View source for LinkedIn

{{Short description|Professional network website}}
{{Update|date=April 2022}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2021}}
{{Infobox website
| name = LinkedIn Corporation
| logo = LinkedIn 2021.svg
| logo_size = 200px
| screenshot = LinkedIn Headquarters Sunnyvale.jpg
| caption = Headquarters in [[Sunnyvale, California]]
| founder = {{ubl|[[Reid Hoffman]]|[[Eric Ly]]}}
| industry = Internet
| revenue = {{increase}} US$ 10 Billion (2021)
| net_income = {{decrease}} US$ —159.2 Million (2021)
| url = {{URL|https://www.linkedin.com}}
| advertising = [[AdSense]]
| registration = Required
| language = Multilingual (24)
| company_type = Subsidiary
| foundation = {{start date and age|2003|5|5}}<br/>[[Mountain View, California]], U.S.
| location_city = [[Sunnyvale, California]]
| location_country = U.S.
| area_served = Worldwide
| key_people = {{plainlist|
* Melissa Selcher ([[Chief Marketing Officer|CMO]])<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.prweek.com/article/1660109/linkedin-promotes-communications-lead-melissa-selcher-cmo |title=LinkedIn promotes communications lead Melissa Selcher to CMO |publisher=[[PRWeek]] |language=en |access-date=September 19, 2019 |archive-date=September 20, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190920232107/https://www.prweek.com/article/1660109/linkedin-promotes-communications-lead-melissa-selcher-cmo |url-status=live }}</ref>
* Raghu Hiremagalur ([[Chief technology officer|CTO]])<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.techrepublic.com/article/linkedins-azure-move-is-less-about-scale-and-more-about-the-speed-of-innovation/|title=LinkedIn's Azure move is less about scale and more about the speed of innovation|date=December 10, 2019 |publisher=[[TechRepublic ]]|language=en|access-date=December 10, 2019|archive-date=December 10, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191210171114/https://www.techrepublic.com/article/linkedins-azure-move-is-less-about-scale-and-more-about-the-speed-of-innovation/|url-status=live}}</ref>
* James Chuong ([[Chief financial officer|CFO]]) 
* [[Jeff Weiner]] (Executive Chairman)
}}
| num_employees = 21,000 (2022)<ref name="stat_linkedin">{{Cite web|url=https://news.linkedin.com/about-us#Statistics|title=About Us: Statistics|website=news.linkedin.com|language=en|access-date=April 1, 2022|archive-date=April 2, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220402124513/https://news.linkedin.com/about-us#Statistics/|url-status=live}}</ref>
| num_users = 830 million members (February 2022)<ref name="about_linkedin">{{Cite web|url=https://about.linkedin.com/|title=About LinkedIn|website=about.linkedin.com|language=en|access-date=December 16, 2019|archive-date=May 28, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210528075044/https://about.linkedin.com/|url-status=live}}</ref>
| launch_date = {{start date and age|2003|05|05}}
| current_status = Active
| website_type = Professional network service
| parent = [[Microsoft]]
| subsidiaries = [[LinkedIn Learning]]<br/>[[Connectifier]]<br/>[[Drawbridge (company)|Drawbridge]]<br/>Glint
| CEO = [[Ryan Roslansky]]
}}

'''LinkedIn''' ({{IPAc-en|l|I|ŋ|k|t|ˈ|ɪ|n}}) is a business and employment-focused social media platform that works through websites and mobile apps. Launched on May 5, 2003,<ref name="about">{{cite web |url=http://press.linkedin.com/about/ |title=LinkedIn – About |year=2015 |publisher=LinkedIn Corporation |access-date=March 5, 2015 |archive-date=December 1, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141201020229/http://press.linkedin.com/about |url-status=live }}</ref> owned by Microsoft. The platform is primarily used for professional networking and career development, and allows job seekers to post their [[Curriculum vitae|CVs]] and employers to post jobs. From 2015 most of the company's revenue came from [[Information broker|selling access to information about its members]] to recruiters and sales professionals.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2015/10/12/the-network-man |title=Reid Hoffman's Big Dreams for LinkedIn |last=Lemann |first=Nicholas |date=October 12, 2015 |magazine=The New Yorker |access-date=October 10, 2015 |archive-date=May 1, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210501130925/https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2015/10/12/the-network-man |url-status=live }}</ref> Since December 2016, it has been a wholly owned subsidiary of [[Microsoft]]. {{As of|2022|2|post=,}} LinkedIn has 830+ million registered members from over 200 countries and territories.<ref name="about_linkedin"/>

LinkedIn allows members (both workers and employers) to create profiles and connect with each other in an online [[social network]] which may represent real-world professional relationships. Members can invite anyone (whether an existing member or not) to become a connection. LinkedIn can also be used to organize offline events, join groups, write articles, publish job postings, post photos and videos, and more.<ref name="Help.linkedin.com">{{cite web |url=https://help.linkedin.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/1386 |title=Account Restricted &#124; LinkedIn Help Center |publisher=Help.linkedin.com |date=December 20, 2013 |access-date=October 6, 2015 |archive-date=August 19, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200819030609/https://www.linkedin.com/help/linkedin?lang=en |url-status=live }}</ref>

== Company overview ==
Founded in [[Mountain View, California]], LinkedIn is currently headquartered in [[Sunnyvale, California]], with 33 global offices.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Locations - LinkedIn Careers|url=https://careers.linkedin.com/Locations|website=LinkedIn|access-date=November 10, 2021|archive-date=November 9, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211109234408/https://careers.linkedin.com/Locations|url-status=live}}</ref> In May 2020, the company had around 20,500 [[Employment|employees]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=LinkedIn Company Page|url=https://www.linkedin.com/company/linkedin/?src=li-other&veh=www.linkedin.com%7Cre-other&trk=homepage-basic_directory_aboutUrl#|website=LinkedIn|access-date=May 3, 2020}}</ref>

LinkedIn's CEO is [[Ryan Roslansky]]. [[Jeff Weiner]], previously CEO of LinkedIn, is now the Executive Chairman. [[Reid Hoffman]], founder of LinkedIn, is chairman of the board.<ref name="hempel2013">{{cite news|last=Hempel|first=Jessi|date=July 1, 2013|title=LinkedIn: How It's Changing Business|pages=69–74|work=[[Fortune (magazine)|Fortune]]|url=<!--citation taken from print edition-->}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.linkedin.com/static?key=management |title=LinkedIn – Management |publisher=LinkedIn Corporation |access-date=December 7, 2009 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090220154549/http://press.linkedin.com/management |archive-date=February 20, 2009}}</ref> It was funded by [[Sequoia Capital]], [[Greylock Partners|Greylock]], [[Bain Capital Ventures]],<ref>{{Cite press release |title=LinkedIn Secures $53M of Funding Led by Bain Capital Ventures |date=June 18, 2008 |publisher=LinkedIn |url=http://press.linkedin.com/News-Releases/198/LinkedIn-Secures-53M-of-Funding-Led-by-Bain-Capital-Ventures |url-status=dead |access-date=August 1, 2013 |archive-url=https://archive.today/2013.08.02-032332/http://press.linkedin.com/News-Releases/198/LinkedIn-Secures-53M-of-Funding-Led-by-Bain-Capital-Ventures |archive-date=August 2, 2013}}</ref> Bessemer Venture Partners and the European Founders Fund.<ref>{{Cite press release |title=LinkedIn Raises $12.8 Million from Bessemer Venture Partners and European Founders Fund to Accelerate Global Growth |date=January 29, 2007 |publisher=LinkedIn |access-date=August 1, 2013 |url=http://press.linkedin.com/News-Releases/179/LinkedIn-Raises-12-8-Million-from-Bessemer-Venture-Partners-and-European-Founders-Fund-to-Accelerat |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131101234636/http://press.linkedin.com/News-Releases/179/LinkedIn-Raises-12-8-Million-from-Bessemer-Venture-Partners-and-European-Founders-Fund-to-Accelerat |archive-date=November 1, 2013 }}</ref> LinkedIn reached profitability in March 2006.<ref>{{Cite press release |title=LinkedIn Premium Services Finding Rapid Adoption |date=March 7, 2006 |publisher=LinkedIn |url-status=dead |access-date=August 1, 2013 |url=http://press.linkedin.com/News-Releases/178/LinkedIn-Premium-Services-Finding-Rapid-Adoption |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131101234634/http://press.linkedin.com/News-Releases/178/LinkedIn-Premium-Services-Finding-Rapid-Adoption |archive-date=November 1, 2013 }}</ref> Since January 2011 the company had received a total of $103&nbsp;million of [[investment]].<ref name="IPO rumour Jan 2011">{{cite web |url=http://kara.allthingsd.com/20110127/here-comes-another-web-ipo-linkedin-s-1-filing-imminent/ |title=Here Comes Another Web IPO: LinkedIn S-1 Filing Imminent |access-date=January 27, 2011 |last=Swisher |first=Kara |date=January 27, 2011 |work=[[All Things Digital]] |author-link=Kara Swisher |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110526025742/http://allthingsd.com/20110127/here-comes-another-web-ipo-linkedin-s-1-filing-imminent/ |archive-date=May 26, 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref>

According to [[The New York Times|''The'' ''New York Times'']]'','' US high school students are now creating LinkedIn profiles to include with their college applications.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/06/technology/new-item-on-the-college-admission-checklist-linkedin-profile.html |title=New Item on the College Admission Checklist: LinkedIn Profile |date=November 5, 2016 |work=The New York Times |access-date=February 15, 2017 |archive-date=November 8, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201108130538/https://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/06/technology/new-item-on-the-college-admission-checklist-linkedin-profile.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Burns |first=John |url=https://www.wizeprep.com/blog/university-student-s-guide-to-creating-a-linkedin-profile |title=University Student's Guide to Creating a LinkedIn Profile |work=Wize |date=July 14, 2015 |access-date=March 28, 2017 |archive-date=February 26, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210226103352/https://www.wizeprep.com/blog/university-student-s-guide-to-creating-a-linkedin-profile |url-status=live }}</ref> Based in the United States, the site is, as of 2013, available in 24 languages.<ref name="hempel2013"/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://blog.linkedin.com/2011/06/21/russian-romanian-turkish |title=Look who's talking Russian, Romanian and Turkish now! |date=June 21, 2011 |access-date=June 21, 2011 |last=Posner |first=Nico |website=LinkedIn Blog |publisher=LinkedIn |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110625132332/http://blog.linkedin.com/2011/06/21/russian-romanian-turkish/ |archive-date=June 25, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.translatemedia.com/translation-blog/linkedin-launches-in-japan/ |title=LinkedIn launches in Japan |publisher=TranslateMedia |access-date=June 4, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111026060901/http://www.translatemedia.com/news/LinkedIn-Launches-in-Japan~800616257.html |archive-date=October 26, 2011 |date=October 20, 2011}}</ref> LinkedIn filed for an [[initial public offering]] in January 2011 and traded its first shares in May, under the [[New York Stock Exchange|NYSE]] [[Ticker symbol|symbol]] "LNKD".<ref>{{cite news |url=https://money.cnn.com/2011/01/27/technology/linkedin_ipo/index.htm |title=LinkedIn files for IPO, reveals sales of $161&nbsp;million |publisher=[[CNN]] |date=January 27, 2011 |access-date=January 28, 2011 |first=Julianne |last=Pepitone |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110129075603/http://money.cnn.com/2011/01/27/technology/linkedin_ipo/index.htm |archive-date=January 29, 2011}}</ref>

== History ==
=== Founding from 2002 to 2011 ===
[[File:LinkedIn Headquarters Mountain View.jpg|thumb|Former LinkedIn headquarters on Stierlin Court in [[Mountain View, California]]]]
The company was founded in December 2002 by [[Reid Hoffman]] and the founding team members from [[PayPal]] and Socialnet.com (Allen Blue, [[Eric Ly]], Jean-Luc Vaillant, Lee Hower, Konstantin Guericke, Stephen Beitzel, David Eves, Ian McNish, Yan Pujante, Chris Saccheri).<ref>{{cite web |title=Founders |website=LinkedIn |url=https://www.linkedin.com/static?key=founders |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150214143233/https://www.linkedin.com/static?key=founders |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 14, 2015 |access-date=July 15, 2016}}</ref> In late 2003, [[Sequoia Capital]] led the [[Series A round|Series A]] investment in the company.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sequoia Capital "Links In" with $4.7 Million Investment |url=http://press.linkedin.com/news-releases/index.php/2003/11/sequoia-capital-links-in-with-47-million-investment |access-date=2022-12-11 |website=press.linkedin.com |language=en}}</ref> In August 2004, LinkedIn reached 1 million users.<ref name="Byers2013">{{cite book |last=Byers |first=Ann |title=Reid Hoffman and Linkedin |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GR2EAAAAQBAJ&pg=PA2003 |date=July 15, 2013 |publisher=The Rosen Publishing Group |isbn=978-1-4488-9537-3 |pages=2003– |access-date=December 1, 2016 |archive-date=July 6, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180706182453/https://books.google.com/books?id=GR2EAAAAQBAJ&pg=PA2003 |url-status=live }}</ref> In March 2006, LinkedIn achieved its first month of profitability.<ref name="Byers2013"/> In April 2007, LinkedIn reached 10 million users.<ref name="Byers2013"/> In February 2008, LinkedIn launched a mobile version of the site.<ref name="MyUser_Https:_September_11_2016c">{{cite web |url=https://blog.linkedin.com/2008/02/24/linkedin-mobile-2 |title=Announcing LinkedIn Mobile (includes an iPhone version) |access-date=September 11, 2016 |archive-date=September 20, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160920001546/https://blog.linkedin.com/2008/02/24/linkedin-mobile-2 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In June 2008, Sequoia Capital, Greylock Partners, and other [[venture capital]] firms purchased a 5% [[Equity (finance)|stake]] in the company for $53&nbsp;million, giving the company a [[post-money valuation]] of approximately $1&nbsp;billion.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-linkedin18-2008jun18,0,6631759.story |title=Professional networking site LinkedIn valued at $1 billion |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=June 18, 2008 |access-date=August 1, 2013 |first=Jessica |last=Guynn |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080622142348/http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-linkedin18-2008jun18%2C0%2C6631759.story |url-status=live |archive-date=June 22, 2008 }}</ref> In November 2009, LinkedIn opened its office in Mumbai<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.business-standard.com/article/technology/linkedin-s-first-asia-pac-office-in-india-109121700047_1.html |title=LinkedIn's first Asia-Pac office in India |last=Shinde |first=Shivani |date=December 17, 2009 |work=Business Standard India |access-date=January 5, 2018 |archive-date=January 5, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180105233630/http://www.business-standard.com/article/technology/linkedin-s-first-asia-pac-office-in-india-109121700047_1.html |url-status=live }}</ref> and soon thereafter in Sydney, as it started its Asia-Pacific team expansion. In 2010 LinkedIn opened an International Headquarters in Dublin, [[Economy of the Republic of Ireland#Information and communications technology|Ireland]],<ref>{{Cite press release |title=LinkedIn establishment of International Headquarters in Dublin welcomed by IDA Ireland |date=March 23, 2010 |url=https://www.idaireland.com/newsroom/linkedin-ireland-expands-to-2,000 |access-date=August 2, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121025045354/http://www.idaireland.com/news-media/press-releases/linkedin-establishment-of/ |archive-date=October 25, 2012 |url-status=dead |publisher=[[IDA Ireland]]}}</ref> received a $20 million investment from [[Tiger Global Management]] LLC at a valuation of approximately $2&nbsp;billion,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-07-27/linkedin-valued-at-more-than-2-billion-after-investment-by-tiger-global.html |title=Tiger Global Said to Invest in LinkedIn at $2&nbsp;billion Valuation |date=July 28, 2010 |access-date=May 16, 2013 |last=Levy |first=Ari |website=Bloomberg |publisher=[[Bloomberg L.P.]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111229160800/http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-07-27/linkedin-valued-at-more-than-2-billion-after-investment-by-tiger-global.html |archive-date=December 29, 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref> announced its first acquisition, Mspoke,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.forbes.com/2010/08/03/social-network-mspoke-technology-linkedin.html |title=LinkedIn Hooks Up |work=Forbes |date=August 4, 2010 |access-date=August 5, 2010 |first=Quentin |last=Hardy |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100805092334/http://www.forbes.com/2010/08/03/social-network-mspoke-technology-linkedin.html |url-status=live |archive-date=August 5, 2010}}</ref> and improved its 1% [[Premium (marketing)|premium]] subscription ratio.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.economist.com/node/14931599 |title=Does local beat global in the professional-networking business? |newspaper=[[The Economist]] |date=November 19, 2009 |access-date=August 5, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091128114741/http://www.economist.com/node/14931599 |url-status=live |archive-date=November 28, 2009}}</ref> In October of that year, Silicon Valley Insider ranked the company No. 10 on its Top 100 List of most valuable startups.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.businessinsider.com/2010-digital-100-companies-1-100 |title=2010 Digital 100 Companies 1–100 |first=Adam |last=Fusfeld |date=September 23, 2010 |access-date=December 17, 2010 |website=[[Business Insider]] |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101213054153/http://www.businessinsider.com/2010-digital-100-companies-1-100 |archive-date=December 13, 2010}}</ref> By December, the company was valued at $1.575&nbsp;billion in private markets.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Demos |first1=Telis |last2=Menn |first2=Joseph |title=LinkedIn looks for boost with IPO |url=https://www.ft.com/content/59e47ba4-2a54-11e0-b906-00144feab49a |work=[[Financial Times]] |access-date=June 4, 2020 |date=January 27, 2011 |archive-date=June 3, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200603190604/https://www.ft.com/content/59e47ba4-2a54-11e0-b906-00144feab49a |url-status=live }}{{Registration required}}</ref> LinkedIn started its India operations in 2009 and a major part of the first year was dedicated to understanding professionals in India and educating members to leverage LinkedIn for career development.

