Let’s Keep LinkedIn Free of Provocative Political Posts

Summary

The article advocates for keeping LinkedIn, a professional networking platform, free from provocative political content to maintain its integrity as a space for professional growth and networking.

Abstract

The author emphasizes the importance of preserving LinkedIn's unique status as a professional social media platform by avoiding the influx of divisive political posts and memes. The article points out that LinkedIn has been a haven from the toxic political discourse prevalent on other social media sites, serving primarily as a hub for networking, recruiting, and job hunting. The author provides four reasons to support their stance: such political debates are unhealthy in a professional context, they may inadvertently influence LinkedIn's content algorithm, they are unproductive and time-wasting, and they detract from the platform's joyful and professional atmosphere. The author implores users and LinkedIn's management to prevent the platform from becoming another venue for political confrontations, urging users to keep LinkedIn focused on its core professional objectives.

Opinions

LinkedIn's reputation as a professional networking site should not be tarnished by the addition of provocative political content.
The presence of political memes and debates on LinkedIn is unexpected and inappropriate, as it contradicts the platform's established purpose.
Engaging in political debates on LinkedIn can lead to negative first impressions, which are detrimental to professional relationships and opportunities.
The author is uncertain about the specifics of LinkedIn's algorithm but suggests that engaging

4 reasons the professional platform should not be the site of your next anti-[insert political party] meme

I was doing my usual early morning social media, not-ready-to-get-out-of-bed-yet scrolling, when I came across this meme:

Meme created from the original painting “Impeachment Mob” by Jon McNaughton. Fair use for political commentary.

Do you want to take one guess where I saw it? Facebook? Nope. Twitter? Nope. Instagram? No. Not even close. I’ll give you a hint: look at the title of this Medium post. That’s right. LinkedIn.

I had to do a double-take when I saw it. Had I accidentally clicked the wrong blue app icon on my phone? Nope. I confirmed. I was on LinkedIn. How in the world was it then that an empirically misleading meme, whose sole purpose is to drum up divisive debating, was showing up on the one social media platform that has been a respite from the toxicity of political discourse that is Facebook, Twitter, Reddit, et. al.?

Off-brand

LinkedIn is a professional social media platform that has created a reputation for providing the best in online networking, recruiting, and job hunting. It is not made to be a place for people to proselytize divisive rhetoric. It’s bad enough when we see friends and relatives share memes that have skyrocketed the number of unfriends and unfollows on those other platforms. The last thing I want to see is the people I work with, or plan to work with, doing the same.

I also don’t want to see cute cat videos (unless it’s a promotion for a pet supply store and it’s part of their brand campaign). I don’t want to see videos of white women yelling at poor Trader Joe employees. I don’t want to see protest videos of cops beating down peaceful protestors. And frankly, I don’t want to see peaceful protest videos either (even though I’m in a demographic that supports them).

When I go to Ruth’s Chris, I expect a grade A steak, not a cheap flimsy burger I can get at McDonald’s for 99 cents.

LinkedIn is the Ruth’s Chris of social media discourse. Memes like the one above are flimsy, saturated fat-filled, greasy burgers, and frankly, LinkedIn is above such content.

4 Reasons we should keep LinkedIn free of provocative politics

It encourages unhealthy debate: most people on LinkedIn are looking to hire or be hired. It’s not good for either side to have your first impression be an inane futile debate.

It may train the algorithm: I admit that I’m not entirely sure how LinkedIn’s algorithm works. But my guess is that if it senses long threads, it will give more weight to those—thereby increasing their visibility on the platform, and decreasing the visibility of fruitful posts.

They’re unproductive: how much time have you spent in ridiculous online debates with people on Facebook, Twitter, or Reddit? Do you really want the time you spend on a networking and recruiting platform to devolve into inane, circular debates that go nowhere?

If robs people of joy: lastly, memes like these rob people of joy. LinkedIn has been the last bastion of freedom from the toxic sludge that is the rest of social media. I feel comfortable scrolling through my LinkedIn feed, knowing that every other post is not going to get my blood pressure up.

For the love of God and all that is holy, please, leave LinkedIn alone. Save your provocative political posts for those other platforms and let us network, recruit, and learn in a safe zone. If the powers that be at LinkedIn/Microsoft are watching, NIP THIS IN THE BUD!