Is LinkedIn The New Dating App?
I threw this question out online the other day after being hit on via LinkedIn, the professional networking site. Not once either, three times in one week. It was something like ‘Hey Babe, nice photo. Tell me a bit about yourself.’ Pardon? I rushed to my home page to see if LinkedIn had implemented a relationship status box similar to Facebook where mine may have read ‘Single & ready to mingle with any guy who’s wearing a suit in his display photo’ and as suspected, it didn’t.
So why were all these guys hitting on me and through LinkedIn?? LinkedIn?? It felt slightly awkward. Especially as I only sign in once every few days. If it were somewhere like Facebook, Twitter or EVEN Instagram I wouldn’t be writing this. But on LinkedIn women do not want to be oogled at. We’re there to connect with those who have a similar work ethic or are in the same line of employment. It’s a platform of professionalism. I understand that not every man who pays us a compliment on there isn’t necessarily making advances, but when it comes from people you don’t know in the first line of a message, what is it?
When I did discuss this on Twitter to my surprise I had several women who could relate and equally found it quite frustrating…. Then it reminded me of the Charlotte Proudman case. She was in the news several weeks ago for reporting a senior solicitor for being inappropriate by making a comment about her photo on LinkedIn. You can read the story here…
So, perhaps we may have thought she was OTT, but she did make an example out of him, yet it’s still happening. Some people argued that paying a compliment isn’t a big deal, and that’s perfectly up for debate depending on what woman you’re talking to. However it’s moving from just paying an attractive lady a compliment to thinking it’s okay to privately message her as you would do on Tinder.
See here’s the thing, maybe I’m irritated because I’m in a relationship so I find it slightly tedious when a guy messages me with the clear intentions of doing more than networking. The comical phrase ‘I’ve got a man’ comes into mind.
I’m on LinkedIn to show off my skills to employers. I’m there to scream about a new job as Gorkana would say. I’m not here to entertain a conversation that isn’t going anywhere. But what about my single ladies? I mean, I’m always here banging on about the latest dating apps and the greatest ways to meet men. So should we be crossing LinkedIn off that list before some of us die alone?
As I write this it’s as if it makes more sense that this is also an avenue we could probably utilise. Imagine being able to meet your partner because you have similar work interests. I’m sure this is already happening, but the online love stories I usually hear consist of Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. Apps which are, let’s be honest with ourselves..superficial. But that that doesn’t stop us from responding to the direct messages received on there.
After all, I’m not saying that we owe any guy our attention, after he’s finished telling you your photo is the ‘best’ he’s ever seen on the social media platform. LinkedIn is the last place any woman wants to be objectified..excuse me ‘complimented’ by absolute strangers. What I am saying is that it can be used to discuss the obvious (work of course) and who knows perhaps one day more.
I’m just rambling now, but what are your thoughts? Tweet me over at @Oloni
