LinkedIn is the new Facebook
Introduced back in the old days of 2003, LinkedIn took a serious approach to the social networking phenomenon. Rather than being a platform for former classmates, LinkedIn was, -and still is-, a networking platform for business people who want to connect with other professionals all around the world.
I joined LinkedIn in early 2005/2006 with the purpose of gaining my first “serious” job. But now that my networks have developed – there is a lot of overlap – my friends are my connections and connections are my friends. LinkedIn has increasingly built features last year similar to Facebook in order to make it a more socially friendly place: text updates, image updates, people tagging, and company pages. But perhaps it is becoming too much a Facebook look-a-like.
LinkedIn is becoming more like Facebook. The professional nature of some people is gone ... what will the new professional networking and career platform?
These days on LinkedIn – while I’m connecting to business professionals, sharing my professional thoughts, and reading professionally produced content related to their jobs or companies -, I see more and more of my connections (and 3rd connections) use LinkedIn as they would use Facebook. In my opinion LinkedIn all is about making a professional and meaning full connections.
The layout and design changes and strategy of 2015 helped users to stand out more in search results as well as reflect a “more personal feel", according to LinkedIn. But, as you can imagine, the changes in the direction of Facebook changed the whole experience (and use) of LinkedIn dramatically. You can certainly continue writing your messages on a professional level, as it used to be. But the medium now encourages more casual conversation like Facebook. I have noticed myself, that I'm annoyed more and more: I see the same content, -multiple times per week-, shared by different connections. The same memes, maths puzzles, and pictures of Minions.
Considering LinkedIn is a business, and its leaders are always seeking ways to maximize their bottom line. Changes are ultimately designed to increase revenue as users don’t need -and want- to pay for LinkedIn services. I'm seriously wondering how long this strategy will work. What I know is that LinkedIn will continue to enhance and change the platform, so I will stayed tuned the next coming years.
But I just wonder: When will there be a new professional platform that goes back to the 'old' LinkedIn? How will the new professional networking and career platform look like? I don't know. What I do know is that I would love to explore this new platform for professionals.
What are your thoughts about this look-a-like phenomenon? Have something to add to this story? Share it in the comments.
image source: Pixabay
Adviseur Digitale Content Vakbekwaamheid bij Brandweer Amsterdam-Amstelland
8yExcellent! Exactly what I was thinking for a while and sometimes also annoyed by. Some strange observations: 1. I dislike typical Facebook updates on LinkedIn, but some are so funny (and relevant on a professional level) that I like them anyway 2. Even though I would prefer a way to downvote / dislike such updates, but there isn't really 3. There are some individuals in my network who (IMO) clearly take the wrong approach, by sending out typical Facebook updates frequently, as if they were using a social media calendar (they probably are), likely to increase their visibility, get more followers, or... (?) -- but I'm still hesitant to disconnect, as he/she is part of my network. Curious how other people feel about this, and to find out what LinkedIn might plan to do about it -- if anything.