=== 2011 to present ===
[[File:222secondStreet.jpg|thumb|upright|LinkedIn office building at [[222 Second Street]] in San Francisco (opened in March 2016)]]
[[File:LinkedInOfficeToronto2.jpg|thumb|LinkedIn office in Toronto inside the [[Toronto Eaton Centre]]]]

LinkedIn filed for an [[initial public offering]] in January 2011. The company traded its first shares on May 19, 2011, under the NYSE symbol "LNKD", at $45 per share. Shares of LinkedIn rose as much as 171% on their first day of trade on the New York Stock Exchange and closed at $94.25, more than 109% above [[Initial public offering|IPO]] price. Shortly after the IPO, the site's underlying infrastructure was revised to allow accelerated revision-release cycles.<ref name="hempel2013"/> In 2011 LinkedIn earned $154.6 million in advertising revenue alone, surpassing [[Twitter]], which earned $139.5 million.<ref>[http://paidcontent.org/article/419-social-network-ads-linkedin-falls-behind-twitter-facebook-biggest-of-al/ "Social Network Ads: LinkedIn Falls Behind Twitter; Facebook Biggest of All"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120203060134/http://paidcontent.org/article/419-social-network-ads-linkedin-falls-behind-twitter-facebook-biggest-of-al/ |date=February 3, 2012 }}. Lunden, Ingrid January 31, 2012.</ref> LinkedIn's fourth-[[Quarterly finance report|quarter]] 2011, earnings soared because of the company's increase in success in the social media world.<ref>[https://blogs.wsj.com/marketbeat/2012/02/10/stocks-to-watch-nuance-communications-linkedin-merck-and-more/?mod=google_news_blog "Stocks to Watch: Nuance Communications, LinkedIn, Merck and More"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171018154631/https://blogs.wsj.com/marketbeat/2012/02/10/stocks-to-watch-nuance-communications-linkedin-merck-and-more/?mod=google_news_blog |date=October 18, 2017 }}. Thomson Maya and Pope-Chappell Maya February 13, 2012.</ref> By this point LinkedIn had about 2,100 full-time employees compared to the 500 that it had in 2010.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://press.linkedin.com/about-linkedin |title=About Us – LinkedIn |publisher=LinkedIn |access-date=June 13, 2016 |archive-date=February 4, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150204055540/https://press.linkedin.com/about-linkedin |url-status=live }}</ref>

In April 2014 LinkedIn announced that it had leased [[222 Second Street]], a 26-story building under construction in [[South of Market, San Francisco|San Francisco's SoMa]] district, to accommodate up to 2,500 of its employees,<ref name=":0">{{cite web |url=http://www.sfgate.com/technology/article/LinkedIn-leases-skyscraper-under-construction-in-5422501.php |title=LinkedIn leases 26-story S.F. skyscraper |date=April 23, 2014 |work=SFGate |access-date=October 17, 2014 |archive-date=October 20, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141020232948/http://www.sfgate.com/technology/article/LinkedIn-leases-skyscraper-under-construction-in-5422501.php |url-status=live }}</ref> with the lease covering 10 years.<ref name="sfbusiness">{{cite web|title=LinkedIn connects all its S.F. employees under one roof at Tishman Speyer's tower at 222 Second St.|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco/print-edition/2016/03/25/linkedin-222-second-st-sf-hq-tishman-speyer.html|date=March 25, 2016|website=San Francisco Business Times|access-date=April 2, 2016|archive-date=February 27, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170227102216/http://www.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco/print-edition/2016/03/25/linkedin-222-second-st-sf-hq-tishman-speyer.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The goal was to join all San Francisco-based staff (1,250 as of January 2016) in one building, bringing sales and [[marketing]] employees together with the [[Research and Development Efficiency Act|research and development]] team.<ref name="sfbusiness"/> In March 2016 they started to move in.<ref name="sfbusiness"/> In February 2016 following an earnings report, LinkedIn's shares dropped 43.6% within a single day, down to $108.38 per share. LinkedIn lost $10 billion of its [[market capitalization]] that day.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-tech-stocks-lnkin-corp-tableau-softwa-idUSKCN0VH082 |title=CEOs, venture backers lose big as LinkedIn, Tableau shares tumble |last=Cohen |first=Luc |date=February 8, 2016 |work=Reuters |access-date=July 1, 2017 |archive-date=June 20, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170620012702/http://www.reuters.com/article/us-tech-stocks-lnkin-corp-tableau-softwa-idUSKCN0VH082 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2016/02/04/linkedin-reports-q4-earnings.html |title=LinkedIn skids 40%, erases $10B in market cap |first=Everett |last=Rosenfeld |date=February 5, 2016 |website=Cnbc.com |access-date=June 10, 2016 |archive-date=June 16, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160616092957/http://www.cnbc.com/2016/02/04/linkedin-reports-q4-earnings.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2016 access to LinkedIn was blocked by Russian authorities for non-compliance with the 2015 national legislation that requires social media networks to store citizens' personal data on servers located in Russia.<ref>{{cite journal | url =  https://www.hrw.org/report/2017/07/18/online-and-all-fronts/russias-assault-freedom-expression# | title =  Online and On All Fronts: Russia's Assault on Freedom of Expression | date =  June 18, 2020 | first =  Adam | last =  Maida | website =  [[Human Rights Watch]] | access-date =  July 19, 2020 | archive-date =  August 10, 2020 | archive-url =  https://web.archive.org/web/20200810161322/https://www.hrw.org/report/2017/07/18/online-and-all-fronts/russias-assault-freedom-expression | url-status =  live }}</ref>

In June 2016, [[Microsoft]] announced that it would acquire LinkedIn for $196 a share, a total value of $26.2 billion, and the second largest [[List of mergers and acquisitions by Microsoft|acquisition made by Microsoft]] to date. The acquisition would be an all-cash, debt-financed transaction. Microsoft would allow LinkedIn to "retain its distinct brand, culture and independence", with Weiner to remain as CEO, who would then report to Microsoft CEO [[Satya Nadella]]. Analysts believed Microsoft saw the opportunity to integrate LinkedIn with its [[Microsoft Office|Office product suite]] to help better integrate the professional network system with its [[Product (business)|products]]. The deal was completed on December 8, 2016.<ref name="wsj ms">{{cite news |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/microsoft-to-acquire-linkedin-in-deal-valued-at-26-2-billion-1465821523 |title=Microsoft to Acquire LinkedIn for $26.2 Billion |date=June 13, 2016 |work=[[Wall Street Journal]] |last2=Steele |first2=Anne |first1=Jay |last1=Greene |access-date=June 13, 2016 |archive-date=January 24, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210124182442/https://www.wsj.com/articles/microsoft-to-acquire-linkedin-in-deal-valued-at-26-2-billion-1465821523 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In late 2016 LinkedIn announced a planned increase of 200 new positions in its Dublin office, which would bring the total employee count to 1,200.<ref>{{cite news |last=O'Brien |first=Ciara |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/business/technology/linkedin-to-add-200-jobs-at-its-emea-hq-in-dublin-1.2885573 |title=LinkedIn to add 200 jobs at its EMEA HQ in Dublin |newspaper=Irish Times |date=November 29, 2016 |access-date=February 15, 2017 |archive-date=February 22, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170222130533/http://www.irishtimes.com/business/technology/linkedin-to-add-200-jobs-at-its-emea-hq-in-dublin-1.2885573 |url-status=live }}</ref> Since 2017 94% of B2B marketers use LinkedIn to distribute content.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://business.linkedin.com/marketing-solutions/blog/linkedin-b2b-marketing/2017/10-surprising-stats-you-didnt-know-about-marketing-on-linkedin |title=10 Surprising Stats You Didn't Know about Marketing on LinkedIn |last=Rynne |first=Alexandra |date=February 1, 2017 |website=LinkedIn Marketing Solutions Blog |language=en-us |access-date=October 15, 2018 |archive-date=October 11, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181011051837/https://business.linkedin.com/marketing-solutions/blog/linkedin-b2b-marketing/2017/10-surprising-stats-you-didnt-know-about-marketing-on-linkedin |url-status=live }}</ref>

Soon after LinkedIn's acquisition by Microsoft, LinkedIn's new desktop version was introduced.<ref name="LinkedIn Corporate Communications Team">LinkedIn Corporate Communications Team for LinkedIn Newsroom. January 19, 2017 [https://press.linkedin.com/site-resources/news-releases/2017/introducing-the-new-linkedin-desktop Introducing the New LinkedIn Desktop] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170127180830/https://press.linkedin.com/site-resources/news-releases/2017/introducing-the-new-linkedin-desktop |date=January 27, 2017 }}</ref> The new version was meant to make the user experience seamless across mobile and desktop. Some changes were made according to the feedback received from the previously launched mobile app. Features that were not heavily used were removed. For example, the contact tagging and filtering features are not supported anymore.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.linkedin.com/help/linkedin/answer/72331?lang=en|title=Filtering and Tagging Connections Feature – No Longer Available|date=February 2, 2017|website=LinkedIn Help Pages}}</ref>

Following the launch of the new [[user interface]] (UI), some users complained about the missing features which were there in the older version, slowness, and bugs in it. The issues were faced by free and premium users and with both the desktop and mobile versions of the site.

In 2019 LinkedIn launched globally the feature Open for Business that enables freelancers to be discovered on the platform.<ref>{{cite news |title=LinkedIn Brings Its 'Open for Business' Feature to India |url=https://gadgets.ndtv.com/social-networking/news/linkedin-brings-its-open-for-business-feature-to-india-and-the-rest-of-the-world-2130826 |work=NDTV Gadgets 360 |language=en |access-date=January 13, 2021 |archive-date=January 13, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210113174559/https://gadgets.ndtv.com/social-networking/news/linkedin-brings-its-open-for-business-feature-to-india-and-the-rest-of-the-world-2130826 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Open for Business: LinkedIn launches 'Open for Business' feature globally for SMEs |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/small-biz/sme-sector/linkedin-launches-open-for-business-feature-globally-for-smes/articleshow/72005009.cms |work=The Economic Times |access-date=January 13, 2021 |archive-date=October 8, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211008100758/https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/small-biz/sme-sector/linkedin-launches-open-for-business-feature-globally-for-smes/articleshow/72005009.cms |url-status=live }}</ref> LinkedIn Events was launched in the same year.<ref>{{cite news |title=LinkedIn Launches Events to Facilitate Professional Meet-Ups |url=https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/linkedin-launches-events-to-facilitate-professional-meet-ups/565171/ |access-date=January 13, 2021 |work=Social Media Today |date=October 17, 2019 |archive-date=February 10, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210210222338/https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/linkedin-launches-events-to-facilitate-professional-meet-ups/565171/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=LinkedIn Launches Its Own Events Feature |url=https://wersm.com/linkedin-launches-its-own-events-feature/ |access-date=January 13, 2021 |work=WeRSM - We are Social Media |date=October 17, 2019 |archive-date=December 6, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201206013938/https://wersm.com/linkedin-launches-its-own-events-feature/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

In June 2020 Jeff Weiner stepped down as CEO and become executive chairman after 11 years in the role. Ryan Roslansky stepped up as CEO from his previous position as the senior vice president of product.<ref>{{cite news |last=Arbel |first=Tali |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/business/linkedin-ceo-steps-aside-after-11-years-says-time-is-right/ |title=LinkedIn CEO steps aside after 11 years, says time is right |work=[[The Seattle Times]] |date=February 5, 2020 |access-date=February 6, 2020 |archive-date=February 6, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200206143636/https://www.seattletimes.com/business/linkedin-ceo-steps-aside-after-11-years-says-time-is-right/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In late July 2020, LinkedIn announced it [[Layoff|laid off]] 960 employees, about 6 percent of total workforce, from the talent acquisition and global sales teams. In an email to all employees, CEO Ryan Roslansky said the cuts were due to effects of the global [[COVID-19 pandemic]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Holt |first=Kris |url=https://www.engadget.com/linkedin-layoffs-coronvirus-covid-19-181138219.html |title=LinkedIn will cut nearly 1,000 jobs as pandemic slows global hiring |work=[[Engadget]] |date=July 21, 2020 |access-date=July 22, 2020 |archive-date=July 21, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200721194718/https://www.engadget.com/linkedin-layoffs-coronvirus-covid-19-181138219.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
In April 2021 CyberNews claimed that 500 million LinkedIn's accounts have leaked online.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-04-06|title=LinkedIn Leak - 500M Records Leaked and Being Sold|url=https://cybernews.com/news/stolen-data-of-500-million-linkedin-users-being-sold-online-2-million-leaked-as-proof-2/|access-date=2021-04-12|website=CyberNews|archive-date=April 12, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210412045402/https://cybernews.com/news/stolen-data-of-500-million-linkedin-users-being-sold-online-2-million-leaked-as-proof-2/|url-status=live}}</ref> However, LinkedIn stated that "We have investigated an alleged set of LinkedIn data that has been posted for sale and have determined that it is actually an aggregation of data from a number of websites and companies".<ref>{{Cite web|title=An update on report of scraped data|url=https://news.linkedin.com/2021/april/an-update-from-linkedin|access-date=2021-04-12|website=news.linkedin.com|language=en|archive-date=April 12, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210412045403/https://news.linkedin.com/2021/april/an-update-from-linkedin|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Peters|first=Jay|date=2021-04-08|title=Another 500 million accounts have leaked online, and LinkedIn's in the hot seat|url=https://www.theverge.com/2021/4/8/22374464/linkedin-data-leak-500-million-accounts-scraped-microsoft|access-date=2021-04-12|website=The Verge|language=en|archive-date=April 12, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210412045403/https://www.theverge.com/2021/4/8/22374464/linkedin-data-leak-500-million-accounts-scraped-microsoft|url-status=live}}</ref>

In June 2021 PrivacySharks claimed that more than 700 million LinkedIn records was on sale on a hacker forum.<ref>{{Cite web|author=Paul Wagenseil|title=700 million exposed in LinkedIn data scrape — what to do now|url=https://www.tomsguide.com/news/linkedin-data-scrape-700-million|access-date=2021-07-06|website=Tom's Guide|date=June 29, 2021|language=en|archive-date=July 9, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709065801/https://www.tomsguide.com/news/linkedin-data-scrape-700-million|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Lovejoy|first=Ben|date=2021-06-29|title=LinkedIn breach reportedly exposes data of 92% of users|url=https://9to5mac.com/2021/06/29/linkedin-breach/|access-date=2021-07-06|website=9to5Mac|language=en-US|archive-date=July 6, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210706121724/https://9to5mac.com/2021/06/29/linkedin-breach/|url-status=live}}</ref>  LinkedIn later stated that this is not a breach, but scraped data which is also a violation of their Terms of Service.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-06-27|title=Exclusive: 700 Million LinkedIn Records Leaked June 2021 {{!}} Safety First|url=http://www.privacysharks.com/exclusive-700-million-linkedin-records-for-sale-on-hacker-forum-june-22nd-2021/|access-date=2021-07-06|website=PrivacySharks|language=en-US|archive-date=July 6, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210706092604/https://www.privacysharks.com/exclusive-700-million-linkedin-records-for-sale-on-hacker-forum-june-22nd-2021/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Microsoft ended LinkedIn operations in China in October 2021.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Woo |first1=Liza Lin and Stu |title=Microsoft Folds LinkedIn Social-Media Service in China |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/microsoft-abandons-linkedin-in-china-citing-challenging-operating-environment-11634220026?mod=hp_lead_pos1 |access-date=14 October 2021 |work=The Wall Street Journal |date=14 October 2021 |archive-date=October 14, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211014174723/https://www.wsj.com/articles/microsoft-abandons-linkedin-in-china-citing-challenging-operating-environment-11634220026?mod=hp_lead_pos1 |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Acquisitions ===
In July 2012 LinkedIn acquired 15 key [[Digg]] patents for $4 million including a "[[Like button|click a button to vote up a story]]" patent.<ref>[https://techcrunch.com/2012/07/12/digg-sold-to-linkedin-and-the-washington-post-and-betaworks/ ''Digg Sold To LinkedIn AND The Washington Post And Betaworks''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171216143617/https://techcrunch.com/2012/07/12/digg-sold-to-linkedin-and-the-washington-post-and-betaworks/ |date=December 16, 2017 }}, TechCrunch.com, July 2012</ref>

