversuswork · 01/08/2025 18:34

@Coolasfeck thank you for saving me from my Luddism :)

OP posts:

Coolasfeck · 01/08/2025 18:32

Thepeopleversuswork · 01/08/2025 16:01

That was pretty special. This is also a classic of the genre.

Anyone who has an electrolyte drink before 6am and writes down their goals and checks their bank account before 7.30am needs a proper night out.

Show quote history

It’s this one -

Original poster

Thepeopleversuswork · 01/08/2025 17:01

@TenaciousDeeds

If a company is hiring and compare three candidates’ LinkedIn profiles, and two are just the CV part but one shows a lot of posts demonstrating what they’ve been up to etc, wouldn’t that give the latter candidate the edge?

No. Maybe I'm a grumpy old cow but I'd think the latter candidate was a narcissistic attention seeker.

OP posts:

TenaciousDeeds · 01/08/2025 16:59

Thepeopleversuswork · 01/08/2025 15:57

But that's exactly my point. As a professional network it's absolutely fine: it serves its purpose well. I hate this more recent mission creep into "content".

A site which functions very well as a jobs exchange doesn't in my view translate well into a forum for people to bang on about "creating impact".

Show quote history

But it’s just for self-promotion surely - annoying but necessary if you’re an ambitious, career driven person.

If a company is hiring and compare three candidates’ LinkedIn profiles, and two are just the CV part but one shows a lot of posts demonstrating what they’ve been up to etc, wouldn’t that give the latter candidate the edge?

For information I’m in the former group.

Famalamallama · 01/08/2025 16:03

Thepeopleversuswork · 01/08/2025 14:11

Yes... or pictures of the backs of of loads of white middle aged men in business suits sitting in a conference centre with a whiteboard visible in the corner of the screen with some cryptic and self-aggrandising caption "I love it when a plan comes together!"

This is supposed to be interesting to whom, exactly?

At least in the days of tabloid newspapers people got that you have to think about the audience rather than just spaff it onto the internet.

Show quote history

I love photos like this where everyone looks bored to tears in a bland meeting room and the caption is something like 'Exciting plans ahead' or 'SUCH a great day with XYZ.'

Also laugh whenever someone responds to a 'Anyone know of any jobs?' type post by tagging someone and saying something like 'Do you have/know of anything?'

I always imagine the person being tagged feeling shamed into responding!

Original poster

Thepeopleversuswork · 01/08/2025 16:01

That was pretty special. This is also a classic of the genre.

Anyone who has an electrolyte drink before 6am and writes down their goals and checks their bank account before 7.30am needs a proper night out.

Show quote history

Sorry, fail. Will try to post the picture!

OP posts:

Original poster

Thepeopleversuswork · 01/08/2025 16:01

Coolasfeck · 01/08/2025 15:46

From LinkedIn Lunatics today - absolutely hilarious:

That was pretty special. This is also a classic of the genre.

Anyone who has an electrolyte drink before 6am and writes down their goals and checks their bank account before 7.30am needs a proper night out.

OP posts:

Meadowfinch · 01/08/2025 16:01

You're the only person I have ever known describe Insta as real 😁

Original poster

Thepeopleversuswork · 01/08/2025 15:57

TenaciousDeeds · 01/08/2025 15:53

Well it is a professional network, so it’s populated by people making themselves visible and promoting their accomplishments within their industry. It’s obviously very tame and not particularly authentic, but it serves such a different purpose to other SM platforms that it’s nuts to compare them.

But that's exactly my point. As a professional network it's absolutely fine: it serves its purpose well. I hate this more recent mission creep into "content".

A site which functions very well as a jobs exchange doesn't in my view translate well into a forum for people to bang on about "creating impact".

OP posts:

TenaciousDeeds · 01/08/2025 15:53

Well it is a professional network, so it’s populated by people making themselves visible and promoting their accomplishments within their industry. It’s obviously very tame and not particularly authentic, but it serves such a different purpose to other SM platforms that it’s nuts to compare them.

