Why is LinkedIn so weird?

LinkedIn should be a straightforward networking platform. So why does it feel so...weird?
In this "Case Study," the Good Work investigative team digs into the popularity of LinkedIn cringe. Thanks to Rachel Karten, Jack Raines, and Julie Livingston for their indispensable help with this investigation.
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Video by Dan Toomey and Henry Stockwell
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Why is LinkedIn so weird?

[@GoodWorkMB]

What case study should we do next? 🕵🏼‍♂

[@d3t3]

MBAs

[@melissaphelix]

@@d3t3 🤣🤣🤣

[@casual4069]

why you should directly register your shares on the stock market

[@kris1123259]

Middle managers

[@matthewarrojas5183]

Why do jobs give a shit about a "credential"?

[@luiscalejo8414]

I think a big problem with LinkedIn is the lack of negative feedback. You can't dislike a post (I think they even removed the 'thinking' reaction because people were using it as a dislike button) and most people won't comment negatively because it's not anonymous and they're afraid of looking bad on a professional network. The result is a network of toxic positivity. Even if a cringe narcissistic post is hated by 9 out 10 people, every tenth person might like it and the author might not even realize he/she made a cringe post

[@chepulis]

🤔

[@wkxxnewslocal]

piping hot take here

[@MarcoMelendres]

True!

[@yalelaw]

Facts

[@ckush928]

Absolutely, and the same tactics work in real-world corporate life too, for the same reasons. It's not really a LinkedIn problem, though it did make eveything more extreme, like facebook did with other social interactions.

[@absintel]

LinkedIn is the online version of that office party everyone HAS to go to and smile at the boss while she praises herself.

[@blammela]

THIS!!!!!

[@drlca6601]

herself? lmao you definitely have someone in mind XD

[@SineN0mine3]

But you don't HAVE to be on LinkedIn, right?

[@alexbush714]

"herself" is how I know this is a very personal comment.

[@churnetvalleyrunner3635]

I’ve never been to a works party and I never will. You don’t HAVE to go anywhere 😂

[@accoviser]

I don't understand what's weird about it. The other day I was walking past a dog, so I stopped to help it. That dog turned out to be Jeff Bezos' dog and I am now CEO of Amazon. Thank you to my company for this opportunity. #community #weareafamily.

[@kefentsekoketsontlotlang5954]

😂😂😂😂

[@gatheredwisdom]

🤣🤣🤣

[@christinasteele5110]

Literally laughing out loud 😂

[@planwithgloria]

😂😂😂😂

[@ndifreketitus1704]

😂😂🤣🤣

[@shre9]

Worst combination ever is being unemployed + scrolling LinkedIn 😢 LinkedIn is the most toxic place to be

[@rockwithyou2006]

thats me right now

[@IrsidaSheshi]

me too, friend :(@@rockwithyou2006

[@LilithsCosmicLounge]

Did you guys ding any jobs?

[@DharmajBhardwaj]

​@@schooldunce6810better do startup

[@afridgetoofar1818]

That’s me right now, and I feel so gross.

[@benjohnson9224]

I write on LinkedIn for my company and do some ghostwriting for our C-levels, and I almost did a spit-take when that woman said the tone on the site was conversational. Posts on LinkedIn are the most unnatural sounding things on the internet. It’s really hard for me to write on there because you HAVE to be a certain level of cringe. I hate it.

[@fellzer]

Yesterday, I was walking down the street to a job interview when an old woman approached me. 👵 She asked, "Could you spare a dollar for the meter, dear." 💸 I said, "No." ❌ -----Expand More------ (Intentionally breaking the story here) I proceeded to put $10 into every meter on the block. 💪 I said, "Pay it forward, ma'am" and tipped my hat. 😎 As I was about to leave, the old woman ripped off her mask. Underneath it was Jamie Dimon. Chief Executive Officer of the VERY company I was about to interview at 🙀 He shook my hand and said, "Son, how would you like to be the new CEO of JPMorgan Chase?" 🤔 I replied, "No thanks. I need to go save orphans from that burning children's hospital over there" 🔥🏨🔥 This all definitely happened and I am 100% not a monster of a human being trying to manipulate the public perception of myself ala Dan Price. Follow me on insta where you can see me in my natural form of staring out at the sea with deep thoughts in my head.

[@noziz6017]

Linkedin is like a conversation, if you're talking to Neil deGrasse Tyson

[@aronseptianto8142]

i mean if she talks to stuck up c-suite all day, she's probably not lying, hard to know what normal conversation sounds like when you talk to those kind of people

[@pillbugm8914]

Tbf this does depend on what a normal conservation would look like for the hustle types you'd see. Authenticity isn't really a necessary part of conservation more than the performance of authenticity.

[@MiltonYogi]

If you look only at her segments you’ll notice she didn’t say anything useful at all. She talks like she’s an expert.