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! scope="col" style="width:30px;"| Number
! scope="col" style="width:100px;"| Acquisition date
! scope="col" | Company
! scope="col" | Business
! scope="col" style="width:50px;"| Country
! scope="col" style="width:80px;"| Price
! scope="col" | Description
! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Ref.
|- scope="row"
| 1
| {{dts|2010|8|4}}
| mspoke
| Adaptive personalization of content
| {{flag|USA}}
| $0.6 million<ref name="SEC S/1 Filing">{{cite web |url=http://investors.linkedin.com/secfiling.cfm?filingID=1193125-11-295272&CIK=1271024 |title=SEC S/1 Filing |publisher=SEC |date=November 3, 2011 |access-date=November 3, 2011 |archive-date=November 1, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131101234713/http://investors.linkedin.com/secfiling.cfm?filingID=1193125-11-295272&CIK=1271024 |url-status=live }}</ref>
| LinkedIn Recommendations
| style="text-align:center;"|<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/local/breaking/cmu-startup-mspoke-acquired-by-linkedin-258019/ |title=CMU startup mSpoke acquired by LinkedIn |publisher=post-gazette |date=August 4, 2010 |access-date=August 4, 2010 |first=Erich |last=Schwartzel |archive-date=September 9, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130909064354/http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/local/breaking/cmu-startup-mspoke-acquired-by-linkedin-258019/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
|- scope="row"
| 2
| {{dts|2010|9|23}}
| ChoiceVendor
| Social B2B Reviews
| {{flag|USA}}
| $3.9 million<ref>{{cite news |title=List of Notable Businesses Acquired by LinkedIn |url=https://kennected.org/businesses-acquisitions-by-linkedin/ |access-date=March 27, 2020 |work=Kennected |date=March 19, 2020 |archive-date=March 27, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200327033627/https://kennected.org/businesses-acquisitions-by-linkedin/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
| Rate and review B2B service providers
| style="text-align:center;"|<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20100923005446/en/LinkedIn-Acquires-ChoiceVendor |title=LinkedIn acquires ChoiceVendor |date=September 23, 2010 |publisher=BusinessWire |via=businesswire.com |access-date=November 23, 2016 |archive-date=November 23, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161123202740/http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20100923005446/en/LinkedIn-Acquires-ChoiceVendor |url-status=live }}</ref>
|- scope="row"
| 3
| {{dts|2011|1|26}}
| CardMunch
| Social Contacts
| {{flag|USA}}
| $1.7 million<ref name="SEC S/1 Filing"/>
| Scan and import business cards
| style="text-align:center;"|<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1271024/000119312511016022/ds1.htm |title=LinkedIn S1 Filing |publisher=SEC |date=January 26, 2011 |access-date=February 24, 2012 |archive-date=December 20, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181220133833/https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1271024/000119312511016022/ds1.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>
|- scope="row"
| 4
| {{dts|2011|10|5}}
| Connected
| Social CRM
| {{flag|USA}}
| -
| LinkedIn Connected
| style="text-align:center;"|<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/tomiogeron/2011/10/05/linkedin-acquires-social-crm-company-connected/?sh=112e6a056c3d |title=LinkedIn Acquires Social CRM Company Connected |work=Forbes |date=October 5, 2011 |access-date=September 22, 2021 |archive-date=March 6, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220306035252/https://gum.criteo.com/syncframe?origin=publishertag&topUrl=www.forbes.com |url-status=live }}</ref>
|- scope="row"
| 5
| {{dts|2011|10|11}}
| IndexTank
| Social search
| {{flag|USA}}
| -
| LinkedIn Search
| style="text-align:center;"|<ref>{{cite news |url=https://techcrunch.com/2011/10/11/linkedin-buys-real-time-hosted-search-startup-indextank/ |title=LinkedIn Buys Real-Time, Hosted Search Startup IndexTank |work=TechCrunch |date=October 11, 2011 |access-date=October 11, 2011 |archive-date=August 15, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180815201046/https://techcrunch.com/2011/10/11/linkedin-buys-real-time-hosted-search-startup-indextank/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
|- scope="row"
| 6
| {{dts|2012|2|22}}
| Rapportive
| Social Contacts
| {{flag|USA}}
| $15 million<ref>{{cite news |url=https://techcrunch.com/2012/02/22/rapportive-linkedin-acquisition/ |title=Rapportive Announces Acquisition By LinkedIn |work=TechCrunch |date=February 12, 2012 |access-date=February 12, 2012 |archive-date=August 15, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180815201221/https://techcrunch.com/2012/02/22/rapportive-linkedin-acquisition/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
| -
| style="text-align:center;"|<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.eweek.com/c/a/Messaging-and-Collaboration/LinkedIn-Buys-Rapportive-Gmail-Contact-Plugin-208870/ |archive-url=https://wayback.archive-it.org/all/20171018160247/http://www.eweek.com/enterprise-apps/linkedin-buys-rapportive-gmail-contact-plug-in |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 18, 2017 |title=LinkedIn acquires Rapportive Gmail Contact plugin |publisher=eweek |date=February 24, 2012 |access-date=February 24, 2012 }}</ref>
|- scope="row"
| 7
| {{dts|2012|5|3}}
| [[SlideShare]]
| Social Content
| {{flag|USA}}
| $119 million
| Give LinkedIn members a way to discover people through content
| style="text-align:center;"|<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.businessinsider.com/linkedin-is-buying-slideshare-2012-5?op=1 |title=LinkedIn Is Buying SlideShare for $119 Million |website=Business Insider |date=May 3, 2012 |access-date=February 18, 2013 |archive-date=February 11, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130211030128/http://www.businessinsider.com/linkedin-is-buying-slideshare-2012-5?op=1 |url-status=live }}</ref>
|- scope="row"
| 8
| {{dts|2013|4|11}}
| [[Pulse (Application)|Pulse]]
| Web / Mobile newsreader
| {{flag|USA}}
| $90 million
| Definitive professional publishing platform
| style="text-align:center;"|<ref>{{cite news |url=https://techcrunch.com/2013/04/11/linkedin-acquires-pulse-for-90m-in-stock-and-cash/ |title=LinkedIn Acquires Pulse For $90M In Stock And Cash |work=TechCrunch |date=April 11, 2013 |access-date=April 11, 2013 |archive-date=January 15, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190115100444/https://techcrunch.com/2013/04/11/linkedin-acquires-pulse-for-90m-in-stock-and-cash/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
|- scope="row"
| 9
| {{dts|2014|2|6}}
| [[Bright.com]]
| Job Matching
| {{flag|USA}}
| $120 million
|
| style="text-align:center;"|<ref>{{cite web |url=https://thenextweb.com/insider/2014/02/06/linkedin-makes-biggest-acquisition-paying-120m-job-matching-service-bright/ |title=LinkedIn makes its biggest acquisition by paying $120m for job matching service Bright |publisher=TNW |date=February 6, 2014 |access-date=April 20, 2014 |archive-date=April 21, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140421064123/http://thenextweb.com/insider/2014/02/06/linkedin-makes-biggest-acquisition-paying-120m-job-matching-service-bright/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
|- scope="row"
| 10
| {{dts|2014|7|14}}
| Newsle
| Web application
| {{flag|USA}}
| -
| Allows users to follow real news about their Facebook friends, LinkedIn contacts, and public figures.
| style="text-align:center;"|<ref>{{cite web |url=https://dealbook.nytimes.com/2014/07/14/linkedin-acquires-start-up-newsle/ |title=LinkedIn Acquires Start-Up Newsle |date=July 14, 2014 |access-date=July 23, 2014 |archive-date=July 19, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140719163122/http://dealbook.nytimes.com/2014/07/14/linkedin-acquires-start-up-newsle/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
|- scope="row"
| 11
| {{dts|2014|7|22}}
| Bizo
| Web application
| {{flag|USA}}
| $175 million
| Helps advertisers reach businesses and professionals
| style="text-align:center;"|<ref>{{cite web |url=https://dealbook.nytimes.com/2014/07/22/linkedin-does-another-deal-buying-bizo/?_php=true&_type=blogs&_r=0 |access-date=January 14, 2015 |title=LinkedIn Makes Another Deal, Buying Bizo |date=July 22, 2014 |first=David |last=Gelles |website=DealBook |publisher=[[The New York Times|New York Times]] |archive-date=July 9, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170709101418/https://dealbook.nytimes.com/2014/07/22/linkedin-does-another-deal-buying-bizo/?_php=true&_type=blogs&_r=0 |url-status=live }}</ref>
|- scope="row"
| 12
| {{dts|2015|3|16}}
| Careerify
| Web application
| {{flag|Canada}}
| -
| Helps businesses hire people using social media
| style="text-align:center;"|<ref>{{cite web |url=https://techcrunch.com/2015/03/16/linkedin-buys-carreerify-to-build-out-its-recruitment-business/#.qtfu3r:9tCt |access-date=March 16, 2015 |title=LinkedIn Buys Careerify to Build out its Recruitment Business |date=March 16, 2016 |first=Ingrid |last=Lunden |website=Tech Crunch |publisher=[[Tech Crunch]] |archive-date=March 17, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150317041845/http://techcrunch.com/2015/03/16/linkedin-buys-carreerify-to-build-out-its-recruitment-business/#.qtfu3r:9tCt |url-status=live }}</ref>
|- scope="row"
| 13
| {{dts|2015|4|2}}
| Refresh.io
| Web application
| {{flag|USA}}
| -
| Surfaces insights about people in your networks right before you meet them
| style="text-align:center;"|<ref>{{cite web |url=https://techcrunch.com/2015/04/02/linkedin-buys-refresh-io-to-add-more-predictive-insights-to-its-products/ |date=April 2, 2015 |access-date=April 6, 2015 |title=LinkedIn Buys Refresh.io To Add Predictive Insights To Its Products |first=Lunden |last=Ingrid |website=TechCrunch |archive-date=April 4, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150404214320/http://techcrunch.com/2015/04/02/linkedin-buys-refresh-io-to-add-more-predictive-insights-to-its-products/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
|- scope="row"
|  14
| {{dts|2015|4|9}}
| [[Lynda.com]]
| eLearning
| {{flag|USA}}
| $1.5 billion
| Lets users learn business, technology, software, and creative skills through videos
|  style="text-align:center;"|<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/LinkedIn-just-bought-online-learning-company-Lynda-for-1-5-billion/articleshow/46865136.cms |date=April 9, 2015 |access-date=June 4, 2020 |title=LinkedIn just bought online learning company Lynda for $1.5 billion |first=MAYA |last=KOSOFF |website=BusinessInsider |archive-date=June 4, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200604070618/https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/LinkedIn-just-bought-online-learning-company-Lynda-for-1-5-billion/articleshow/46865136.cms |url-status=live }}</ref>
|- scope="row"
|  15
| {{dts|2015|8|28}}
| Fliptop
| Predictive Sales and Marketing Firm
| {{flag|USA}}
| -
| Using data science to help companies close more sales
| style="text-align:center;"|<ref>{{cite web |title=LinkedIn acquires predictive marketing firm Fliptop to boost its Sales Solutions offering |url=https://venturebeat.com/2015/08/28/linkedin-acquires-predictive-marketing-firm-fliptop-to-boost-its-sales-solution-offering/ |website=VentureBeat |date=August 29, 2015 |access-date=September 3, 2017 |archive-date=October 10, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171010065147/https://venturebeat.com/2015/08/28/linkedin-acquires-predictive-marketing-firm-fliptop-to-boost-its-sales-solution-offering/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
|- scope="row"
|  16
| {{dts|2016|2|4}}
|[[Connectifier]]
| Web application
| {{flag|USA}}
| -
| Helps companies with their recruiting
| style="text-align:center;"|<ref>{{cite web |title=LinkedIn acquires recruiting startup Connectifier |url=https://venturebeat.com/2016/02/04/linkedin-acquires-recruiting-startup-connectifier/ |website=VentureBeat |date=February 5, 2016 |access-date=September 3, 2017 |archive-date=July 27, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170727174511/https://venturebeat.com/2016/02/04/linkedin-acquires-recruiting-startup-connectifier/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
|- scope="row"
|  17
| {{dts|2016|7|26}}
| PointDrive
| Web application
| {{flag|USA}}
| -
| Lets salespeople share visual content with prospective clients to help seal the deal
| style="text-align:center;"|<ref>{{cite web |title=LinkedIn buys PointDrive to boost its social sales platform with sharing |url=https://techcrunch.com/2016/07/26/linkedin-buys-pointdrive-to-boost-its-social-sales-platform-with-sharing/ |website=TechCrunch |date=July 26, 2016 |access-date=July 26, 2016 |archive-date=July 27, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160727163022/https://techcrunch.com/2016/07/26/linkedin-buys-pointdrive-to-boost-its-social-sales-platform-with-sharing/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
|- scope="row"
|  18
| {{dts|2018|9|16}}
| Glint Inc.
| Web application
| {{flag|USA}}
| -
| Employee engagement platform.
| style="text-align:center;"|<ref>{{cite web |title=LinkedIn acquires employee engagement platform Glint |url=https://techcrunch.com/2018/10/08/linkedin-acquires-employee-engagement-and-retention-platform-glint/ |website=TechCrunch |date=October 8, 2018 |access-date=January 8, 2019 |archive-date=January 15, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190115220242/https://techcrunch.com/2018/10/08/linkedin-acquires-employee-engagement-and-retention-platform-glint/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
|19
|May 28, 2019
|Drawbridge
|Marketing Solutions
|{{flag|USA}}
|
|
| style="text-align:center;"|<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://business.linkedin.com/marketing-solutions/blog/linkedin-news/2019/helping-businesses-succeed-with-linkedin|title=Helping Businesses Succeed with LinkedIn|website=business.linkedin.com|language=en|access-date=November 7, 2019|archive-date=March 7, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200307170154/https://business.linkedin.com/marketing-solutions/blog/linkedin-news/2019/helping-businesses-succeed-with-linkedin|url-status=live}}</ref>
|}

=== Perkins lawsuit ===
In 2013 a [[class action]] lawsuit entitled ''Perkins vs. LinkedIn Corp'' was filed against the company, accusing it of automatically sending invitations to contacts in a member's email address book without permission. The court agreed with LinkedIn that permission had in fact been given for invitations to be sent, but ''not'' for the two further reminder emails.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pacermonitor.com/view/XKUTHYA/Perkins_et_al_v_LinkedIn_Corporation__candce-13-04303__0001.0.pdf |title=PacerMonitor Document View – 5:13-cv-04303 – Perkins et al v. LinkedIn Corporation, Docket Item 1 |publisher=Pacermonitor.com |date=September 17, 2013 |access-date=October 6, 2015 |archive-date=October 7, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151007122832/http://www.pacermonitor.com/view/XKUTHYA/Perkins_et_al_v_LinkedIn_Corporation__candce-13-04303__0001.0.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> LinkedIn [[Settlement (litigation)|settled]] the lawsuit in 2015 for $13 million.<ref name="auto">{{cite web |url=http://www.businessinsider.com/linkedin-settles-class-action-lawsuit-2015-10 |title=LinkedIn settles class-action lawsuit – Business Insider |date=October 2, 2015 |work=Business Insider |access-date=October 3, 2015 |archive-date=October 4, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151004184458/http://www.businessinsider.com/linkedin-settles-class-action-lawsuit-2015-10 |url-status=live }}</ref> Many members should have received a notice in their email with the subject line "Legal Notice of Settlement of Class Action". The Case No. is 13-CV-04303-LHK.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.addconnectionssettlement.com/media/382718/preliminary_approval_order.pdf |title=Preliminary Approval Order |last=UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT |first=NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA SAN JOSE DIVISION |date=September 17, 2013 |website=addconnectionssettlement.com |publisher=GILARDI & CO LLC |access-date=October 26, 2016 |archive-date=October 18, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171018154635/http://www.addconnectionssettlement.com/media/382718/preliminary_approval_order.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>

=== ''hiQ Labs v. LinkedIn'' ===
{{main|hiQ Labs v. LinkedIn}}

In May 2017 LinkedIn sent a Cease-And-Desist letter to hiQ Labs, a Silicon Valley startup that collects data from public profiles and provides analysis of this data to its customers. The letter demanded that hiQ immediately cease "scraping" data from LinkedIn's servers, claiming violations of the CFAA (Computer Fraud and Abuse Act) and the DMCA (Digital Millennium Copyright Act). In response hiQ sued LinkedIn in the Northern District of California in San Francisco, asking the court to prohibit LinkedIn from blocking its access to public profiles while the court considered the merits of its request. The court served a preliminary injunction against LinkedIn, which was then forced to allow hiQ to continue to collect public data. LinkedIn appealed this ruling; in September 2019, the appeals court rejected LinkedIn's arguments and the preliminary injunction was upheld. The dispute is ongoing.

