Podcast ¦ CX Files: What Is Wrong With LinkedIn

Key Takeaways

1. LinkedIn has evolved from a crucial networking tool to a platform increasingly filled with low-quality content.
2. Inspirational posts often unrelated to business are gaining significant attention, reflecting a shift in the type of content that gets engagement.
3. Posts featuring personal anecdotes or mundane tasks often outperform in-depth, industry-related analyses in terms of likes and comments.
4. The proliferation of AI-generated content is contributing to the dilution of credible, thought-provoking discussion on LinkedIn.
5. Many professionals are reporting a decline in meaningful engagement with InMail, attributing it to excess unsolicited sales outreach.
6. The undercurrent of spammy messages is leading users to disengage from LinkedIn, hampering the establishment of genuine connections.
7. Increasing political content on LinkedIn is shifting the focus away from professional discourse, reminiscent of trends seen on other social media platforms.
8. Users are now treating LinkedIn more like Facebook, sharing personal experiences rather than maintaining a clear demarcation between personal and professional content.
9. There is growing concern that the platform’s algorithm is promoting hype-driven content rather than substantial thought leadership.
10. Users are experiencing “doom scrolling,” searching in vain for quality content amidst a sea of promotional posts and fluff.
11. The necessity for LinkedIn to implement strategies to enhance the quality of content and interactions is becoming critical to maintaining its relevance.
12. There is an opportunity for user feedback to shape the platform’s direction, emphasizing the need for improvements in community standards.

Key Statistics

• No specific numerical data or statistics were mentioned in the podcast.

Key Discussion Points

1. LinkedIn’s transition from a valuable networking platform to one filled with subpar content.
2. The impact of the algorithm on content visibility, favoring personal anecdotes over professional insights.
3. The experience of professionals struggling to gain engagement on thoughtful industry analyses compared to trivial posts.
4. The rise of AI-generated content that lacks personal touch and strategic insights.
5. Concerns about the efficacy and relevance of the InMail feature due to spam and mass sales outreach.
6. User sentiment indicating that LinkedIn is becoming overrun with unconstructive political discourse.
7. The suggestion that LinkedIn should avoid the negative trends observed in platforms like Facebook and X (Twitter).
8. The urgency for Microsoft to address declining user engagement and content quality.
9. The concept of “doom scrolling” in a bid to find substantive and relevant posts.
10. The possibility of implementing user feedback mechanisms to improve the network’s content standards.
11. Acknowledgment of the platform’s historical role in building professional relationships and its potential to lose that utility.
12. The potential need for new features, such as voter systems, to help prioritize quality content.

Podcast Description

In this special episode of the CX Files, hosts Mark Hillary and Peter Ryan explore the evolving landscape of LinkedIn, discussing its transition from an invaluable business networking tool to a platform plagued by low-quality content and disengagement. The conversation sheds light on the rise of trivial inspirational posts, the challenge of spammy InMail messages, and the increasing prevalence of political discourse. The hosts emphasize the urgent need for LinkedIn to adapt and maintain its relevance by fostering meaningful interactions and thought leadership. They invite feedback from their professional network to kickstart a much-needed dialogue on how to enhance the platform for all users.