[@JamesRoyceDawson]

THANK YOU. I've despised LinkedIn for years. It's so forced and weird

[@flightlessboid]

True. You can smell the stink of it as soon as the face page hits your screen.

[@JuanjoPP]

...eh. I mean, Linkedin is cringe, sure, but I'd say it's still a force for good for people who use it to find their next job and network with colleagues. Can you really say the same about other social media? Twitter is a cesspool full of negativity and haters, Reddit was taken over long ago by mentally ill eternal moderators, Tiktok steals user's data. So yeah maybe cringe doesn't sound as bad considering the alternatives.

[@zants_]

It's not self-aware, though. The examples you give, the users there know their stereotype and make referential, ironic posts that play on those stereotypes. The only ironic posting happening on LinkedIn is by outsiders coming in with the intention of manipulating the algorithm/users to make their posts go viral, examples shown in this video. I guess, a random analogy. Think of all social media websites as community colleges. Twitter, reddit, and TikTok are like "you're here because your grades sucked or you're poor and you couldn't get into university; our professors also work here because they couldn't make it as university professors; our sports suck, hell our mascot is a freaking owl, what the heck is that? What we're trying to say is: we get it. But you can still get an education here and move on to better things." Then there's LinkedIn that's like "you can get a bachelor's degree here! There's honestly no reason you have to even go to a university, we basically *are* a university and this is actually the only education you need! Um, our professors are actually better than university professors too, that's why they're here. Also, our sports have been ranked the highest for three years by Community College Athletics Magazine, that's a huge deal.". It's cringe because it's not self-aware: it's saying all of those things about itself not as a joke, but because it actually seems to think that. The other social media "community colleges" could say that same stuff but you'd know they're joking, with LinkedIn we're left wondering "wait... does this community college actually think it's a university?" Anyway, basically all of that is non-sensical since you wouldn't use those other social media sites typically for job pursuits, just as you shouldn't use LinkedIn as a social media site, they weren't made for that and so we're ultimately comparing apples to oranges.

[@idkwhybut...]

​@@JuanjoPP Everyone steals user data

[@lifewithastrid]

I still do avoid using it actively. I have it because about ten years ago school told me to create an account there. I keep my resume up to date on there but that's it. I even turned off the messaging thing. The recruiters that can't read drove me insane even when I wasn't actively looking for a new job.

[@dashman2062]

I actually noticed LinkedIn can sometimes be worse for your mental health then other social media sites. For example if you have been unemployed for a long time and you log on and see a bunch of post from people who got a new job/promotion etc.

[@KingBuffo]

This is also especially harmful to men, since men tend to tie their self-worth to career.

[@Justin-uc8sc]

Why tf you even on LinkedIn in the first place? It’s a ego-stroking website for suit dummies.

[@applepieclub5012]

I can personally confirm this. It was depressing as fuck having to log in everyday and see the cesspool of toxic positivity

[@haleymist09]

Yep!

[@JoaoSantos-ur1gg]

@@KingBuffo People of all genders do as in everybody needs money.

[@mohamedsherif4096]

"Everybody has to be there, nobody wants to be these" he really summed it up with this sentence.

[@chlorophyllmorelikeboraphy6874]

I am so happy the anti-LinkedIn community is so large. I see some of the cringiest stuff on there and feel like I have to like it if I want to be seen by potential employers

[@RKhere97]

for a very long time i had nobody to vent about this lmaooo and it feels like you're gaslit cuz nobody else saw any problem with that pos app

[@MaJetiGizzle]

@@RKhere97 No, we see the problem. We just compare it to other social media platforms and how much of a dumpster fire they appear to be and we think, “well, it could always be a lot worse,” but is LinkedIn lame and cringe? Yes, objectively yes, but it’s boring enough where you’re not going to care much one way or the other.

[@qanon_qanon]

Recruiters not employers - employers never read cv's

[@sdccvideo1460]

ever hear of a job application? who says you need to even be on there?

[@MijoShrek]

​@@sdccvideo1460yeah i thought it was for all the freelancers to network with each other and companies can reach out to them for projects. Other than that, one more damn platform that's cringe. After social platforms have literally not made us more socialble. In fact we feel more isolated. The dating apps. Have helped create a dumpster fire of a dating world. And taken all the fun and natural feel of romance to dating is all but gone. Seems our current state of the model internet needs an overhaul. Its really bland and it's felt like we're not pushing forward cause of tech industry. No innovation and been disappointing for us all. Maybe besides the techies themselves.

[@bluenitriletouch2842]

On the job hunt now, and logging in to LinkedIn every day to apply to jobs and message people is like volunteering to get punched in the face. I was working from a coffee shop one day, and watched a man sign up for a LinkedIn account. The sadness I felt for this person...I wanted to give him a hug.

[@Josh-Parkhill]

Laugh out lol

[@lospamuk]

>watched a man sign up for a LinkedIn account I'll take things that never happened for 500, Alex

[@moldman5694]

@@lospamuk I'm sorry? 😂 is that really so unbelievable?