== Membership ==
[[File: Linkedin Chocolates.jpg|thumb|right|Social media websites may also use "traditional" marketing approaches, as seen in these LinkedIn-branded chocolates.]]
As of 2015 LinkedIn had more than 400 million members in over 200 countries and territories.<ref name="hempel2013"/><ref name="in">{{cite web |url=http://blog.linkedin.com/2015/10/29/400-million-members/ |title=400 Million Members! |date=October 29, 2015 |publisher=LinkedIn |access-date=October 29, 2015 |website=LinkedIn Blog |archive-date=October 30, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151030235215/http://blog.linkedin.com/2015/10/29/400-million-members/ |url-status=live }}</ref> It is significantly ahead of its competitors [[Viadeo]] (50&nbsp;million as of 2013)<ref name="thenextweb">{{cite web |url=https://thenextweb.com/insider/2013/01/14/pealk-viadeo/ |title=Now at 50&nbsp;m users, LinkedIn rival Viadeo acquires French startup Pealk and announces US innovation lab |date=January 14, 2013 |access-date=June 18, 2018 |archive-date=August 15, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180815200939/https://thenextweb.com/insider/2013/01/14/pealk-viadeo/ |url-status=live }}</ref> and [[XING]] (11&nbsp;million as of 2016).<ref>{{cite web |url=https://corporate.xing.com/no_cache/english/company/xing-ag/ |title=XING AG |website=corporate.xing.com |access-date=September 10, 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160803210856/https://corporate.xing.com/no_cache/english/company/xing-ag/ |archive-date=August 3, 2016 }}</ref> In 2011, its membership grew by approximately two new members every second.<ref name="TwoMembersASecond">{{cite web |url=https://techcrunch.com/2011/08/04/linkedin-now-adding-two-new-members-every-second |title=LinkedIn now adding two members every second |date=August 4, 2011 |publisher=[[TechCrunch.com]] |access-date=October 31, 2011 |archive-date=November 3, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111103140624/http://techcrunch.com/2011/08/04/linkedin-now-adding-two-new-members-every-second/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2020 LinkedIn's membership grew to over 690 million LinkedIn members.<ref name="about_linkedin"/> As of September 2021 LinkedIn has 774+ million registered members from over 200 countries and territories.<ref name="about_linkedin"/>

== Platform and features ==

=== User profile network ===
====Basic functionality====
[[File:LinkedIn homepage.png|thumb|LinkedIn homepage]]
The basic functionality of LinkedIn allows users to create profiles, which for employees typically consist of a [[curriculum vitae]] describing their work experience, education and training, skills, and a personal photo. Employers can list [[job]]s and search for potential candidates. Users can find jobs, people and business opportunities recommended by someone in one's contact network. Users can save jobs that they would like to apply for. Users also have the ability to follow different companies.

The site also enables members to make "connections" to each other in an online social network which may represent real-world professional relationships. Members can invite anyone to become a connection. Users can obtain introductions to the connections of connections (termed ''second-degree connections'') and connections of second-degree connections (termed ''third-degree connections'').

A member's list of connections can be used in a number of ways. For example, users can search for second-degree connections who work at a company they are interested in, and then ask a specific first-degree connection in common for an introduction.<ref name="SecondDegreeConnections">{{cite news |last=Spiegel |first=Linda |title=How Job Hunters Should Use LinkedIn Second-Degree Connections |url=https://blogs.wsj.com/experts/2016/06/01/how-job-hunters-should-use-linkedin-second-degree-connections/ |date=June 1, 2016 |work=[[The Wall Street Journal]] |access-date=June 27, 2016 |archive-date=June 26, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160626034413/http://blogs.wsj.com/experts/2016/06/01/how-job-hunters-should-use-linkedin-second-degree-connections/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The "gated-access approach" (where contact with any professional requires either an existing relationship, or the intervention of a contact of theirs) is intended to build trust among the service's users. LinkedIn participated in the EU's [[International Safe Harbor Privacy Principles]].<ref name=":1">{{cite web|url=https://www.linkedin.com/help/linkedin/answer/62533/eu-data-transfers?lang=en|title=EU Data Transfers {{!}} LinkedIn Help|website=www.linkedin.com|language=en|access-date=December 21, 2017|archive-date=April 10, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190410134132/https://www.linkedin.com/help/linkedin/answer/62533/eu-data-transfers%3Flang%3Den|url-status=live}}</ref>

Users can interact with each other in a variety of ways:
* Connections can interact by choosing to "like" posts and "congratulate" others on updates such as birthdays, anniversaries and new positions, as well as by direct messaging.
* Users can share video with text and filters with the introduction of LinkedIn Video.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://blog.linkedin.com/2017/august/22/Introducing-LinkedIn-Video-Show-Your-Experience-and-Perspective |title=Introducing LinkedIn Video: Show Your Experience and Perspective |website=blog.linkedin.com |language=en-us |access-date=December 1, 2017 |archive-date=May 20, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180520020058/https://blog.linkedin.com/2017/august/22/Introducing-LinkedIn-Video-Show-Your-Experience-and-Perspective |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.adweek.com/digital/linkedin-just-launched-some-snapchat-like-features-for-video-creators/ |title=LinkedIn Just Launched Some Snapchat-Like Features for Video Creators |access-date=March 20, 2018 |language=en-US |archive-date=March 21, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180321064610/http://www.adweek.com/digital/linkedin-just-launched-some-snapchat-like-features-for-video-creators/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
* Users can write posts and articles<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.linkedin.com/post/new |title=Linkedin Publishing |website=www.linkedin.com |access-date=December 1, 2017 |archive-date=January 13, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180113063856/https://www.linkedin.com/post/new |url-status=live }}</ref> within the LinkedIn platform to share with their network.

Since September 2012 LinkedIn has enabled users to "endorse" each other's skills. However, there is no way of flagging anything other than positive content.<ref>{{cite web|title=How to endorse someone on LinkedIn, or accept a LinkedIn endorsement for your profile|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-endorse-on-linkedin|url-status=live|access-date=December 28, 2021|publisher=BusinessInsider|archive-date=December 28, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211228124823/https://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-endorse-on-linkedin}}</ref> LinkedIn solicits endorsements using [[algorithm]]s that generate skills members might have. Members cannot opt out of such solicitations, with the result that it sometimes appears that a member is soliciting an endorsement for a non-existent skill.<ref>{{cite news|last=Taub|first=Eric A.|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/05/technology/personaltech/the-path-to-happy-employment-contact-by-contact-on-linkedin.html|title=The Path to Happy Employment, Contact by Contact on LinkedIn|date=December 4, 2013|work=The New York Times|access-date=February 27, 2017|archive-date=March 22, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170322182059/http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/05/technology/personaltech/the-path-to-happy-employment-contact-by-contact-on-linkedin.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Applications ===
LinkedIn 'applications' often refer to external third-party applications that interact with LinkedIn's developer API. However, in some cases, it could refer to sanctioned applications featured on a user's profile page.

==== External, third party applications ====
In February 2015 LinkedIn released an updated terms of use for their developer API.<ref>[https://developer.linkedin.com/legal/api-terms-of-use ''Terms of Use''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220035136/https://developer.linkedin.com/legal/api-terms-of-use |date=December 20, 2016 }}, LinkedIn, February 12, 2015</ref> The developer API allows both companies and individuals the ability to interact with LinkedIn's data through creation of managed third-party applications. Applications must go through a review process and request permission from the user before accessing a user's data.

Normal use of the API is outlined in LinkedIn's developer documents,<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://developer.linkedin.com/ | title=Developers &#124; Linkedin | access-date=December 4, 2016 | archive-date=December 13, 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161213072218/https://developer.linkedin.com/ | url-status=live }}</ref> including:
* Sign into external services using LinkedIn
* Add items or attributes to a user profile
* Share items or articles to user's timeline

==== Embedded in profile ====
In October 2008, LinkedIn enabled an "applications platform" which allows external online services to be embedded within a member's profile page. Among the initial applications were an [[Amazon (company)|Amazon]] Reading List that allows LinkedIn members to display books they are reading, a connection to Tripit, and a [[Six Apart]], [[WordPress]] and [[TypePad]] application that allows members to display their latest blog postings within their LinkedIn profile.<ref>[http://www.businessweek.com/the_thread/techbeat/archives/2008/10/linkedin_launch.html ''Facebook in a Suit: LinkedIn Launches Applications Platform''] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090123190641/http://www.businessweek.com/the_thread/techbeat/archives/2008/10/linkedin_launch.html |date=January 23, 2009 }}, Business Week, October 28, 2008</ref> In November 2010, LinkedIn allowed businesses to list products and services on company profile pages; it also permitted LinkedIn members to "recommend" products and services and write reviews.<ref>[http://www.clickz.com/clickz/news/1866328/linkedin-adopts-recommend "LinkedIn Adopts 'Recommend' Over 'Like'"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101105102126/http://www.clickz.com/clickz/news/1866328/linkedin-adopts-recommend |date=November 5, 2010 }}, Clickz.com, November 2, 2010</ref> Shortly after, some of the external services were no longer supported, including Amazon's Reading List.{{citation needed|date=August 2019}}

=== Mobile ===
A mobile version of the site was launched in February 2008 and made available in six languages: Chinese, English, French, German, Japanese and Spanish.<ref>{{cite news |publisher=tweakers.net |url=http://life.tweakers.net/nieuws/52094/social-networkingsite-linkedin-introduceert-mobiele-versie.html |title=Social-networking site LinkedIN introduces mobile version |access-date=February 25, 2008 |archive-date=February 26, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080226164309/http://life.tweakers.net/nieuws/52094/social-networkingsite-linkedin-introduceert-mobiele-versie.html |url-status=live }}</ref> In January 2011, LinkedIn acquired CardMunch, a [[mobile app]] maker that scans [[business card]]s and converts into contacts.<ref>[http://shoutex.com/blog/cardmunch-iphone-app-for-business-users/ ''CardMunch acquired by LinkedIn''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110313023507/http://shoutex.com/blog/cardmunch-iphone-app-for-business-users/ |date=March 13, 2011 }}, shoutEx.com Feb 2011</ref> In June 2013, CardMunch was noted as an available LinkedIn app.<ref name="hempel2013"/> In October 2013, LinkedIn announced a service for iPhone users called "Intro", which inserts a thumbnail of a person's LinkedIn profile in correspondence with that person when reading mail messages in the native iOS [[Mail (Apple)|Mail program]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://engineering.linkedin.com/mobile/linkedin-intro-doing-impossible-ios |title=Announcement |publisher=Engineering.linkedin.com |date=October 23, 2013 |access-date=December 5, 2013 |archive-date=December 4, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131204231254/http://engineering.linkedin.com/mobile/linkedin-intro-doing-impossible-ios |url-status=live }}</ref> This is accomplished by re-routing all emails from and to the iPhone through LinkedIn servers, which security firm Bishop Fox asserts has serious [[Privacy issues of social networking sites|privacy implications]], violates many organizations' [[Security policy|security policies]], and resembles a [[man-in-the-middle attack]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Fox |first=Bishop |url=http://www.bishopfox.com/blog/2013/10/linkedin-intro/ |title=LinkedIn 'Intro'duces Insecurity |publisher=Bishop Fox |date=October 23, 2013 |access-date=October 6, 2015 |archive-date=October 7, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151007000922/http://www.bishopfox.com/blog/2013/10/linkedin-intro/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Fox |first=Bishop |url=http://www.bishopfox.com/blog/2013/11/introspection-intro-security/ |title=An Introspection On Intro Security |publisher=Bishop Fox |date=November 1, 2013 |access-date=October 6, 2015 |archive-date=October 6, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151006232210/http://www.bishopfox.com/blog/2013/11/introspection-intro-security/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Groups ===
LinkedIn also supports daily the formation of interest groups. In 2012 there were 1,248,019 such groups whose membership varies from 1 to 744,662.<ref name="autogenerated1">{{cite web |url=http://www.linkedin.com/groupsDirectory?results=&pplSearchOrigin=GLHD&keywords= |title=Groups Directory |publisher=LinkedIn |access-date=December 8, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |publisher=i-newswire.com |url=http://www.i-newswire.com/world-s-largest-linkedin-group/160028 |title=World's Largest LinkedIn Group Breaks The 700,000 Member mark |access-date=February 28, 2012 |archive-date=April 17, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120417021437/http://www.i-newswire.com/world-s-largest-linkedin-group/160028 |url-status=live }}</ref> Groups support a limited form of discussion area, moderated by the group owners and managers.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://socialmediatoday.com/mark-lerner/2070731/how-avoid-linkedin-s-site-wide-automatic-moderation |title=How to Avoid LinkedIn's Site Wide Automatic Moderation (SWAM) |website=Socialmediatoday.com |access-date=October 17, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140627130825/http://socialmediatoday.com/mark-lerner/2070731/how-avoid-linkedin-s-site-wide-automatic-moderation |archive-date=June 27, 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Groups may be private, accessible to members only or may be open to Internet users in general to read, though they must join in order to post messages. Since groups offer the functionality to reach a wide audience without so easily falling foul of [[Anti-spam techniques|anti-spam solutions]], there is a constant stream of spam postings, and there now exists a range of firms who offer a spamming service for this very purpose. LinkedIn has devised a few mechanisms to reduce the volume of spam,<ref>{{cite web |last=Lerner |first=Mark |title=How To Avoid LinkedIn's Site Wide Automatic Moderation |url=http://blog.oktopost.com/how-to-avoid-linkedin-swam-site-wide-automatic-moderation/ |publisher=Oktopost |access-date=March 24, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140324171633/http://blog.oktopost.com/how-to-avoid-linkedin-swam-site-wide-automatic-moderation/ |archive-date=March 24, 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref> but recently{{When|date=April 2016}} took the decision to remove the ability of group owners to inspect the email address of new members in order to determine if they were spammers.{{Citation needed|date=April 2016}} Groups also keep their members informed through emails with updates to the group, including most talked about discussions within your professional circles.<ref name="autogenerated1"/><ref>{{cite web |title=Groups |url=http://learn.linkedin.com/groups/ |publisher=LinkedIn Corporation |access-date=March 26, 2012 |archive-date=March 10, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120310224228/http://learn.linkedin.com/groups/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

In December 2011 LinkedIn announced that they are rolling out polls to groups.<ref>{{cite web |date=December 14, 2011 |last=Wasserman |first=Todd |url=http://mashable.com/2011/12/14/linkedin-polling/ |title=LinkedIn polling |website=[[Mashable]] |access-date=December 15, 2011 |archive-date=December 15, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111215233024/http://mashable.com/2011/12/14/linkedin-polling/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In November 2013, LinkedIn announced the addition of Showcase Pages to the platform.<ref>{{cite web |date=November 19, 2013 |last=Pinkovezky |first=Aviad |url=http://blog.linkedin.com/2013/11/19/announcing-linkedin-showcase-pages/ |title=Announcing LinkedIn Showcase Pages |access-date=October 7, 2014 |archive-date=October 11, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141011191744/http://blog.linkedin.com/2013/11/19/announcing-linkedin-showcase-pages/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2014, LinkedIn announced they were going to be removing Product and Services Pages<ref>{{cite web |date=August 6, 2014 |last=Everett |first=Paul |url=https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/article/20140323193253-22326369-linkedin-company-product-services-pages-being-discontinued |title=LinkedIn Company Product & Services pages being discontinued |access-date=October 7, 2014 |archive-date=March 6, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220306035246/https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/20140323193253-22326369-linkedin-company-product-services-pages-being-discontinued |url-status=live }}</ref> paving the way for a greater focus on Showcase Pages.<ref>{{cite web |date=June 29, 2014 |last=Levin |first=Valerie |url=http://blog.oktopost.com/crash-course-linkedin-showcase-pages-101 |title=Crash Course: LinkedIn Showcase Pages 101 |access-date=October 7, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141016145318/http://blog.oktopost.com/crash-course-linkedin-showcase-pages-101/ |archive-date=October 16, 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

=== Knowledge graph ===
LinkedIn maintains an internal knowledge graph of entities (people, organizations, groups) that helps it connect everyone working in a field or at an organization or network.  This can be used to query the neighborhood around each entity to find updates that might be related to it.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Building The LinkedIn Knowledge Graph|url=https://engineering.linkedin.com/blog/2016/10/building-the-linkedin-knowledge-graph|access-date=July 1, 2020|website=engineering.linkedin.com|language=en|archive-date=September 22, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200922220211/https://engineering.linkedin.com/blog/2016/10/building-the-linkedin-knowledge-graph|url-status=live}}</ref>
This also lets them train machine learning models that can infer new properties about an entity, or new information that may apply to it, for both summary views and for analytics.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Machine Learning in LinkedIn Knowledge Graph|url=https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/machine-learning-linkedin-knowledge-graph-qi-he|access-date=July 1, 2020|website=www.linkedin.com|language=en|archive-date=October 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211008100754/https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/machine-learning-linkedin-knowledge-graph-qi-he|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Discontinued features ===
In January 2013 LinkedIn dropped support for LinkedIn Answers and cited a new 'focus on development of new and more engaging ways to share and discuss professional topics across LinkedIn' as the reason for the retirement of the feature. The feature had been launched in 2007 and allowed users to post questions to their network and allowed users to rank answers.

