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LinkedIn’s Ambiguous Charm & Folly
Why do we use this odd social media platform?
When my ISP lands me on Reddit, I know what to expect. I am greeted by a cornucopia of internet treasures, ranging from some of the most entertaining tomfoolery to the most hyperbolized headlines of current events. When my muscle memory brings me to Facebook, I know to expect the same friend group photos from cliques who haven’t adapted to more contemporary social media platforms and arguments from aging aunts filled with ancient racial innuendos. Yet, from the most trending on Twitter to the platitudes of Medium, there is one social media platform that has struggled to reach its coming of age or even truly understand its purpose: Linkedin. The confusion of what its role is on the web lands itself somewhere between the social media and productivity app folders on my iPhone; without a certain purpose, I cannot decide where it goes. Perhaps we can explore and learn: what is the mission of LinkedIn?
When the founders of LinkedIn set-out to build their app, the intention was clear. The founders wanted to take the joy that came from social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter and apply the same design philosophies on the most hackneyed facet of life: the office space. In many ways, they succeeded. Scrolling through LinkedIn is like shopping at a Staples. Yes, the bold red signs on…
