How LinkedIn Found Its Social Platform Era

Article excerpt

LinkedIn has undergone a quiet transformation into a celebrity-and-influencer playground, blurring the line between professional networking and entertainment. Paid creators now flood the platform with polished personal-brand content, turning what was once a résumé repository into something closer to Instagram or TikTok. For some users, building a LinkedIn following has itself become a full-time job, complete with engagement metrics, sponsorship deals, and the performance anxiety that comes with them. The shift raises questions about whether the platform still serves its original purpose of connecting job seekers with employers, or whether it has become another attention economy machine where follower counts matter more than credentials.