In 2014 LinkedIn retired InMaps, a feature which allowed you to visualize your professional network.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://techcrunch.com/2014/09/01/linkedin-is-quietly-retiring-network-visualization-tool-inmaps/|title=LinkedIn Is Quietly Retiring Network Visualization Tool InMaps|date=September 2, 2014 |access-date=November 27, 2017|archive-date=November 1, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171101154602/https://techcrunch.com/2014/09/01/linkedin-is-quietly-retiring-network-visualization-tool-inmaps/|url-status=live}}</ref> The feature had been in use since January 2011.

According to the company's website, LinkedIn Referrals will no longer be available after May 2018.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Joel|first1=CHEESMAN|url=https://www.ere.net/linkedin-referrals-closing-down/|title=LinkedIn Referrals Set to Close Down Later This Month|date=May 1, 2018|work=ERE|access-date=August 2, 2019|archive-date=August 2, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190802190137/https://www.ere.net/linkedin-referrals-closing-down/|url-status=live}}</ref>{{Update inline|date=November 2022}}

In September 2021 LinkedIn discontinued LinkedIn stories, a feature that was rolled out worldwide in October 2020.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Update about Marketing with LinkedIn Stories, and What's Next|url=https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/update-marketing-linkedin-stories-whats-next-|access-date=2021-12-07|website=www.linkedin.com|language=en|archive-date=December 7, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211207160204/https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/update-marketing-linkedin-stories-whats-next-|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Usage ==

===Personal branding===
[[File:LinkedIn connection levels first-level second-level third-level according to Sandra Long of Post Road Consulting.png|thumb|When a user accepts an invitation from another user, they have a first-level connection; the user is indirectly connected to the other user's connections with what LinkedIn terms second-level and third-level connections.]]
LinkedIn is particularly well-suited for personal branding which, according to Sandra Long, entails "actively managing one's image and unique value" to position oneself for career opportunities.<ref name="twsLong1212">{{cite book|last=Long|first=Sandra|title=LinkedIn for Personal Branding: The Ultimate Guide|date=2016|publisher=HGP Publishing|isbn=9781938015434|location=New York City|page=3,6,18,23,25,73,74,133}}</ref> LinkedIn has evolved from being a mere platform for job searchers into a social network which allows users a chance to create a personal brand.<ref name="twsSA101">{{cite web|url=https://www.stamfordadvocate.com/business/article/Indeed-adding-to-job-searching-workforce-in-6856716.php|title=Indeed adding to job-searching workforce in Stamford|last=Soule|first=Alexander|date=February 28, 2016|publisher=Stamford Advocate|access-date=August 19, 2019|quote=... LinkedIn is a social network," said Sandra Long, who provides LinkedIn training through her Post Road Consulting, which has offices in Westport and Stamford "... LinkedIn has also evolved into a platform for sales and other business professionals to manage a personal ‘brand’ ... you can identify the exact people you know that are connected to that opportunity."...|archive-date=August 18, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190818221822/https://www.stamfordadvocate.com/business/article/Indeed-adding-to-job-searching-workforce-in-6856716.php|url-status=live}}</ref> Career coach Pamela Green describes a personal brand as the "emotional experience you want people to have as a result of interacting with you," and a LinkedIn profile is an aspect of that.<ref name="twsAN112">{{cite web|url=https://associationsnow.com/2019/08/asae19-strengthen-your-personal-brand/|title=#ASAE19: STRENGTHEN YOUR PERSONAL BRAND|last=Shoop|first=Julie|date=August 12, 2019|publisher=Associations Now|access-date=August 19, 2019|quote=...Green ... describes a personal brand as "the emotional experience you want people to have as a result of interacting with you."...|archive-date=August 18, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190818221820/https://associationsnow.com/2019/08/asae19-strengthen-your-personal-brand/|url-status=live}}</ref> A contrasting report suggests that a personal brand is "a public-facing persona, exhibited on LinkedIn, Twitter and other networks, that showcases expertise and fosters new connections."<ref name="twsWSH4433">{{cite web|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/a-social-media-guide-for-introverts-11565575740|title=A Social-Media Guide for Introverts|last=Samuel|first=Alexandra|date=August 11, 2019|access-date=August 19, 2019|quote=... a "personal brand": a public-facing persona, exhibited on LinkedIn, Twitter and other networks, that showcases expertise and fosters new connections....|newspaper=The Wall Street Journal|archive-date=August 19, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190819014036/https://www.wsj.com/articles/a-social-media-guide-for-introverts-11565575740|url-status=live}}</ref>

LinkedIn allows professionals to build exposure for their personal brand within the site itself as well as in the World Wide Web as a whole. With a tool that LinkedIn dubs a ''Profile Strength Meter'', the site encourages users to offer enough information in their profile to optimize [[search engine optimization|visibility by search engines]]. It can strengthen a user's LinkedIn presence if he or she belongs to professional groups in the site.<ref name="twsTheStreet111">{{cite web|url=https://www.thestreet.com/how-to/how-to-use-linkedin-to-find-a-job-15017212|title=How to Use LinkedIn to Find a Job in 2019:LinkedIn connects over 600 million users between roughly 200 countries. With so many people using it, how can you stand out from the crowd to land that next job?|last=Meyer|first=Jack|date=July 14, 2019|publisher=TheStreet.com|access-date=August 3, 2019|quote=...Linked ... grown into the premier digital platform ...|archive-date=August 3, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190803211139/https://www.thestreet.com/how-to/how-to-use-linkedin-to-find-a-job-15017212|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="twsLong1212"/> The site enables users to add video to their profiles.<ref name="twsINC2010">{{cite web|url=https://www.inc.com/justin-bariso/how-to-use-linkedin-linkedin-video-to-expand-your-reach-build-your-network-find-right-customers-for-your-business.html|title=How to Use LinkedIn and LinkedIn Video to Expand Your Reach, Build Your Network, and Find the Right Customers for Your Business: LinkedIn has changed dramatically through the years. Here's a step-by-step guide for getting the most out of the platform.|last=Bariso|first=Justin|date=August 1, 2019|access-date=August 3, 2019|quote=... Advice from Kristin Sherry -- engage with commenters, give give give, ask for engagement, don't be a slave to numbers, experiment with LinkedIn video...|magazine=Inc.|archive-date=August 3, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190803211141/https://www.inc.com/justin-bariso/how-to-use-linkedin-linkedin-video-to-expand-your-reach-build-your-network-find-right-customers-for-your-business.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Some users hire a professional photographer for their profile photo.<ref name="twsForbes202">{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/nextavenue/2017/03/07/7-linkedin-tips-to-build-your-personal-brand/#272d768b4058|title=7 LinkedIn Tips To Build Your Personal Brand|last=Collamer|first=Nancy|date=March 7, 2017|access-date=August 19, 2019|quote=...Invest in getting a professional photo taken ... Long says: "If you can afford a professional photographer, it is usually the best investment you can make in your personal brand and self confidence."...|magazine=Forbes|archive-date=June 11, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190611225831/https://www.forbes.com/sites/nextavenue/2017/03/07/7-linkedin-tips-to-build-your-personal-brand/#272d768b4058|url-status=live}}</ref> Video presentations can be added to one's profile.<ref name="twsEP101">{{cite web|url=https://enterprisersproject.com/article/2019/1/5-linkedin-tips-it-leaders|title=5 tips to make LinkedIn work better|date=January 4, 2019|publisher=Enterprisers Project|access-date=August 19, 2019|quote=..Consider adding [...videos] to your profile, or uploading presentations to LinkedIn via SlideShare," says Sandra Long, author of "LinkedIn for Personal Branding: The Ultimate Guide...|archive-date=August 18, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190818221829/https://enterprisersproject.com/article/2019/1/5-linkedin-tips-it-leaders|url-status=live}}</ref> LinkedIn's capabilities have been expanding so rapidly that a cottage industry of outside consultants has grown up to help users navigate the system.<ref name="twsFC101">{{cite web|url=https://www.fastcompany.com/90201284/give-your-linkedin-profile-a-complete-makeover-in-under-an-hour|title=Give your LinkedIn profile a complete makeover in under an hour: Need to spruce up your LinkedIn profile fast? Focus on these seven areas.|last=Moran|first=Gwen|date=July 20, 2017|access-date=August 12, 2019|quote=... a cottage industry has sprung up around helping people and companies craft the perfect profile of record ... Your headline is the 120-word line ... Be sure you're using that space wisely, says Sandra Long, LinkedIn consultant and author of LinkedIn for Personal Branding: The Ultimate Guide....|magazine=Fast Company|archive-date=August 12, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190812162220/https://www.fastcompany.com/90201284/give-your-linkedin-profile-a-complete-makeover-in-under-an-hour|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="twsINC2010"/><ref name="twsNYPost13">{{cite web|url=https://nypost.com/2018/12/02/how-to-make-the-perfect-linkedin-profile/|title=How to make the perfect LinkedIn profile|last=Reyes|first=Maridel|date=December 2, 2018|access-date=August 12, 2019|quote=... A comprehensive profile includes a headline with keywords; headshot photo; first-person summary and experiences; education; skills; geography; industry; contact information; volunteering; custom URL and accomplishments such as publications, organizations, awards, spoken languages and certifications, says Sandra Long, author of "LinkedIn for Personal Branding: The Ultimate Guide"...|newspaper=New York Post|archive-date=August 12, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190812162223/https://nypost.com/2018/12/02/how-to-make-the-perfect-linkedin-profile/|url-status=live}}</ref> A particular emphasis is helping users with their LinkedIn profiles.<ref name="twsFC101"/>

{{Blockquote|There's no hiding in the long grass on LinkedIn ... The number one mistake people make on the profile is to not have a photo.|Sandra Long of Post Road Consulting, 2017<ref name="twsMktWatch101">{{cite web
| last= Passy
| first= Jacob
| date= April 2, 2017
| publisher= MarketWatch
| url= https://www.marketwatch.com/story/members-of-this-profession-have-the-most-appealing-linkedin-photos-2017-03-31
| title= This is the country (and profession) with the most photogenic LinkedIn profiles
| access-date= August 12, 2019
| quote= ...There's no hiding in the long grass on LinkedIn ... said Sandra Long, owner of Post Road Consulting, a company that provides LinkedIn training ...
| archive-date= August 12, 2019
| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20190812162221/https://www.marketwatch.com/story/members-of-this-profession-have-the-most-appealing-linkedin-photos-2017-03-31
| url-status= live
}}</ref>}}In October 2012, LinkedIn launched the LinkedIn Influencers program, which features global [[thought leader]]s who share their professional insights with LinkedIn's members. As of May 2016, there are 750+ Influencers.<ref>[https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/linkedin-microsoft-address-influencer-programs-gender-lee-bob-black?/ "Will LinkedIn Address the Influencer Program's Gender Lopsidedness?"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220306035252/https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/linkedin-microsoft-address-influencer-programs-gender-lee-bob-black?%2F |date=March 6, 2022 }}, ''LinkedIn Pulse'', June 14, 2016. Retrieved on June 28, 2016.</ref> The program is invite-only and features leaders from a range of industries including [[Richard Branson]], [[Narendra Modi]], [[Arianna Huffington]], [[Greg McKeown (author)|Greg McKeown]], [[Rahm Emanuel]], [[Jamie Dimon]], [[Martha Stewart]], [[Deepak Chopra]], [[Jack Welch]], and [[Bill Gates]].<ref>Rao, Leena. [https://techcrunch.com/2012/10/02/linkedin-allows-you-to-follow-key-influencers-on-the-network-will-eventually-make-feature-universal/ "LinkedIn Allows You To Follow Key Influencers On The Network; Will Eventually Make Feature Universal"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170705081719/https://techcrunch.com/2012/10/02/linkedin-allows-you-to-follow-key-influencers-on-the-network-will-eventually-make-feature-universal/ |date=July 5, 2017 }}, ''[[TechCrunch]]'', San Francisco, October 2, 2012. Retrieved on July 19, 2013.</ref><ref>Kaufman, Leslie. [https://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/17/technology/sharing-business-insights-linkedin-builds-its-publishing-presence.html?_r=0 "LinkedIn Builds Its Publishing Presence"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170701012126/http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/17/technology/sharing-business-insights-linkedin-builds-its-publishing-presence.html?_r=0 |date=July 1, 2017 }}, ''[[The New York Times]]'', New York, June 16, 2013. Retrieved on July 19, 2013.</ref>

===Job seeking===
LinkedIn is widely used by job seekers and employers. According to Jack Meyer the site has become the "premier digital platform" for professionals to network online.<ref name="twsTheStreet111"/> In Australia, which has approximately twelve million working professionals, ten million of them are on LinkedIn, according to Anastasia Santoreneos, suggesting that the probability was high that one's "future employer is probably on the site."<ref name="twsYahooFinance113">{{cite web|url=https://au.finance.yahoo.com/news/how-to-use-linkedin-to-guarantee-you-get-the-job-022554090.html|title=How to use LinkedIn to guarantee you get your dream job|last=Santoreneos|first=Anastasia|date=August 1, 2019|publisher=Yahoo! Finance|access-date=August 3, 2019|quote=...LinkedIn, the professional's Facebook ... there are around 12.5 million working professionals in Australia - which means your future employer is probably on the site...|archive-date=August 3, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190803213256/https://au.finance.yahoo.com/news/how-to-use-linkedin-to-guarantee-you-get-the-job-022554090.html|url-status=live}}</ref> According to one estimate based on worldwide figures, 122 million users got [[job interview]]s via LinkedIn and 35 million were hired by a LinkedIn online connection.<ref name="twsYahooFinance4454">{{cite web|url=https://finance.yahoo.com/news/positive-responses-cold-outreach-messages-200200477.html|title=How to Get Positive Responses to Cold Outreach Messages on LinkedIn|last=Kersten|first=Teresa|date=July 16, 2019|publisher=Yahoo! Finance|access-date=August 3, 2019|quote=.... People you've accepted invitations from (or those who've accepted them from you) are first-degree connections. People connected to them are second-degree, and those connected to second-degree connections are third-degree.  ... ...|archive-date=August 3, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190803213256/https://finance.yahoo.com/news/positive-responses-cold-outreach-messages-200200477.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

LinkedIn also allows users to research companies, non-profit organizations, and governments they may be interested in working for. Typing the name of a company or organization in the search box causes pop-up data about the company or organization to appear. Such data may include the ratio of female to male employees, the percentage of the most common titles/positions held within the company, the location of the company's headquarters and offices, and a list of present and former employees. In July 2011, LinkedIn launched a new feature allowing companies to include an "Apply with LinkedIn" button on job listing pages.<ref name="Plugin">Colleen Taylor, GigaOm. "[http://gigaom.com/2011/07/25/apply-with-linkedin-button-launches/ LinkedIn launches job application plugin] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111008130541/http://gigaom.com/2011/07/25/apply-with-linkedin-button-launches/ |date=October 8, 2011 }}." July 25, 2011. Retrieved July 25, 2011.</ref> The new plugin allowed potential employees to apply for positions using their LinkedIn profiles as resumes.<ref name="Plugin"/>

LinkedIn can help small businesses connect with customers.<ref name="twsInc49400">{{cite web|url=https://www.inc.com/peter-economy/if-youre-freelance-or-a-small-business-owner-linkedin-just-revealed-a-new-feature-that-changes-everything.html|title=If You're Freelance or a Small-Business Owner, LinkedIn Just Revealed a New Feature That Changes Everything: LinkedIn counts at least 10 million small-business leaders who use the site's tools and services to reach out to clients.|last=Economy|first=Peter|date=July 23, 2019|access-date=August 3, 2019|quote=... enable members who are freelancers and small business owners to show their individual availability,..|magazine=Inc.|archive-date=March 6, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220306035244/https://www.inc.com/peter-economy/if-youre-freelance-or-a-small-business-owner-linkedin-just-revealed-a-new-feature-that-changes-everything.html|url-status=live}}</ref>  In the site's parlance, two users have a "first-degree connection" when one accepts an invitation from another.<ref name="twsYahooFinance4454"/> People connected to each of them are "second-degree connections" and persons connected to the second-degree connections are "third-degree connections."<ref name="twsYahooFinance4454"/> This forms a user's internal LinkedIn network, making the user's profile more likely to appear in searches.