[@negative6442]

@@lospamuk go outside

[@bluenitriletouch2842]

@@lospamuk Well, my guy, it unfortunately did.

[@DanielPerez-hh5sy]

The weirdest thing is that at some point you will be 'forced' to create a LinkedIn profile, being this at school, collegue, a job or whatever, and once you create it, you cannot escape it, ever.

[@Planck944]

Exactly! I am a student at UCL, i have to apply for internships and they keep asking for my LinkedIn😭😭i looked up videos to help and this popped up 😂

[@NPCSpotter]

I’m going to shitpost until my free LinkedIn premium runs out in a few days

[@rainydayz7]

I was forced to create a Linkedin page in school. I hate it. My professor told me that I wouldn't find a job unless I had a social media presence. Well, I've gotten jobs just fine with a shell of a Linkedin page and non participation. People are such narcissistic braggarts on Linkedin. I even had a romance scammer bug me on Linkedin. Cringe. Cringe. Cringe.

[@julius43461]

I was getting jobs fine without Linkedin for more than a decade, until recently I was asked to create it by a new employer.

[@DecadeofDecay]

2:53 "Everybody has to be there and nobody wants to be there". LinkedIn in a nutshell

[@michellel9739]

I LOVE Linkedin. It's so fun to see all my bosses cry for attention and their weird takes on news.

[@zmojofoot76]

🤣

[@neo69121]

haha yeah freaking cringe lords :D

[@fynkozari9271]

Wtf is a LinkedIn?

[@Winspur1982]

I can see the appeal there. This is not exactly an innovation, though: 120 years ago you would have been reading the Chicago Tribune for your bosses' takes on "Negroes" and "Red Indians" and women's suffrage.

[@konstm.s.236]

pops the meritocracy bubble real quick lol

[@irishmarine3]

I hate LinkedIn with a passion, and I hate that you "need" to have one if you're a business professional

[@dave1T]

Lol no job for you if you don't.

[@cpreid]

It’s such trash 🚮

[@Akshay-oz9qp]

its self doxxing site, that's why HRs find it useful to get more information about any candidate or verify some details.

[@TheFreeBro]

I got a job at a major energy company without one. Stop spreading misinformation

[@neo69121]

you don't have to have one but yeah I agree that its easier I guess

[@pehash]

I think the biggest problem with Linkedin is that it was supposed to be a serious professional networking platform, focused on serious marketplace topics…. Instead you get cringe “positive“, “uplifting” and ofcourse, fake, success stories posted by the so called influencers of the platform. The fun part for me is to see people with a certain “weight” like CEOs, directors, etc, engaging and promoting this cringe. Its freeking hilarious and a very quick way to lose respect… yet these people are absolutely clueless.

[@cookiecatattack6317]

i'm just appreciating this guy standing in random spots on the streets and reading copy. the editing is just hilarious. your random humor is not unappreciated.

[@usisiphoqamata]

My avarage time spent on LinkedIn is probably 2 minutes, max. My reaction is always, "ooh my God, shut up". Everything is taken waaay too serious, I thought I was the only one who found it cringe. Love this video.

[@griseldahoxha2346]

It makes me sick as a app, because really it's just soooo fake.Everything looks so fake, cringe,show off. I have like 6 months that don't log in.

[@aniaasmane9880]

i agree af

[@ayacyte443]

I especially love when people have full arguments in the comments like,,, do you know where you are? It's embarrassing... Your whole name and face, I could never. I do have stupid Internet arguments anonymously, but it feels so much worse when you witness it on LinkedIn.

[@Merces69]

2 mins max as well. Its full of company praise and bootlicking

[@ronmackinnon9374]

If you loved this video, you might also love one called 'LinkedIn Is Hell' (on the Yugopnik channel). I definitely recommend.

[@loraporter5895]

5 stars for whoever directed and edited this. Leveraging his comedic timing to perfection.

[@wkxxnewslocal]

[@kay_langhammer_music]

Sound is really bad though

[@MartijnPennings]

Not to mention the expert location management on this piece. Rarely have I seen someone report before a poster of a giant man who looks like he is in excruciating pain while eating a cherry pie.

[@Christine_]

Lol the "tasting pen ink" sent me!!!!

[@TheLastCustomer]

​@@MartijnPennings lmao that was a beautiful location

[@BUGHUNTER6]

I dont think LinkedIn will ever be "the" social network because people like having work and private life separated

[@theeternalgus9119]

LinkedIn is just a means to an end and should be treated that way.

[@ronmackinnon9374]

'a means to an end' Have you actually managed to get hired through it? Feels like our use of the platform is the real 'end,' and we're just being strung along.

