When you think about it, Hinge and Tinder are superficial in their approach to connection: see a picture, read a soulless prompt, give a like. On the other hand, LinkedIn is more personal. You see successes and failures and strangers’ aspirations in a way that makes people seem more appealing for a first date. But recently, LinkedIn has gone from a professional networking site to a place where people get personal with their posts in an almost Facebook-like style.
This personalization of posts is not all bad, as it humanizes networking professionals. But when personalization leads to too much comfort, things can take a turn. It’s human nature to see a picture of someone and find them attractive. Even so, self-control is critical, and users need to have a shared consensus that some spaces are meant to be strictly professional.
Let’s say you get a connection request on LinkedIn, and their business casual headshot really piqued your interest. You may want to cyberstalk and find their Instagram profile, or even directly flirt via LinkedIn. But you have to remind yourself what app you’re on.
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Sometimes, it feels like when someone is invasive enough, any app could be a dating app, but LinkedIn is where we have to draw the line. With the rise of remote work post-COVID, LinkedIn is racking in rapid interactions with strangers. With an influx of users, there was bound to be a disconnect regarding the site’s purpose; an increasingly blurred line between professional app and personal life that is only getting messier as users begin to yearn for connection.
A LinkedIn spokesperson told Newsweek that the site “is a professional community and we encourage our members to engage in meaningful, authentic conversations,” though intended use is never final when in the hands of the public.
Since the platform encourages communication, there is little regulation on how the app is used, and users are free to speak to each other in any manner. The exhilaration of connecting with someone you believe is attractive and professionally successful is alive and well. But this isn’t Hinge; this is a platform to network and gain professional development.
This is not to say that fruitful relationships cannot form on LinkedIn or any other site not intended for romance, but it is only acceptable when done in good faith. Organic matchmaking on LinkedIn is possible, but ideally, the initial and primary intention should be to network professionally.
A survey administered by Jannik Lindner for Gitnux Market Data in July of 2024 shows that 31% of office romances lead to marriage in the United States, and 36% of those surveyed were previously involved in a workplace romance. This begs the question, why is it socially acceptable to meet your partner in an office but not on a networking site?
The core difference is the lack of rapport. Coworkers in a workplace have proximity and communication, whereas, on an online platform, you and another person may not even be colleagues. You may be complete strangers with no sense of each other’s boundaries, flirting on a social platform made for professional development.
We must remind ourselves that on LinkedIn, there is a pre-established boundary of professionalism and an expectation to be taken seriously.
Most users of LinkedIn likely want to use the site for its intended purpose. It is undeniable that in a world where boundaries are constantly being overstepped, the last place you need to be harassed is a site where you are just hoping to further your career.
The last thing someone needs after a long day of networking is to open their direct messages to a chat that is doing everything but offering them an internship. Many have spent their whole lives working towards being taken seriously in the professional world, and the gutted feeling of being belittled on a networking platform is horrific.
Network with that stranger and make that connection, but do it strictly for the purpose of professional development. Consider the effects of flirting on LinkedIn as a dilution of a professional persona — mixing business with pleasure is never a good idea in the networking world. Any inappropriate behaviors on LinkedIn can ruin your reputation while simultaneously disrespecting those around you.
The next time you make a LinkedIn connection, keep it professional and remind yourself that Tinder and Hinge are only a few swipes away.