LinkedIn's Profinder is a marketplace where freelancers can (for a monthly subscription fee) bid for project proposals submitted by individuals and small businesses .<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/columnist/stevenpetrow/2017/05/10/3-game-changing-linkedin-features/101032400/|title=3 overlooked LinkedIn features to find a better paying job|last=Petrow|first=Steven|date=May 10, 2017|website=USA Today|language=en-US|access-date=March 18, 2020|archive-date=March 18, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200318062942/https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/columnist/stevenpetrow/2017/05/10/3-game-changing-linkedin-features/101032400/|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2017, it had around 60,000 freelancers in more than 140 service areas, such as headshot photography, bookkeeping or tax filing.<ref name=":2"/>

The premise for connecting with someone has shifted significantly in recent years. Prior to the 2017 new interface being launched, LinkedIn encouraged connections between people who'd already worked together, studied together, done business together or the like. Since 2017 that step has been removed from the connection request process - and users are allowed to connect with up to 30,000 people. This change means LinkedIn is a more proactive networking site, be that for job applicants trying to secure a career move or for salespeople wanting to generate new client leads.<ref name="twsLong1212"/>

=== Top Companies ===
[[LinkedIn Top Companies]] is a series of lists published by LinkedIn, identifying companies in the United States, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Japan, Mexico and the United Kingdom that are attracting the most intense interest from job candidates. The 2019 lists identified [[Google]]'s parent company, [[Alphabet Inc.|Alphabet]], as the most sought-after U.S. company, with [[Facebook, Inc|Facebook]] ranked second and [[Amazon (company)|Amazon]] ranked third.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/linkedin-top-companies-2019-where-us-wants-work-now-daniel-roth/ |website=LinkedIn |title=LinkedIn Top Companies 2019: Where the U.S. wants to work now |date=April 3, 2019 |first=Daniel |last=Roth |author-link=Daniel Roth (writer)}}</ref> The lists are based on more than one billion actions by LinkedIn members worldwide. The Top Companies lists were started in 2016 and are published annually. The 2021 top list identified [[Amazon (company)|Amazon]] as the top company with [[Alphabet Inc.|Alphabet]] ranked second and [[JPMorgan Chase|JPMorgan & Chase Co.]] ranked third.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-04-28|title=LinkedIn Unveils the 2021 U.S. Top Companies List|url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210428005209/en/LinkedIn-Unveils-the-2021-U.S.-Top-Companies-List|access-date=2021-09-23|website=www.businesswire.com|language=en|archive-date=May 11, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210511103013/https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210428005209/en/LinkedIn-Unveils-the-2021-U.S.-Top-Companies-List|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Top Voices and other rankings ===
Since 2015 LinkedIn has published annual rankings of Top Voices on the platform, recognizing "members that generated the most engagement and interaction with their posts."<ref>{{cite news |last=Hutchinson |first=Andrew |url=https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/linkedin-shares-listing-of-its-most-influential-users-in-2020/589253 |title=LinkedIn shares listing of its most influential users in 2020 |work=[[Social Media Today]] |date=November 17, 2020 |access-date=July 21, 2021 |archive-date=August 10, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210810213101/https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/linkedin-shares-listing-of-its-most-influential-users-in-2020/589253/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The 2020 lists<ref>{{cite news |last=Roth |first=Daniel |url=https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/linkedin-top-voices-2020-meet-professionals-driving-todays-roth/ |title=LinkedIn Top Voices: meet the professionals driving today's business conversations |date=November 17, 2020 |access-date=July 21, 2021 |archive-date=July 22, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210722002434/https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/linkedin-top-voices-2020-meet-professionals-driving-todays-roth/ |url-status=live }}</ref> included 14 industry categories, ranging from data science to sports, as well as 14 country lists, extending from Australia to Italy.

LinkedIn also publishes data-driven annual rankings of the Top Startups in more than a dozen countries, based on "employment growth, job interest from potential candidates, engagement, and attraction of top talent."<ref>{{cite news |last=Kambhammettu |first=Akhil |url=https://www.inc.com/akhil-kambhammettu/linkedin-top-startups-doordash-robinhood-brooklinen-better.html |work=[[Inc. (magazine)|Inc.]] |title=10 Companies That Are Thriving--and Hiring--Amid the Pandemic |date=September 29, 2020 |access-date=July 21, 2021 |archive-date=July 22, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210722002434/https://www.inc.com/akhil-kambhammettu/linkedin-top-startups-doordash-robinhood-brooklinen-better.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Hempel |first=Jessi |url=https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/linkedin-top-startups-2020-50-us-companies-rise-jessi-hempel/ |title=LinkedIn Top Startups 2020: The 50 U.S. companies on the rise |date=September 22, 2020 |access-date=July 21, 2021 |archive-date=July 22, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210722002436/https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/linkedin-top-startups-2020-50-us-companies-rise-jessi-hempel/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Advertising and for-pay research ===
In 2008 LinkedIn launched LinkedIn DirectAds as a form of sponsored advertising.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://shoutex.com/blog/linkedin-directads-google-adwords-ppc-1/ |title=LinkedIn Direct Ads vs Google Adwords |publisher=Shoutex.com |date=December 22, 2008 |access-date=October 6, 2015 |archive-date=October 8, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151008031954/http://shoutex.com/blog/linkedin-directads-google-adwords-ppc-1/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In October 2008, LinkedIn revealed plans to open its social network of 30 million professionals globally as a potential sample for business-to-business research. It is testing a potential social network revenue model – research that to some appears more promising than advertising.<ref>LinkedIn's promising new revenue model: sending you surveys. By: Neff, Jack, Advertising Age, 00018899, October 27, 2008, Vol. 79, Issue 40. Database: Business Source Complete</ref> On July 23, 2013, LinkedIn announced their Sponsored Updates ad service. Individuals and companies can now pay a fee to have LinkedIn sponsor their content and spread it to their user base. This is a common way for social media sites such as LinkedIn to generate revenue.<ref>{{cite web |title=LinkedIn Expands Ad Program With Launch Of Sponsored Updates Program |date=July 23, 2013 |url=https://techcrunch.com/2013/07/23/linkedin-sponsored-updates/ |publisher=Techcruch.com |access-date=October 6, 2015 |archive-date=April 21, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210421092357/https://techcrunch.com/2013/07/23/linkedin-sponsored-updates/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Business Manager ===
LinkedIn today{{When|date=July 2022}} announced the creation of Business Manager. The new Business Manager is a centralized platform designed to make it easier for large companies and agencies to manage people, ad accounts and business pages.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-07-27 |title=Get started with LinkedIn Business Manager - 3 Advantages |url=https://infindigital.in/get-started-with-linkedin-business-manager-3-advatanges/ |access-date=2022-07-28 |website=Infin Digital |language=en-US}}</ref>

=== Publishing platform ===
In 2015, LinkedIn added an analytics tool to its publishing platform. The tool allows authors to better track traffic that their posts receive.<ref>By Ingrid Lunden, TechCrunch. "[https://techcrunch.com/2015/05/07/whos-viewed-your-posts-linkedin-adds-analytics-to-its-publishing-platform/#.mc8jwf:keEb "Who's Viewed Your Posts?" LinkedIn Adds Analytics To Its Publishing Platform] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210421093850/https://techcrunch.com/2015/05/07/whos-viewed-your-posts-linkedin-adds-analytics-to-its-publishing-platform/#.mc8jwf:keEb |date=April 21, 2021 }}." May 7, 2015. May 7, 2015.</ref>

== Future plans ==
=== Economic graph ===
Inspired by Facebook's "[[social graph]]", LinkedIn CEO Jeff Weiner set a goal in 2012 to create an "economic graph" within a decade.<ref name="KovachBI">Steve Kovach November 27, 2012 [http://www.businessinsider.com/linkedin-ceo-heres-what-linkedin-will-look-like-in-five-years-2012-11 Jeff Weiner Just Revealed A Surprising Long-Term Vision For LinkedIn] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220306035252/https://www.businessinsider.com/linkedin-ceo-heres-what-linkedin-will-look-like-in-five-years-2012-11 |date=March 6, 2022 }} Business Insider</ref> The goal was to create a comprehensive digital map of the world economy and the connections within it.<ref>Rachel King September 9, 2013 [http://www.zdnet.com/linkedins-long-term-plan-build-the-worlds-first-economic-graph-says-ceo-7000020419/ LinkedIn's long-term plan? Build the 'world's first economic graph,' says CEO] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140619134812/http://www.zdnet.com/linkedins-long-term-plan-build-the-worlds-first-economic-graph-says-ceo-7000020419/ |date=June 19, 2014 }} ZDNet's Between the Lines</ref> The economic graph was to be built on the company's current platform with data nodes including companies, jobs, skills, volunteer opportunities, educational institutions, and content.<ref>Ingrid Lunden January 15, 2014 [https://techcrunch.com/2014/01/15/linkedin-launches-a-volunteer-marketplace-to-extend-its-job-hunting-platform-to-free-work/ LinkedIn Expands Its Jobs Database With A New Volunteer Marketplace For Unpaid Non-Profit Work] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170709222512/https://techcrunch.com/2014/01/15/linkedin-launches-a-volunteer-marketplace-to-extend-its-job-hunting-platform-to-free-work/ |date=July 9, 2017 }} TechCrunch</ref><ref>Bill Chappell August 19, 2013 [https://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/08/19/213450212/university-pages-linkedin-launches-new-college-profiles University Pages: LinkedIn Launches New College Profiles] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150424023902/http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/08/19/213450212/university-pages-linkedin-launches-new-college-profiles |date=April 24, 2015 }} NPR's the two-way</ref> They have been hoping to include all the job listings in the world, all the skills required to get those jobs, all the professionals who could fill them, and all the companies (nonprofit and for-profit) at which they work. The ultimate goal is to make the world economy and job market more efficient through increased transparency.<ref name="KovachBI"/> In June 2014, the company announced its "Galene" search architecture to give users access to the economic graph's data with more thorough filtering of data, via user searches like "Engineers with Hadoop experience in Brazil."<ref>Harrison Weber June 5, 2014 [https://venturebeat.com/2014/06/05/linkedin-launches-galene-search-architecture-to-build-the-first-economic-graph/ LinkedIn launches ‘Galene’ search architecture to build the first ‘economic graph’] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170727181754/https://venturebeat.com/2014/06/05/linkedin-launches-galene-search-architecture-to-build-the-first-economic-graph/ |date=July 27, 2017 }} VentureBeat</ref><ref>Rachel King June 5, 2014 [http://www.zdnet.com/linkedin-plans-to-reinvent-search-in-order-to-map-its-economic-graph-7000030171/ LinkedIn plans to reinvent search in order to map its economic graph] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140704041822/http://www.zdnet.com/linkedin-plans-to-reinvent-search-in-order-to-map-its-economic-graph-7000030171/ |date=July 4, 2014 }} ZDNet's Between the Lines</ref>

LinkedIn has used economic graph data to research several topics on the job market, including popular destination cities of recent college graduates,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://qz.com/216560/the-most-attractive-cities-worldwide-for-new-graduates/ |title=The most attractive cities worldwide for new graduates – Quartz |publisher=Quartz |date=June 4, 2014 |access-date=October 6, 2015 |archive-date=October 13, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151013064337/http://qz.com/216560/the-most-attractive-cities-worldwide-for-new-graduates/ |url-status=live }}</ref> areas with high concentrations of technology skills,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://blogs.wsj.com/digits/2014/06/24/where-is-the-top-city-to-spot-tech-talent/ |title=Where Is the Top City to Spot Tech Talent? |publisher=Blogs.wsj.com |date=June 24, 2014 |access-date=October 6, 2015 |archive-date=October 6, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151006112052/http://blogs.wsj.com/digits/2014/06/24/where-is-the-top-city-to-spot-tech-talent/ |url-status=live }}</ref> and common career transitions.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://blogs.wsj.com/atwork/2014/12/08/how-to-predict-your-next-job/ |title=Oh, the Places You'll Go! (Or Not.) |publisher=Blogs.wsj.com |date=December 8, 2014 |access-date=October 6, 2015 |archive-date=September 6, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150906035309/http://blogs.wsj.com/atwork/2014/12/08/how-to-predict-your-next-job/ |url-status=live }}</ref> LinkedIn provided the City of New York with data from economic graph showing "in-demand" tech skills for the city's "Tech Talent Pipeline" project.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://blog.linkedin.com/2015/02/12/linkedin-economic-graph-research-helping-new-yorkers-connect-with-the-jobs-of-tomorrow-infographic/ |title=LinkedIn Economic Graph Research: Helping New Yorkers Connect With The Jobs Of Tomorrow [INFOGRAPHIC] |website=Blog.linkedin.com |access-date=July 3, 2015 |archive-date=July 4, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150704120221/http://blog.linkedin.com/2015/02/12/linkedin-economic-graph-research-helping-new-yorkers-connect-with-the-jobs-of-tomorrow-infographic/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

== Role in networking ==
LinkedIn has been described by online trade publication ''[[TechRepublic]]'' as having "become the de facto tool for professional networking".<ref>"Five Benefits of LinkedIn for Organizations (and IT Pros) | TechRepublic." Web. May 9, 2011.</ref> LinkedIn has also been praised for its usefulness in fostering business relationships.<ref>"LinkedIn.com, a business-orientated networking site, can be an ideal way for professionals to present an online profile of themselves ... Unlike social networking sites, [with] LinkedIn you're outlining all your credentials; presenting the professional rather than the personal you. Considering the sheer vastness of the digital space, the potential for building up a solid base of contacts and fostering new business relationships is boundless." O'Sullivan, James (2011), "Make the most of the networking tools that are available", ''[[Evening Echo]]'', May 9, 2011. Pg 32. Note that the ''Evening Echo'' is located close to the European headquarters of LinkedIn</ref> "LinkedIn is, far and away, the most advantageous social networking tool available to job seekers and business professionals today," according to ''[[Forbes]]''.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/dailymuse/2012/07/06/your-linkedin-intervention-5-changes-you-must-make/ |work=Forbes |date=July 6, 2012 |title=Your LinkedIn Intervention: 5 Changes You Must Make |last=Foss |first=Jenny |access-date=September 3, 2017 |archive-date=November 16, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181116173632/https://www.forbes.com/sites/dailymuse/2012/07/06/your-linkedin-intervention-5-changes-you-must-make/ |url-status=live }}</ref> LinkedIn has inspired the creation of specialised professional networking opportunities, such as co-founder Eddie Lou's Chicago startup, [[Shiftgig]] (released in 2012 as a platform for hourly workers).<ref>{{Cite news|last=MacArthur|first=Kate|url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/bluesky/originals/ct-bsi-shiftgig-new-ceo-20170918-story.html|title=Shiftgig hires LinkedIn vice president as new CEO|work=Chicago Tribune|access-date=September 20, 2017|language=en-US|archive-date=September 19, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170919165002/http://www.chicagotribune.com/bluesky/originals/ct-bsi-shiftgig-new-ceo-20170918-story.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Criticism and controversies ==

=== Controversial design choices ===

==== Endorsement feature ====
The feature that allows LinkedIn members to "endorse" each other's skills and experience has been criticized as meaningless, since the endorsements are not necessarily accurate or given by people who have familiarity with the member's skills.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=All you need to know about endorsements |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/susanadams/2013/12/24/everything-you-need-to-know-about-linkedin-endorsements-2/ |magazine=Forbes |access-date=April 29, 2014 |archive-date=April 28, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140428124020/http://www.forbes.com/sites/susanadams/2013/12/24/everything-you-need-to-know-about-linkedin-endorsements-2/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In October 2016, LinkedIn acknowledged that it "really does matter who endorsed you" and began highlighting endorsements from "coworkers and other mutual connections" to address the criticism.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.businessinsider.com/linkedin-upgrades-skill-endorsements-2016-10 |title=LinkedIn is making its endorsements feature a lot smarter to help people find jobs |work=Business Insider |access-date=March 26, 2017 |language=en |archive-date=March 26, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170326225929/http://www.businessinsider.com/linkedin-upgrades-skill-endorsements-2016-10 |url-status=live }}</ref>

==== Use of e-mail accounts of members for spam sending ====
LinkedIn sends "invite emails" to Outlook contacts from its members' email accounts, without obtaining their consent. The "invitations" give the impression that the e-mail holder themself has sent the invitation. If there is no response, the answer will be repeated several times ("You have not yet answered XY's invitation.") LinkedIn was sued in the United States on charges of hijacking e-mail accounts and spamming. The company argued with the right to freedom of expression. In addition, the users concerned would be supported in building a network.<ref>[http://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/234555/linkedin-argues-it-has-free-speech-right-to-email.html LinkedIn argues it has free speech right to email] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180104073214/https://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/234555/linkedin-argues-it-has-free-speech-right-to-email.html |date=January 4, 2018 }} Mediapost.com on September 19, 2014.</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20141016201936/http://www.courthousenews.com/2014/10/13/72394.htm LinkedIn 'Credit Reports' Give Job Seekers Trouble] Courthouse News Service on October 13, 2014.</ref><ref>[http://mic.com/articles/101236/linked-in-illegally-sold-your-professional-data-lawsuit-claims LinkedIn illegally sold your professional data lawsuit claims] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220306035255/https://www.mic.com/articles/101236/linked-in-illegally-sold-your-professional-data-lawsuit-claims |date=March 6, 2022 }} News Mic on October 13, 2014.</ref>

The sign-up process includes users entering their email password (there is an opt-out feature). LinkedIn will then offer to send out contact invitations to all members in that address book or that the user has had email conversations with. When the member's email address book is opened, it is opened with all email addresses selected, and the member is advised invitations will be sent to "selected" email addresses, or to all. LinkedIn was sued for sending out another two follow-up invitations to each contact from members to link to friends who had ignored the initial, authorized invitation.

In November 2014 LinkedIn lost a motion to dismiss the lawsuit, in a ruling that the invitations were advertisements not broadly protected by free speech rights that would otherwise permit use of people's names and images without authorization.<ref>[http://betanews.com/2014/06/15/linkedin-to-face-lawsuit-for-spamming-users-email-address-books/ LinkedIn to face lawsuit for spamming users' email address books] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220306035251/https://betanews.com/2014/06/15/linkedin-to-face-lawsuit-for-spamming-users-email-address-books/ |date=March 6, 2022 }}, BetaNews</ref><ref>[http://gigaom.com/2013/09/21/linkedin-is-breaking-into-user-emails-spamming-contacts-lawsuit/ LinkedIn is "breaking into" user emails, spamming contacts – lawsuit] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140617102149/http://gigaom.com/2013/09/21/linkedin-is-breaking-into-user-emails-spamming-contacts-lawsuit/ |date=June 17, 2014 }}, Gigaom.com</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/238275/judge-rejects-linkedins-free-speech-argument-in-b.html?|title=Judge Rejects LinkedIn's Free-Speech Argument In Battle Over Email Invitations|website=Mediapost.com|access-date=July 3, 2015|archive-date=July 4, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150704024121/http://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/238275/judge-rejects-linkedins-free-speech-argument-in-b.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The lawsuit was eventually settled in 2015 in favor of LinkedIn members.<ref name="auto"/>

==== Moving emails to LinkedIn servers ====
At the end of 2013 it was announced that the LinkedIn app intercepted users' emails and quietly moved them to LinkedIn servers for full access.<ref name="New York Times">[http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/10/24/linkedins-new-mobile-app-called-a-dream-for-attackers/ LinkedIns new mobile app called a dream for attackers] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180104073210/https://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/10/24/linkedins-new-mobile-app-called-a-dream-for-attackers/|date=January 4, 2018}} New York Times on October 24, 2013.</ref> LinkedIn used man-in-the-middle attacks.<ref>[http://www.pcwelt.de/news/LinkedIn_liest_Ihre_E-Mails_mit-Intro-8281685.html LinkedIn liest Ihre Mails mit] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170505063226/http://www.pcwelt.de/news/LinkedIn_liest_Ihre_E-Mails_mit-Intro-8281685.html|date=May 5, 2017}} [[PC-Welt]] on October 28, 2013.</ref>

=== Security incidents ===

==== 2012 hack ====
{{Main|2012 LinkedIn hack}}
In June 2012 [[Cryptographic hash function|cryptographic hashes]] of approximately 6.4 million LinkedIn user passwords were stolen by [[Yevgeniy Nikulin]] and other hackers who then published the stolen hashes online.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pcworld.com/article/257045/update_linkedin_confirms_account_passwords_hacked.html|title=LinkedIn Confirms Account Passwords Hacked|date=June 6, 2012|publisher=PC World.com|access-date=June 6, 2012|archive-date=September 14, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120914074910/http://www.pcworld.com/article/257045/update_linkedin_confirms_account_passwords_hacked.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> This action is known as the [[2012 LinkedIn hack]]. In response to the incident, LinkedIn asked its users to change their passwords. [[White hat (computer security)|Security experts]] criticized LinkedIn for not [[Salt (cryptography)|salting]] their password file and for using a single iteration of [[SHA-1]].<ref>{{cite news|author=Finkle, Jim and Jennifer Saba|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/linkedin-breach-idINL1E8H6CBC20120606|title=LinkedIn suffers data breach|date=June 6, 2012|work=Reuters|access-date=June 7, 2012|archive-date=March 15, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160315014435/http://www.reuters.com/article/linkedin-breach-idINL1E8H6CBC20120606|url-status=live}}</ref> On May 31, 2013, LinkedIn added [[two-factor authentication]], an important [[Computer security|security]] enhancement for preventing hackers from gaining access to accounts.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://lifehacker.com/linkedin-just-added-two-factor-authentication-so-enabl-510680312|title=LinkedIn Just Added Two-Factor Authentication, So Enable It Now|date=May 31, 2013|publisher=Lifehacker.com|access-date=October 6, 2015|archive-date=October 6, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151006222441/http://lifehacker.com/linkedin-just-added-two-factor-authentication-so-enabl-510680312|url-status=live}}</ref> In May 2016, 117 million LinkedIn usernames and passwords were offered for sale online for the equivalent of $2,200.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mashable.com/2016/05/18/linkedin-hack//|title=LinkedIn resetting passwords after 117 million user credentials stolen|date=May 19, 2016|publisher=MashableUK|access-date=May 19, 2016|archive-date=March 6, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220306035304/https://mashable.com/article/linkedin-hack|url-status=live}}</ref> These account details are believed to be sourced from the original 2012 LinkedIn hack, in which the number of user IDs stolen had been underestimated. To handle the large volume of emails sent to its users every day with notifications for messages, profile views, important happenings in their network, and other things, LinkedIn uses the Momentum email platform from Message Systems.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=The biggest email provider you've never heard of|url=http://fortune.com/2014/10/06/message-systems-email-provider/|magazine=Fortune.com|access-date=October 6, 2015|archive-date=January 12, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150112042501/http://fortune.com/2014/10/06/message-systems-email-provider/|url-status=live}}</ref>

==== Potential 2018 breach, or extended impacts from earlier incidents ====
In July 2018 Credit Wise reported "dark web" email and password exposures from LinkedIn. Shortly thereafter, users began receiving extortion emails, using that information as "evidence" that users' contacts had been hacked, and threatening to expose pornographic videos featuring the users. LinkedIn asserts that this is related to the 2012 breach; however, there is no evidence that this is the case.<ref>{{cite web |title=User's recensions on Linkedin |url=https://it.trustpilot.com/review/www.linkedin.com?languages=all |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190620203600/https://it.trustpilot.com/review/www.linkedin.com?languages=all |archive-date=June 20, 2019 |access-date=June 20, 2019 |website=[[Trustpilot]].com}}</ref>

==== 2021 breaches ====
A breach disclosed in April 2021 affected 500 million users.<ref>{{Cite web |author=Clare Duffy |title=500 million LinkedIn users' data is for sale on a hacker site |url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/04/08/tech/linkedin-data-scraped-hacker-site/index.html |access-date=2022-04-30 |website=CNN|date=April 8, 2021 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Data from half a billion LinkedIn users has been scraped and put online |url=https://fortune.com/2021/04/08/linkedin-user-data-breach-leak-hackers/ |access-date=2022-04-30 |website=Fortune |language=en}}</ref> A breach disclosed in June 2021 was thought to have affected 92% of users, exposing contact information, employment information. LinkedIn asserted that the data was aggregated via [[web scraping]] from LinkedIn as well as several other sites, and noted that "only information that people listed publicly in their profiles" was included. <ref>{{Cite web |last=Marks |first=Gene |title=A LinkedIn 'Breach' Exposes 92% Of Users—And Other Small Business Tech News |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/quickerbettertech/2021/07/05/a-linkedin-breach-exposes-92-of-usersand-other-small-business-tech-news/ |access-date=2022-04-30 |website=Forbes |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=LinkedIn data theft exposes personal information of 700 million people |url=https://fortune.com/2021/06/30/linkedin-data-theft-700-million-users-personal-information-cybersecurity/ |access-date=2022-04-30 |website=Fortune |language=en}}</ref>

=== Malicious behavior on LinkedIn ===

==== Phishing ====
In what is known as [[Operation Socialist]], documents released by [[Edward Snowden]] in the [[2013 global surveillance disclosures]] revealed that British Government Communications Headquarters ([[GCHQ]]) (an intelligence and security organisation) infiltrated the Belgian telecommunications network [[Belgacom]] by luring employees to a false LinkedIn page.<ref>{{cite web |title=NSA Infected 50,000 Computer Networks for Surveillance |url=http://www.securityweek.com/nsa-infected-50000-computer-networks-surveillance |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131129093013/http://www.securityweek.com/nsa-infected-50000-computer-networks-surveillance |archive-date=November 29, 2013 |access-date=November 25, 2013 |publisher=SecurityWeek Network}}</ref>

In 2014 [[Dell SecureWorks]] Counter Threat Unit (CTU) discovered that Threat Group-2889, an [[Iran]]-based group, created 25 fake LinkedIn accounts.  The accounts were either fully developed personas or supporting personas. They use [[spearphishing]] and [[Malware|malicious websites]] against their victims.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.secureworks.com/research/suspected-iran-based-hacker-group-creates-network-of-fake-linkedin-profiles|title=Suspected Hacker Group Creates Network of Fake LinkedIn Profiles|last=Intelligence|first=Dell SecureWorks Counter Threat Unit Threat|website=www.secureworks.com|language=en|access-date=October 12, 2017|archive-date=October 13, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171013070207/https://www.secureworks.com/research/suspected-iran-based-hacker-group-creates-network-of-fake-linkedin-profiles|url-status=live}}</ref>{{third-party inline|date=October 2017}}

According to reporting by ''[[Le Figaro]]'', France's [[General Directorate for Internal Security]] and [[Directorate-General for External Security]] believe that Chinese spies have used LinkedIn to target thousands of business and government officials as potential sources of information.<ref>{{cite news|last=Samuel|first=Henry|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/10/23/chinese-online-spies-fool-hundreds-totally-unprepared-top-french/|title=Chinese spies fooled 'hundreds' of civil servants and executives, France reveals|date=October 23, 2018|newspaper=[[The Daily Telegraph|3=The Telegraph]]|access-date=October 26, 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181026222445/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/10/23/chinese-online-spies-fool-hundreds-totally-unprepared-top-french/|archive-date=October 26, 2018}}</ref>

In 2017 Germany's [[Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution]] (BfV) published information alleging that Chinese intelligence services had created fake social media profiles on sites such as LinkedIn, using them to gather information on German politicians and government officials.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-germany-security-china/german-intelligence-unmasks-alleged-covert-chinese-social-media-profiles-idUSKBN1E40CA|title=German intelligence unmasks alleged covert Chinese social media profiles|date=December 10, 2017|work=[[Reuters]]|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171210151926/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-germany-security-china/german-intelligence-unmasks-alleged-covert-chinese-social-media-profiles-idUSKBN1E40CA|archive-date=December 10, 2017|editor-last=Bigg|editor-first=Matthew Mpoke}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Grieshaber|first=Kirsten|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/germanys-intelligence-head-warns-of-increased-cyberspying-from-china/article37282135/|title=Germany's intelligence head warns of increased cyberspying from China|date=December 10, 2017|newspaper=[[The Globe and Mail]]|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171211040953/https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/germanys-intelligence-head-warns-of-increased-cyberspying-from-china/article37282135/|archive-date=December 11, 2017|quote=Hans-Georg Maassen said his agency, known by its German acronym BfV, believes more than 10,000 Germans have been targeted by Chinese intelligence agents posing as consultants, headhunters or researchers, primarily on the social networking site LinkedIn.}}</ref>

In 2022, the company ranked first in a list of brands most likely to be imitated in phishing attempts.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-04-19 |title=Social Media Network LinkedIn Ranks First in List of Brands Most Likely to be Imitated in Phishing Attempts in Q1 2022 |url=https://apnews.com/press-release/globe-newswire/technology-business-social-media-software-hacking-5d3aba1daa5103a2793c68ab9089845d |access-date=2022-04-30 |website=AP NEWS |language=en}}</ref>

==== False and misleading information ====
LinkedIn has come under scrutiny for its handling of [[misinformation]] and [[disinformation]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Lima |first=Cristiano |date=April 1, 2022 |title=Democrats are calling on LinkedIn to crack down on misinformation, too |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2022/04/01/democrats-are-calling-linkedin-crack-down-misinformation-too/ |access-date=April 24, 2022}}</ref> The platform has struggled to deal with fake profiles and falsehoods about [[COVID-19]] and the [[2020 US presidential election]].<ref>{{Cite news |title=No social media is safe: How election misinformation spread on LinkedIn, Pinterest and Nextdoor |language=en-US |newspaper=Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2020/11/07/pinterest-linkedin-election-disinfo/ |access-date=2022-04-25 |issn=0190-8286}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-08-11 |title=LinkedIn says it's caught in a 'cat-and-mouse game' of COVID-19 misinformation |url=https://adage.com/article/digital/linkedin-says-its-caught-cat-and-mouse-game-covid-19-misinformation/2273131 |access-date=2022-04-25 |website=Ad Age |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=That smiling LinkedIn profile face might be a computer-generated fake |language=en |work=NPR |url=https://www.npr.org/2022/03/27/1088140809/fake-linkedin-profiles |access-date=2022-04-25}}</ref>

=== Policies ===

==== Privacy policy ====
The German [[Stiftung Warentest]] has criticized that the balance of rights between users and LinkedIn is disproportionate, restricting users' rights excessively while granting the company far-reaching rights.<ref>[http://www.golem.de/1003/74091.html Stiftung Warentest kritisiert Facebook, LinkedIn und Myspace] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180303225340/https://www.golem.de/1003/74091.html |date=March 3, 2018 }} ''golem.de'' (German) on March 3, 2018.</ref> It has also been claimed that LinkedIn does not respond to consumer protection center requests.<ref>[https://www.test.de/Soziale-Netzwerke-Datenschutz-oft-mangelhaft-1854798-0/?mc=kurzurl.netzwerke Soziale Netzwerke: Datenschutz oft mangelhaft] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180303164813/https://www.test.de/Soziale-Netzwerke-Datenschutz-oft-mangelhaft-1854798-0/?mc=kurzurl.netzwerke |date=March 3, 2018 }} ''Stiftung Warentest'' (German) on March 24, 2014.</ref>

===Research on labor market effects===
{{See also|Criticism of Facebook#Envy}}

In 2010 ''[[Social Science Computer Review]]'' published research by economists Ralf Caers and Vanessa Castelyns who sent an online questionnaire to 398 and 353 LinkedIn and Facebook users respectively in [[Belgium]] and found that both sites had become tools for recruiting job applicants for professional occupations as well as additional information about applicants, and that it was being used by recruiters to decide which applicants would receive interviews.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Caers|first1=Ralf|last2=Castelyns|first2=Vanessa|title=LinkedIn and Facebook in Belgium: The Influences and Biases of Social Network Sites in Recruitment and Selection Procedures|year=2011|journal=[[Social Science Computer Review]]|publisher=[[SAGE Publishing|SAGE Publications]]|volume=29|issue=4|pages=437–448|doi=10.1177/0894439310386567|s2cid=60557417|url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/258190136|access-date=September 15, 2020|archive-date=March 6, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220306035250/https://www.researchgate.net/publication/258190136_LinkedIn_and_Facebook_in_Belgium_The_Influences_and_Biases_of_Social_Network_Sites_in_Recruitment_and_Selection_Procedures|url-status=live}}</ref> In May 2017, ''Research Policy'' published an analysis of PhD holders use of LinkedIn and found that PhD holders who move into industry were more likely to have LinkedIn accounts and to have larger networks of LinkedIn connections, were more likely to use LinkedIn if they had co-authors abroad, and to have wider networks if they moved abroad after obtaining their PhD.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Baruffaldi|first1=Stefano H.|last2=Di Maio|first2=Giorgio|last3=Landoni|first3=Paolo|title=Determinants of PhD holders' use of social networking sites: An analysis based on LinkedIn|year=2017|journal=Research Policy|publisher=[[Elsevier]]|volume=46|issue=4|pages=740–750|doi=10.1016/j.respol.2017.01.014|url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0048733317300239|access-date=September 11, 2020|archive-date=June 12, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200612123935/https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0048733317300239|url-status=live}}</ref>

Also in 2017 sociologist Ofer Sharone conducted interviews with unemployed workers to research the effects of LinkedIn and Facebook as labor market intermediaries and found that social networking services (SNS) have had a filtration effect that has little to do with evaluations of merit, and that the SNS filtration effect has exerted new pressures on workers to manage their careers to conform to the logic of the SNS filtration effect.<ref>{{cite book|last=Sharone|first=Ofer|editor-first=Steven|editor-last=Vallas|title=Emerging Conceptions of Work, Management and the Labor Market|chapter=LinkedIn or LinkedOut? How Social Networking Sites are Reshaping the Labor Market|series=Research in the Sociology of Work|year=2017|place=[[Bingley]], [[United Kingdom|UK]]|publisher=[[Emerald Group Publishing|Emerald Publishing Ltd]]|volume=30|pages=1–31|isbn=978-1787144606|doi=10.1108/S0277-283320170000030001|url=https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/S0277-283320170000030001/full/html?fullSc=1|access-date=September 15, 2020|archive-date=August 10, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210810025446/https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/S0277-283320170000030001/full/html?fullSc=1|url-status=live}}</ref> In October 2018 [[Foster School of Business]] professors Melissa Rhee, Elina Hwang, and Yong Tan performed an empirical analysis of whether the common professional networking tactic by job seekers of creating LinkedIn connections with professionals who work at a target company or in a target field is actually instrumental in obtaining referrals and found instead that job seekers were less likely to be referred by employees who were employed by the target company or in the target field due to job similarity and self-protection from competition. Rhee, Hwang, and Tan further found that referring employees in higher hierarchical positions than the job candidates were more likely to provide referrals and that gender [[homophily]] did not reduce the competition self-protection effect.<ref>{{cite ssrn |last1=Rhee|first1=Melissa|last2=Hwang|first2=Elina|last3=Tan|first3=Yong|title=Social Hiring: The Right LinkedIn Connection that Helps You Land a Job|year=2018|ssrn=3261180}}</ref>

In July 2019 sociologists Steve McDonald, Amanda K. Damarin, Jenelle Lawhorne, and Annika Wilcox performed qualitative interviews with 61 Human resources recruiters in two metropolitan areas in the [[Southern United States]] and found that recruiters filling low- and general-skilled positions typically posted advertisements on online job boards while recruiters filling high-skilled or supervisor positions targeted passive candidates on LinkedIn (i.e. employed workers not actively seeking work but possibly willing to change positions), and concluded that this is resulting in a bifurcated [[winner-take-all market|winner-takes-all]] job market with recruiters focusing their efforts on poaching already employed high-skilled workers while active job seekers are relegated to hyper-competitive online job boards.<ref>{{cite book|last1=McDonald|first1=Steve|last2=Damarin|first2=Amanda K.|last3=Lawhorne|first3=Jenelle|last4=Wilcox|first4=Annika|editor-last1=Vallas|editor-first1=Steven|editor-last2=Kovalainen|editor-first2=Anne|title=Work and Labor in the Digital Age|series=Research in the Sociology of Work|chapter=Black Holes and Purple Squirrels: A Tale of Two Online Labor Markets|year=2019|place=[[Bingley]], [[United Kingdom|UK]]|publisher=[[Emerald Group Publishing|Emerald Publishing Ltd]]|volume=33|pages=93–120|isbn=978-1789735864|doi=10.1108/S0277-283320190000033006|s2cid=197889035|url=https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/S0277-283320190000033006/full/html|access-date=September 15, 2020|archive-date=August 10, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200810190926/https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/S0277-283320190000033006/full/html|url-status=live}}</ref>

In a September 2019 [[working paper]], economists Laurel Wheeler, Robert Garlick, and [[RTI International]] scholars Eric Johnson, Patrick Shaw, and Marissa Gargano ran a randomized evaluation of training job seekers in [[South Africa]] to use LinkedIn as part of job readiness programs. The evaluation found that the training increased the job seekers employment by approximately 10 percent by reducing [[Frictional unemployment|information frictions]] between job seekers and prospective employers, that the training had this effect for approximately 12 months, and that while the training may also have facilitated referrals, it did not reduce job search costs and the jobs for the [[treatment and control groups]] in the evaluation had equal probabilities of retention, promotion, and obtaining a permanent contract.<ref>{{citation|last1=Wheeler|first1=Laurel|last2=Garlick|first2=Robert|last3=Johnson|first3=Eric|last4=Shaw|first4=Patrick|last5=Gargano|first5=Marissa|contribution=LinkedIn(to) Job Opportunities: Experimental Evidence from Job Readiness Training|year=2019|title=Economic Research Initiatives at Duke|publisher=[[Duke University]]|ssrn=3452609|doi=10.2139/ssrn.3452249|s2cid=203525431|url=https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3452249|access-date=September 14, 2020|archive-date=October 30, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201030031827/https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3452249|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2020, ''[[Applied Economics (journal)|Applied Economics]]'' published research by economists Steffen Brenner, Sezen Aksin Sivrikaya, and Joachim Schwalbach using LinkedIn demonstrating that high status individuals [[Self-selection|self-select]] into professional networking services rather than workers unsatisfied with their career status adversely selecting into the services to receive networking benefits.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Brenner|first1=Steffen|last2=Sivrikaya|first2=Sezen Aksin|last3=Schwalbach|first3=Joachim|title=Who is on LinkedIn? Self-selection into professional online networks|journal=[[Applied Economics (journal)|Applied Economics]]|year=2020|publisher=[[Routledge]]|volume=52|issue=1|pages=52–67|url=https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/00036846.2019.1638497?scroll=top&needAccess=true|doi=10.1080/00036846.2019.1638497|s2cid=198731263|access-date=September 15, 2020|archive-date=March 6, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220306035254/https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/00036846.2019.1638497?scroll=top&needAccess=true&|url-status=live}}</ref>

== International restrictions ==
In 2009, [[Internet censorship in Syria|Syrian]] users reported that LinkedIn server stopped accepting connections originating from [[IP address]]es assigned to Syria. The company's customer support stated that services provided by them are subject to US export and re-export control laws and regulations and "As such, and as a matter of corporate policy, we do not allow member accounts or access to our site from Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Sudan, or Syria."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://advocacy.globalvoicesonline.org/2009/04/18/syria-linkedin-kicks-off-syrian-users/ |title=Syria: Linkedin Kicks Off Syrian Users! |publisher=Global Voices Advocacy |date=April 18, 2009 |access-date=April 30, 2010 |archive-date=August 23, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150823110805/http://advocacy.globalvoicesonline.org/2009/04/18/syria-linkedin-kicks-off-syrian-users/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

In February 2011 it was reported that LinkedIn was being [[Internet censorship in the People's Republic of China|blocked in China]] after calls for a "[[2011 Chinese pro-democracy protests|Jasmine Revolution]]". It was speculated to have been blocked because it is an easy way for dissidents to access [[Twitter]], which had been [[Censorship of Twitter|blocked]] previously.<ref>{{cite news |last=Ungerleider |first=Neal |title=China blocks access to LinkedIn |url=http://www.cnn.com/2011/TECH/social.media/02/25/china.blocks.linkedin.fastco/index.html?iref=NS1 |access-date=February 25, 2011 |newspaper=Fast Company |date=February 25, 2011 |archive-date=June 28, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110628234633/http://www.cnn.com/2011/TECH/social.media/02/25/china.blocks.linkedin.fastco/index.html?iref=NS1 |url-status=live }}</ref> After a day of being blocked, LinkedIn access was restored in China.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-linkedin-idUSTRE71O5VY20110225 |last=Baker |first=Liana |title=LinkedIn website working again in China |date=February 25, 2011 |newspaper=Reuters |access-date=July 5, 2021 |archive-date=October 8, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211008113016/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-linkedin-idUSTRE71O5VY20110225 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In February 2014, LinkedIn launched its Simplified Chinese language version named "{{linktext|领|英}}" ({{zh|p=Lǐngyīng|l=leading elite}}), officially extending their service in China.<ref name="reuters140225">{{cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-linkedin-china-idUSBREA1O00620140225 |title=LinkedIn jumpstarts China expansion with Chinese language site |last=Oreskovic |first=Alexei |date=February 25, 2014 |work=Reuters |access-date=March 29, 2014 |archive-date=March 10, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160310214430/http://www.reuters.com/article/us-linkedin-china-idUSBREA1O00620140225 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/zhongwen/simp/world/2014/02/140225_linkedin_china.shtml |title=专业社交网站LinkedIn推出中文版 |publisher=BBC Chinese |date=February 25, 2014 |access-date=March 29, 2014 |archive-date=March 16, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140316132144/http://www.bbc.co.uk/zhongwen/simp/world/2014/02/140225_linkedin_china.shtml |url-status=live }}</ref> LinkedIn CEO Jeff Weiner acknowledged in a blog post that they would have to censor some of the content that users post on its website in order to comply with Chinese rules, but he also said the benefits of providing its online service to people in China outweighed those concerns.<ref name="reuters140225"/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.linkedin.com/today/post/article/20140224235450-22330283-linkedin-in-china-connecting-the-world-s-professionals |title=LinkedIn in China: Connecting the World's Professionals |last=Weiner |first=Jeff |publisher=Linkedin official blog |date=February 24, 2014 |access-date=March 29, 2014 |archive-date=August 20, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140820091952/http://www.linkedin.com/today/post/article/20140224235450-22330283-linkedin-in-china-connecting-the-world-s-professionals |url-status=live }}</ref> Since Autumn 2017 job postings from western countries for China aren't possible anymore.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://linkedinsiders.wordpress.com/2017/11/10/keine-stellenanzeigen-mehr-fuer-china-auf-linkedin/ |title=No Job Postings for China on LinkedIn anymore |publisher=Stephan Koß |date=November 10, 2017 |access-date=January 22, 2018 |archive-date=January 22, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180122071844/https://linkedinsiders.wordpress.com/2017/11/10/keine-stellenanzeigen-mehr-fuer-china-auf-linkedin/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2016, a Moscow court ruled that LinkedIn must be blocked in Russia for violating a [[data retention]] law which requires the user data of Russian citizens to be stored on servers within the country. The relevant law had been in force there since 2014.<ref>{{cite news |date=November 17, 2016 |title=Russland blockiert LinkedIn |language=de |newspaper=Spiegel Online |url=http://www.spiegel.de/karriere/linkedin-wird-in-russland-gesperrt-a-1121723.html |url-status=live |access-date=March 3, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220306035257/https://www.spiegel.de/karriere/linkedin-wird-in-russland-gesperrt-a-1121723.html |archive-date=March 6, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Wilkens |first=Andreas |date=November 17, 2016 |title=Russland blockiert Linkedin |url=http://www.heise.de/newsticker/meldung/Russland-blockiert-Linkedin-3490326.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180222043741/https://www.heise.de/newsticker/meldung/Russland-blockiert-Linkedin-3490326.html |archive-date=February 22, 2018 |access-date=March 3, 2018 |website=heise.de |language=de}}</ref> This ban was upheld on November 10, 2016, and all Russian ISPs began blocking LinkedIn thereafter. LinkedIn's mobile app was also banned from [[Google Play Store]] and [[iOS App Store]] in Russia in January 2017.<ref name="verge-linkedinapprus">{{cite web |title=Russia is erasing Linkedin from app stores |url=https://www.theverge.com/2017/1/6/14197030/russia-linkedin-blocked-app-store-ios-android |website=The Verge |publisher=Vox Media |access-date=January 7, 2017 |date=January 7, 2017 |archive-date=April 28, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210428235621/https://www.theverge.com/2017/1/6/14197030/russia-linkedin-blocked-app-store-ios-android |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="moscowtimes-upheld">{{cite web |title=Moscow Court Upholds Decision to Ban LinkedIn in Russia |url=https://themoscowtimes.com/news/moscow-court-upholds-decision-to-ban-linkedin-in-russia-56086 |website=The Moscow Times |access-date=November 10, 2016 |date=November 10, 2016 |archive-date=March 22, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180322010542/https://themoscowtimes.com/news/moscow-court-upholds-decision-to-ban-linkedin-in-russia-56086 |url-status=live }}</ref> In July 2021 it was also blocked in [[Kazakhstan]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-07-27|title=В Казахстане заблокировали соцсеть LinkedIn|url=https://forbes.kz//process/internet/v_kazahstane_zablokirovali_sotsset_linkedin/|access-date=2021-07-27|website=www.forbes.kz|archive-date=July 27, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210727130941/https://forbes.kz//process/internet/v_kazahstane_zablokirovali_sotsset_linkedin/|url-status=live}}</ref>

In October 2021 after reports of several academicians and reporters who received notifications regarding their profiles will be blocked in China, Microsoft confirmed that LinkedIn will be shutting down in China and replaced with InJobs, a China exclusive app, citing difficulties in operating environments and increasing compliance requirements.<ref>{{cite news
| last         = Lawler
| first         = Richard
| date         = 2021-10-14
| title         = Microsoft to 'sunset' LinkedIn for China, and replace it with an app lacking social media features
| url         = https://www.theverge.com/2021/10/14/22726189/microsoft-linkedin-china-censorship-shut-down
| work         = [[The Verge]]
| location         = 
| access-date         = 2021-10-14
| archive-date         = October 14, 2021
| archive-url         = https://web.archive.org/web/20211014150020/https://www.theverge.com/2021/10/14/22726189/microsoft-linkedin-china-censorship-shut-down
| url-status         = live
}}</ref>

== Open source contributions ==
Since 2010 LinkedIn has contributed multiple internal technologies, tools, and software products to the [[Open-source model|open source]] domain.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Asay |first1=Matt |title=The secrets to LinkedIn's open source success |url=https://www.infoworld.com/article/3058778/the-secrets-to-linkedins-open-source-success.html |work=InfoWorld |date=20 April 2016 |language=en |access-date=July 14, 2021 |archive-date=July 15, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210715000014/https://www.infoworld.com/article/3058778/the-secrets-to-linkedins-open-source-success.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Notable among these projects is [[Apache Kafka]], which was built and open sourced at LinkedIn in 2011.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Levy |first1=Ari |title=Confluent climbs 25% in Nasdaq debut after cloud software developer raises over $800 million in IPO |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2021/06/24/confluent-climbs-26percent-after-raising-828-million-in-ipo.html |work=CNBC |date=24 June 2021 |language=en |access-date=July 14, 2021 |archive-date=July 15, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210715000002/https://www.cnbc.com/2021/06/24/confluent-climbs-26percent-after-raising-828-million-in-ipo.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The team behind the creation of Kafka formed a LinkedIn spin-out company in 2014 named Confluent,<ref>{{cite news |last1=Li |first1=Steven |title=He Left His High-Paying Job At LinkedIn And Then Built A $4.5 Billion Business In A Niche You've Never Heard Of |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/stevenli1/2020/05/11/confluent-jay-kreps-kafka-4-billion-2020/?sh=10fc304709dd |work=Forbes |language=en |access-date=July 14, 2021 |archive-date=July 15, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210715000013/https://www.forbes.com/sites/stevenli1/2020/05/11/confluent-jay-kreps-kafka-4-billion-2020/?sh=10fc304709dd |url-status=live }}</ref> which went public with an IPO in 2021.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Novet |first1=Jordan |title=LinkedIn spinout Confluent files for IPO, with annualized revenue of over $300 million |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2021/06/01/linkedin-backed-confluent-files-s-1-as-yearly-sales-top-300-million.html |work=CNBC |date=2 June 2021 |language=en |access-date=July 14, 2021 |archive-date=July 12, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210712030402/https://www.cnbc.com/2021/06/01/linkedin-backed-confluent-files-s-1-as-yearly-sales-top-300-million.html |url-status=live }}</ref> A list of LinkedIn's active open source projects can be found on their engineering website.<ref>{{cite web |title=Open Source {{!}} LinkedIn Engineering |url=https://engineering.linkedin.com/content/engineering/en-us/open-source |website=engineering.linkedin.com |language=en |access-date=July 14, 2021 |archive-date=July 15, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210715000003/https://engineering.linkedin.com/content/engineering/en-us/open-source |url-status=live }}</ref>

== Research using data from the platform ==
Massive amounts of data from LinkedIn allow scientists and machine learning researchers to extract insights and build product features.<ref>Sumbaly, R., Kreps, J., & Shah, S. (2013). [http://web.cs.wpi.edu/~cs525/f13b-EAR/cs525-homepage/lectures/PAPERS/p1125-sumbaly.pdf The big data ecosystem at linkedin] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181222171046/http://web.cs.wpi.edu/~cs525/f13b-EAR/cs525-homepage/lectures/PAPERS/p1125-sumbaly.pdf |date=December 22, 2018 }}. In Proceedings of the 2013 ACM SIGMOD International Conference on Management of Data (pp. 1125-1134). ACM.</ref> For example, this data can help to shape patterns of deception in resumes. Findings suggested that people commonly lie about their hobbies rather than their work experience on online resumes.<ref>Guillory, J., & Hancock, J. T. (2012). [https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Jeffrey_Hancock/publication/221833511 The effect of Linkedin on deception in resumes] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220306035325/https://www.researchgate.net/publication/221833511_The_Effect_of_Linkedin_on_Deception_in_Resumes |date=March 6, 2022 }}. Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking, 15(3), 135-140. (ResearchGate)</ref>

== See also ==
{{div col}}
* [[Business network]]
* [[Employment website]]
* [[List of social networking services]]
* [[Reputation system]]s
* [[Social network]]
* [[Social software]]
* [[Timeline of social media]]
{{div col end}}

== References ==
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category}}
* {{Official website}}

{{LinkedIn navbox}}
{{Microsoft}}
{{Navboxes|list1=
{{Social network}}
{{Microblogging}}
{{Portalbar|Internet|San Francisco Bay Area|Business|Companies}}
}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:LinkedIn| ]]
[[Category:2002 establishments in California]]
[[Category:2011 initial public offerings]]
[[Category:Companies based in Mountain View, California]]
[[Category:Business services companies established in 2002]]
[[Category:Internet properties established in 2002]]
[[Category:Professional networks]]
[[Category:Recruitment]]
[[Category:American social networking websites]]
[[Category:Employment social networks]]
[[Category:Employment websites in the United States]]
[[Category:Companies formerly listed on the New York Stock Exchange]]
[[Category:Microsoft acquisitions]]
[[Category:Microsoft subsidiaries]]
[[Category:Microsoft divisions]]
[[Category:2016 mergers and acquisitions]]