[@36424567254]

Using Linkedin as an actual social network (rather than just scouting job offers) is basically trying to live an entire life as company PR statement. Literally each paragraph is a fake, politically correct, artificially-blended mix of positive and affirmative statements that do not actually mean absolutely anything. My perennial favourite: "I'm thankful to everyone at [company A] for giving me the best opportunity of my life, I met the best people, worked at the most interesting projects, was strongly valued by the company, and there were totally absolutely no downsides whatsoever of working there. Which is clearly why I quit/was fired/didn't land a contract renewal, and therefore I am now excited to be joining [company B] for a new project that will be even _more best_ , together with the _more best_ people, in the _more best_ environment."

[@lemonstrangler]

to be honest, i dont really have a problem with that ? what else were you expecting lol. linkedin is not a social network like instagram and facebook, and its presentation clearly shows you that, even with the professional sounding comments. its just like any other formal setting like in a school website, some student talking about an experience.

[@36424567254]

@@lemonstrangler How can you not have a problem with that. it's an empty statement that obviously and clearly, to all people involved, means absolutely nothing and is self-evidently false. And besides that, I already clearly said that using Linkedin as a social network is a bad idea.

[@stanislavkindiakov6334]

Great summary, exactly how I feel about “I am thrilled to announce [wtf shit]…..”

[@SFayeLewis]

What type of stuff should you post on Linkedin? I post random things about my professional life.

[@36424567254]

@@SFayeLewis personally I don't see the point in posting anything, for most of us. Maybe if you work in something related to social media or PR, or you have a company yourself, you might want to be active, but for most workers I don't see why bother.

[@oilonpaper]

I love how everyone on LinkedIn changing their job announces that it's time for a "new challenge" and proceeds to thank the team they're leaving for the great time they've had. 😂

[@GolfCrafter]

Id rather kick them in the eye and say sod off wont miss you a tiny bit you devils

[@jcantonelli1]

🤮.

[@euniceo5345]

Thank you to my forever family I’m leaving behind. 😂🤣 I read someone post that.

[@qanon_qanon]

Yeah they announce the "new challenge" but not the boomerang back to their original job - so many times that has happened

[@weskeaton1]

I’m onto my next adventure! (Logging into a different laptop for a different company).

[@tonyxfury]

My “favorite” type of LinkedIn posts is the one that starts with “I’m proud to announce…” or those hollow posts about “delivering value” where they just compile some vague phrases that can fit to any business. Thank you for bringing that up.

[@nocturne2172]

Dont forget about #CompanyCulture

[@3DJapan]

LinkedIn is like the boy who cried wolf. It's constantly telling me about important stuff I missed but when I look it's just nonsense so I just end up ignoring everything it says. It also seems to think I know every person who went to my school that I graduated from over 20 years ago.

[@crisco6770]

“I’m so thrilled to announce” - don’t forget about the humble brags

[@goldfish3858]

I hate that so much, like keep it to yourself and they ain’t even mindful to the people who don’t have a job

[@barrycarter7274]

Someone else mentioned this as well. Because there's no anonymity and your career is literally on the line people just write the content like it's a work email. Incredibly forced and you can never say how you truly feel. You're basically just "see my last emailing" your way through an entire site and trying not to be controversial but still write something engaging. It basically forces you to be cringe so you don't hurt your job prospects

[@striderstache99]

Yep. The best advice I got for trying to get back in the rat race is antithetical to everything I stand for, so much so it's hard to even want to post there. I need to add a meme or have a shtick or have a witty post or write one sentence and have the rest below the fold so you have to click the post and each time you do it's one sentence with two breaking spaces. It hurts my fucking soul to need it but I really do

[@SuprousOxide]

So I can't understand why anyone would risk posting anything at all.

[@winwinmilieudefensie7757]

Who writes content ? I dont i just like and pretend its a nice way to show a version of you .. why is it so bad to have some filter ? I dont need unhinged co workers running around naked being themselves at work 😂 have you guys not experienced the covid pandemic have you noticed humans ? Heelll noo .. back in the cage mofoos .. jeez

[@liamness]

It would be so much better if there was a way you could 1. only see posts from actual connections and not just stuff that people you know have reacted to / commented on and 2. you could constrain visibility of posts you make to only certain connections, not your whole network. As it stands the feeds and posts are basically useless to me and it's literally just a place to put a different version of my CV. It's a shame because it would be pretty useful sometimes to post about a job that you know is available, or check up on whether old colleagues have posted anything you'd be interested in recently. But nope. It's just an endless wall of humblebragging from people I don't actually know or care to know.

[@TheStepmonkey]

@@SuprousOxide Same, I just don't post anymore

[@Eurobunneh]

It’s creepy as hell. I set up an account years ago to help me find a job, it linked everything about me and people I hadn’t seen or heard from for ages suddenly appeared. Never again.

[@chaugulepankaj]

Thank you for this video. I was under the impression that I was the sole individual who felt that LinkedIn is becoming rather awkward. Just recently, an HR professional posted a picture of herself like all dolled up at a party, attempting to convey a story about how she hired a young woman during challenging circumstances. It perplexes me why one would feel the need to share an attractive photo in order to convey any sort of unrelated story. It appears that LinkedIn is gradually resembling Facebook. Don't know about the other countries but it's becoming worst in India.

[@furanvalley]

I'm Italian and my LinkedIn homepage is filled with people posting screenshots of their motivational tweets accompanied by another long and even cringier paraphrasing of their own tweet. It's literally becoming like Facebook and I hate it.

[@chaugulepankaj]

@@furanvalley Similar case here in India too. I don't feel like accessing LinkedIn anymore. Unfollowing the people who like or post such content is the only solution.

[@femto02]

Same, in India. Final year in college and saw my seniors banana-ride their company like their career depends on it.

[@bens4602]

Facebook is much better than LinkedIn.

[@chaugulepankaj]

@@femto02 funny! 😅

[@hugaexpl0it]

That PR lady is the embodiment of LinkedIn for sure.

[@ronmackinnon9374]

Sounds like she wouldn't recognize cringe if she tripped over it.

[@WhatIsThis-zq4hk]

Every Linkedin post ever: iM hApPy tO aNnOuNcE that I have just accepted a position as Lead Senior Director of Content Strategy and Engagement. For the past few years, I have worked as the Lead Junior Director of Content Strategy and Engagement, so this will be a big step for me and I am grateful to everyone who has helped me on this journey and I look forward to leading my rockstar team to drive more engagement and customer satisfaction. Just typing that made me want to vomit.

[@Brainfracture]

I hate you for making me read that. Well done.

[@justcommenting4981]

Congratulations on this big step in your journey in the engagement space.

[@davinnicode]

You forgot to use the emoticons and smileys

[@angelg69420]

You forgot the 🚀🚀

[@brandonpinto5290]

😂🤮

[@AletheAce]

The worst on LinkedIn is people kowtowing and genuflecting on the posts of their bosses or company's. Often, it's just a giant circle jerk. "Oh wow look at me, I am so great, I hustle, I have an awesome job and make lots of money because I am great."

[@Caesar_Online]

During my job hunting times I was especially annoyed with those posts as the algorithm favoured those over the posts of people needing actual help with their job search

[@Design.Theory]

Excellent video. I fielded this exact question a few weeks ago with a few friends of mine... In essence, every social setting has a "language", and LinkedIn is basically the personification of corporate-speak, which may be one of the most disingenuous forms of communication out there. Basically, it's impossible to be genuine if there's always the underlying need to make a financial transaction with the people you're speaking with.

[@AAscension]

This is exactly the problem. Very well written.

[@ech185]

LinkedIn is like that toxic abusive friend in high school which you have been ignoring the past 10yrs but still occasionally check-in to make sure they are still alive 🎉 totally cringe.

[@NESherv]

LinkedIn is Facebook in a suit.

[@alainportant6412]

oddly specific

[@adoroselatte]

Facts

[@GoodKingMort]

It’s definitely sickly-positive. There’s no way to show your true self without being afraid of looking bad to potential employers😅

[@costeris35]

It is not a social network, it is a space to advertise yourself or your company. I only ever use LinkedIn in the periods when I’m looking to change jobs. The only people who use it frequently are markerting professionals for organisations or the self-employed trying to attract business.

[@lw8882]

"I live and die by my ability to shitpost on the internet." And for some reason that seemed normal and relatable to me.

[@lossinsauce]

Another golden case study! Dan really peeling back the layers of the corporate world. Can't wait for the exposé on emailing ettique

[@wkxxnewslocal]

oooooooooohhh

[@NathanEall]

As a young adult, I have no idea why I have LinkedIn. Just heard older adults say it’s good for ‘networking’. I’ve don’t no networking whatsoever

[@angimations77]

I hate it because half the jobs that reached out to me that were “interested in my resume” were all scammers, it’s getting really tiring.

[@fsk_hrtm]

I think you found a video format, we need a hell lot more of. Love the style

[@wkxxnewslocal]

you got it Felix

[@AkatarawaJapan]

It’s got that Inside New Zealand investigative piss-take vibe. Love it.

[@revolvency]

Hey, I want to announce that now I'm a professional KZbin commenters! Thank you for all of my peers who helped me through this phase! Love you! See you on top!

[@hamzzak]

cfbr

[@d.cassarino]

This is a good one

[@RomanCollapses]

hahaha

[@inkywinks9484]

I had to create a profile for my college and I have not posted a single thing and yet my own grassroots networking (emails/meeting people in real life) has helped me so much more than LinkedIn could ever and it’s simply because I don’t have to force a personality or act like I’m Joe Goodworker, corporate slave. Plus when you’re doing the underground circuit (psychotronic directors and punk musicians) the people you look for don’t tend towards shit like LinkedIn

[@JBuckets90]

I for one just love how genuine & authentic everyone is on linkedin! There's nothing I love more than logging on in the morning to see a self appointed guru tell me how my job should be done.

[@grammar_shark]

Nothing epitomizes 'fake it till you don't make it like LinkedIn.'

[@user-nb3vs2mc4e]

It needs to go back to its roots. They have the potential to pioneer the change the broken job search system, how we hire, and how we network that the workforce so desperately needs. It’s become a Vice Facebook, complacent and bipolar. How can they not realize this?

[@BlindMango]

When searching for a job years ago it astounded me just how bad it was, how you had to enter the same information for each job over and over and over again, and I thought to myself why there isn’t some API that all these companies can plug into, and why isn’t LinkedIn working on something like that rather than terrible social media “features”

[@nelsonk1341]

lets all destroy LinkedIn by using it as Tinder while using Tinder as LinkedIn.

[@mjo6941]

Just here to say I absolutely freaking love your content !!! The comedic twist on the sad reality we live in... I watched all your videos on IG, new to your YT channel. Keep up the GOOD WORK 👏🏻❤

[@gabrielgrassmayrtoo]

When people tell me that KZbinrs can't be entertaining, serious and educational simultaneously, I'm just showing them this Channel!

[@GoodWorkMB]

hell yeah

[@christopherl5239]

What an oddly specific thing to tell someone.

[@notdumbrella6399]

Add funny to that

[@paulcarmi8130]

Who tells you that? Lies

[@homosexualpanic]

Your imaginary people are wrong

[@carissafei7330]

It’s amazing how much agreement is how cringey/ fake everything feels. Linked in use to be about just your job search profile and resume, but now it’s become a platform where you have to look like an expert in your field. Like job interviews. Even your profile, there is no verification process, so, you write litterally anything on your profile.

[@shroomer3867]

Here's how I made 10 Morbillion dollars using AI and lost it all on the pokeys in 50 simple steps:

[@isakaldazwulfazizsunus7564]

What gets to me on LinkedIn are the professional ghostwriters and PR managers specialized in social media. They basically monetized shitposting and recently it's felt a lot like they're running out of ideas.

[@sshukla7975]

How much positive, Caring and inclusive each and every person projects to be on LinkedIn, if you meet them in any office space they are highly narcissistic psychopath and would even care less about anything or anyone. It's just a place where people put on performance for the companies to see them. It has turned into ONLY FANS OF EMPLOYMENT...

[@faisal5367]

"onlyfans for employment". well said.

[@Kendersrule]

I really enjoyed Dan's commitment to the investigative trench coat throughout

[@VascoMota]

There's an additional side of LinkedIn that you didn't mention: it's an ads platform to all B2B companies. Ads on LinkedIn cost 100x more than other platforms. I disagree that it would be expected that people would be more truthful there: the office is where everyone wears a mask and pretends to want to be there: can there be a more fake space? And LinkedIn is an extension of that. Every meeting, presentation, job interview is a performance. LinkedIn is the global stage for all the corporate clowns.

[@36424567254]

Absolutely. Linkedin is a living PR statement, for people who actually use it as social network. Why would anyone ever take part in this, except for people that indeed do PR for a living, I cannot begin to understand.

[@DeLorean4]

LinkedIn is where I go to see which highschool and university friends have turned into corporate sellout hacks. Putting your CV is good, but anyone who actually posts regularly in a non-marketing role is weird af. There's another subset of the population who treats it like regular social media. It's messed up how some people will trash talk brands and discuss extreme political views in a place where their employment information is at everyone's fingertips.

[@bottlecapbrony366]

It also feels like most people don't want to be on LinkedIn. I only made an account so that I could have a LinkedIn profile on my resume next to my contact information. Same with most of my coworkers; they all have accounts but nobody ever posts anything. It's just becoming a standard thing to add to a resume to make it look better while not actually providing any substance to your resume, unless you actually post stuff on LinkedIn.

[@pb_and_nutella]

Nothing like encouraging people to speak as if they have expertise that they don't to foster thoughtful conversations and discussions

[@slashgnr11]

If I ever wanna feel like a worthless POS, LinkedIn has my back.

[@seanknox7321]

Why is that? If you know everyone is fake as fuck then how can their look at me posts impact you?

[@mime3761]

​@@seanknox7321doesn't matter just how meager your current salary is, you're still employed. Checking LinkedIn while long-term unemployed, however, that's one very different animal.

[@titandarknight2698]

@@seanknox7321 Jealousy. idk why they blame the people posting though.

[@deyoswed]

This is a great case study, informative and hilarious 😆 I hope we will have the chance to see more videos of this caliber!

[@TheWaterIsTepid]

Just found this channel today, have already watched every video you've made keep up the good work!

[@CJAlonzo413]

I'm happy to announce that your video is hilarious and spot on! Congrats on being on youtube for 5.5 years!

[@defenda1]

Great content, CJ. If you'd like to connect I'd be happy to run you through an engagement metric?

[@caterpilar]

I'm so happy and proud that you found this video, like oh my god!

[@mime3761]

#blessed

[@eurika297]

Glad I'm not alone. My previous employer literally told us to create a LinkedIn account saying it's mandatory. I'm like, where in my contract does it say I have to create an online account that's unrelated to my job. Yes, I am a licensed professional but I don't like putting my career and education for the public to see. It's cringy as f*ck. I just give out resume only to companies I actually wanna work in and not for the purposes of bragging online. It's weird. Turns out, THAT boss is trying to get more followers in his own LinkedIn account. Damn, how fake can he be.

[@beaverones41]

Thought chasing followers would end at apps like Instagram, turns out we were wrong. I don't even post things on regular social media. I do have Linkedin but it's purely to connect with potential jobs. Never posted anything myself, it is super cringe.

[@boogiedown747]

That's crazy lol.

[@doords]

Job applications now asking for your linkedin link

[@thrashwerk]

Rachel put it well that there are 2 sides to LinkedIn. The "social" side is similar to Facebook in that it's also a cancer, it's just a different form of cancer.

[@jonathanhuhn4364]

Coming back to this because the first time I didn’t fully appreciate how legendary the Dan Toomey / Jack Raines collab was.

[@NitaJain]

I'm definitely familiar with the cringe content on LinkedIn, but as someone obsessed with STEM conversations, I haven't seen too much of that stuff in my personal feed. LinkedIn has the potential to perform well if it can better filter out the noise and help people find their professional and creative tribes.

[@mrspoonofbuttonmoon]

Sounds like I should follow more STEM topics (despite not working in those fields). Literally everything on my feed is drivel, all of the time, despite regularly unfollowing the most egregious cringevomits.

[@NitaJain]

@@mrspoonofbuttonmoon Let me know if it helps any!

[@cheeeky_8763]

Professional and creative tribes 🤮

[@theinternetbutler]

You’re right. I get better STEM and industry discussions from specific areas on Reddit. There is no title throwing, dick waving a forced positivity - its rather refreshing

[@LancesArmorStriking]

​@@cheeeky_8763 More corporate speak. Taking the very personal grouping that was once the tribe and applying it to a transactional relationship.

[@jpmapachin]

I deleted all of my social media accounts except Linkedin, and I think it is for the same reason that I can't quit my job, even if I hated (Luckily I really like my job right now 😅), because LinkedIn is only a platform that imitates in the exact manner a real life toxic workplace 😅😅😅

[@ryanmumford5534]

Dude, you are marvelous! This is the first time I've laughed out loud from a video in months with your algorithm joke! Subbed!

[@manuelmuller3105]

People just don’t want to get cancelled or worsen their chances for an attractive job. That’s why everything there is so boring and artificially positive.

[@EderBJJ]

Loved this video! I work extensively on the social side of LinkedIn for B2B in the tech space. I “ghost” write, post and engage on behalf of my clients. Most of my day is scrolling through these cringe posts. I even called a client’s employee a rockstar on their behalf. 💀 They raise good points on the weird culture on LinkedIn. Every middle manager / C-Suite user tries their hardest to be authentic… while remaining as red-tape corporate as possible.

[@IL_Bgentyl]

The issue is linkedin is closely linked to you professional appearance so most wont rock the boat. So youre left with the people who are normally the awkward person at work that no one wants to be around or talk to but the company loves them because they enjoy being a door mat. If the add in dislikes and annoynomys post you would see what people really thought.

[@halloweenist664]

It's such a pleasure to have watched this inspiring video. And I can't begin to express my gratitude for seeing all the insightful comments from all the amazing likeminds. Without you, I would think I'm the one who has lost his/her/their mind.

[@drumrit]

I don't see anyone in the comments mentioning this but I think your underpaid reporter style is absolutely bang on. Love the casual deadpan attitude, top notch video!

[@jefftyzzer]

There's so much I dislike about LinkedIn, but I'm on it all the time ;-P Beyond the fact that everyone's a self-described thought leader, CEO, serial entrepreneur, 10x certified whatever, recognized authority, etc. it's the sheer amount of banal content being presented as penetrating and revelatory that kills me. Oh, and the humblebrag--when you post on LI that you're so "humbled and honored" to win an award that no one's heard of you're hardly being humble. It's also likely that if you have to say that the award is prestigious it isn't.

[@markwalker8374]

( years ago I worked in Addis Ababa for a year, at the time there was only the national telco that provided the worst possible unusable internet service. To everyone's surprise the local newspaper ran a full page advertorial of the CEO accepting some international award for excellence. The next day someone posted a full expose of this company in Bulgaria that ran fake award ceremonies for crap companies to be seen and photographed, complete with a full audience of other bullshitters clapping as each one went up in turn to receive their dubious award.

[@IBBBRsDaHunters]

As a professional I almost have ti have linkedin - I even made a good leap forward in my career with the site. Let me be clear that the sickening amount of fake gurus, fake empathy, fake feminism, fake values and fake friends would really get to me if i spent anything mire than the current minimal time on the site/app. I wish the culture was different but these posts that the algorithm likes are also 90% fake. Also I have found that these idiots shoot themselves in the foot with their titles and posts - they help me create a negative filter for figuring out potential people to work with. The shorter the job title and the rarer the posts the more competent the person. Doesn’t always hold true but its close.