LlynTegid · 01/08/2025 15:50

There have always been people full of their own importance when it comes to their job. At least if it is on LinkedIn and/or you work from home some or all of the time, you are spared having to witness such behaviour.

Coolasfeck · 01/08/2025 15:46

From LinkedIn Lunatics today - absolutely hilarious:

Original poster

Thepeopleversuswork · 01/08/2025 15:20

LandOfFruitAndNut · 01/08/2025 14:49

The real problem with LinkedIn as opposed to other social media is that most people don’t really understand what to post. There are some really great people on LinkedIn posting funny stuff, informative stuff, helpful stuff.
Fundamentally it’s a way of meeting new people just like any other social media. People get hung up on the ‘work focused’ aspect of it.

I still maintain that all social media is ‘false’ in that most people set up shots and situations. On LinkedIn these are just more obviously cringe worthy.

There is some good content on it from time to time. But the thing that bothers me is that its at heart very transactional but pretending to be about genuine friendships.

I know all social media is "fake" in the sense that everyone presents their best self etc. But there's something about LinkedIn that I find particularly mendacious because it wears this veneer of "human connection".

Facebook is utterly grim and you know people use filters etc but if someone posts you know they are posting to a genuine cross section of people who they like or at least are in their social circle. With LinkedIn its all deliberately calculated to appeal to people who might give you a job or might recommend you as a supplier or whatever but wreathed in this awful "that' so spiritual!" language.

It feels even more dishonest than the other networks.

OP posts:

TheSwarm · 01/08/2025 14:55

YANBU.

It's an absolute cesspool.

Absentmindedsmile · 01/08/2025 14:55

You are not wrong. A lot of it is sycophantic grimness, or self aggrandisement beyond recognition. And last time I used it, had started to seem a bit like Facebook. I’m going to x to x for x charity. Or worse, a dating site. Bleugh. I left it a few years ago. Rely on personal contacts or contacts of contacts now, if need be.

Bluetoothpaste · 01/08/2025 14:54

I don’t mind if posts are limited to professional or career related topics but I find there a creep towards talking about your children’s exam results or graduation day etc which really belongs on Facebook.

Lafufufu · 01/08/2025 14:51

The self indulgent clap trap and drivel makes me slightly unwell.

It gives me thr full ick yet here we are forced to use it

LandOfFruitAndNut · 01/08/2025 14:49

The real problem with LinkedIn as opposed to other social media is that most people don’t really understand what to post. There are some really great people on LinkedIn posting funny stuff, informative stuff, helpful stuff.
Fundamentally it’s a way of meeting new people just like any other social media. People get hung up on the ‘work focused’ aspect of it.

I still maintain that all social media is ‘false’ in that most people set up shots and situations. On LinkedIn these are just more obviously cringe worthy.

MorningLarkEchoes · 01/08/2025 14:48

I wish I never tried to set up a profile on LinkedIn. I got half way through setting one up and then I got locked out and haven’t been able to regain access to it ever since. I have tried everything. I have even resorted to asking ChatGPT for advice. Nothing works. So now I have an unfinished profile which looks like I have barely any experience in the field I work in. Unless I manage to regain access to it then it could stop me from being successful on any job applications if prospective employers look me up on LinkedIn. It’s embarrassing and frustrating.

TwoTuesday · 01/08/2025 14:42

Yeah I agree with you on the LinkedIn fodder.. Absolutely unbelievably fantastic achievement hosting this amazing group of superheros for health and safety training today etc

Original poster

Thepeopleversuswork · 01/08/2025 14:38

My particular pet hate posting ‘Thank-you Dave for such an interesting and informative input today. Can’t wait to get back to the office and put your ideas into action’ Oh do fuck off to the far side of fuck off town 🤮

Right? It's so nakedly obsequious. Why do people need to be fluffed in this way by minor acquaintances?

OP posts: