Remember when LinkedIn was the quiet coffee shop of the internet? You’d pop in, check a few job listings, maybe connect with someone from that conference you barely remember? Now, it’s more like walking into a stadium where everyone has a megaphone, a TED Talk, and a perfectly lit photo of themselves “humbly accepting” an award you didn’t know existed. What happened? Glad you asked.
1. The Algorithm Wants Drama, Not CVs: Once upon a time, your feed was full of promotions, work anniversaries, and job postings. Cute. Then the algorithm decided, “Hey, why not make this more like Facebook, but in a suit?” Now, anything that gets clicks and comments floats to the top.Cue: 27-paragraph “inspirational” posts that start with “I almost gave up…” and end with a product pitch.
2. Everyone’s Selling Something unnessecary: LinkedIn makes serious money from ads and premium accounts, so of course it started favoring content that keeps you scrolling. That’s why half your feed is now coaches, consultants, and marketers fishing for leads like it’s Shark Week.
3. From Career Site to Personal Branding: Once, LinkedIn was a tool. Now, it’s a stage. Entrepreneurs, influencers, and thought-leaders-in-training use it to build their “brand” — which apparently requires posting daily about how their morning coffee taught them a vital leadership lesson.
4. The Rise of Corporate Instagram We’ve all seen it:
5. Networking Has Gone… Performance Mode People used to DM each other to connect. Now they post essays into the void, hoping the right client or recruiter “just happens” to see it. It’s networking, but with a live studio audience.
Is It All Bad? Nah. But You Need Noise-Cancelling Skills. The good news: LinkedIn can still be a goldmine for jobs, partnerships, and opportunities — if you train your feed like a pet. Mute the braggers. Follow people who post real insights. Send actual messages. And remember: you don’t have to post your “Top 10 Leadership Lessons From That Time My Flight Was Delayed” to succeed here.