[@grammar_shark]

*it's

[@apuapustaja1]

@@grammar_shark its not a college essay that the other person needs to use perfect grammar

[@grammar_shark]

@@apuapustaja1 It sounds like you've fully embraced a life of failure. Who know who else couldn't bother using proper spelling and punctuation in their emails? The leadership of Enron.

[@johnmaurer3097]

I just use it to update my resume when I look for a job. I don't respond to any chats, invites, or engage any of it. The resume has the contact information, LinkedIn is just the billboard used to reach recruiters. Even before linkedin became psychotic, I never saw an ounce of worthwhile messages or engagement. It's a total waste of energy reading and making contacts. Use it as the resume billboard then disengage completely.

[@josiechaney9010]

@@grammar_shark-You’re my hero. 🤩🏴‍☠️🌸

[@krysniko9696]

Please keep rollin with those case studies! Good Work!

[@Hannah-rh8qb]

Ok just found your channel and I want to see more! I hope you make more "case study" videos because they are hilarious

[@GoodWorkMB]

More to come!

[@nitsuanew]

Virtue signaling on LinkedIn is just plain awful.

[@usagi32211]

I started referring the feed on LinkedIn as the ass-kisser's page a while back. So many of the posts were just sucking up to managers/companies in a public setting.

[@beguiledfoil]

Who would have thought that the social network built from illegally scraped e-mail contact lists would turn out to be weird and amoral.

[@Mr.Showbiz]

Linkedin is a crucial tool in my job and I hate that I have to spend most of my day on it reading the self congratulatory garbage on there. Even worse is that in many careers nowadays if you DONT have a linkedin it looks odd and like you’re trying to hide something

[@altertopias]

What I hate most about LinkedIn is how every one comments on other people's posts not to comment but to be seen commenting. Incentives are so weird there.

[@nicolesvei7430]

Dan's changing titles are so good!! Keep these videos coming!

[@wkxxnewslocal]

it's called an identity crisis but ok i'll keep it going

[@kevin.malone]

I remember when I discovered the untapped potential of cringe reserves within LinkedIn. I couldn’t capitalize on it because I’m not a content creator, but I became a regular enjoyer of it.

[@isak97f]

I feel like I learned literally nothing from this video. Yet somehow, I also learned everything I need to know for the rest of my life

[@WhalesArePeopleToo]

LinkedIn is soul-crushing and I hate that I have to use it.

[@magnesium_subsoil_94]

Linked in, land of almost chatbot esque article posts about “thought leaders” and “insights”

[@tonybologna1234]

I love your delivery and sense of humor

[@Croz89]

I suspect at least 90% of LinkedIn users never post anything. For them, it's basically a job hunting site and nothing more. You might go in and update your details every so often, but that's generally it most of the time.

[@1.4142]

Great analysis, good work. Your expert dissection of the social dynamics of social media platforms has been inspiring and enlightening. We should all strive for this level of excellence in our everyday lives, from work to even youtube videos. Just like how I have learned to become a team leader and out of the box thinker.

[@lucavlogstory]

I got laid off in January. Since then I decided to never work in corporate (or a toxic startup) again. I changed my LinkedIn profile and cover to anime pictures. I'm proud of myself.

[@inspira.]

What do you do now?

[@lucavlogstory]

@@inspira. I'm looking for alternative ways to make money. Selling with Shopify, doing photoshoots and generating AI art.

[@cnam1258]

@@lucavlogstory I wish you well, brother !

[@ShawnaMJames]

I think this is an incredibly well edited video. Kudos to the team! #goodwork

[@BG-mh6pc]

I’m glad to see I’m not the only one who despises LinkedIn. The learning courses through the premium account have been helpful while I’m on the job hunt, that’s about it. It’s obnoxious some employers expect prospects to have a LinkedIn account, it’s more obnoxious to feel forced into a fake social media platform for work when all I want is a job. As soon as I have a signed offer letter in hand, I’m canceling my account.

[@WankiTank]

had a acquaintance who posted something about learnings from the holocaust and then transitioned flawlessly to how we should start to be more open and transparent in our working culture in the companies we work for I have seen it all now

[@TheRealColinRocker]

This is hilarious Dan! If you ever do a video on consulting again, or startups or people who make career content in TikTok let’s chat!

[@trekimpossible2850]

I often feel some logic/emotion conflicts on LinkedIn posts and find out I am not the only one after seeing this video and comments, such a big relief.

[@studley7319]

One of the best video openers I have heard in awhile

[@edusszfx]

Can't believe the algorithm actually suggested something good! This was great!

[@vunguyentr5561]

My man makes informative educational content but keeps comedic sarcastic tone, well done

[@adibahmed10]

To the people who openly comment something negative to a bad LinkedIn post. You have my respect.