connections

I’m sure I am not the only one to have observed that lately, LinkedIn has started to feel less like a professional networking platform and more like a never-ending scroll of AI-generated noise. Every day, there are countless posts about “authenticity” and “trust” that, ironically, feel anything but genuine. Perfectly polished comments, posts that appear templated, and even “personal” updates that sound suspiciously robotic. I keep asking myself: Is LinkedIn still worth it? And if so, how do we cut through the fakeness to make real, meaningful connections?

The irony of AI-generated “authenticity”

While AI can be a useful writing assistant, it’s troubling to see “authentic” content that is anything but. I get frustrated when posts about “building trust” are clearly generated by ChatGPT without a second thought.

I’m starting to wonder if it’s just bots talking to bots at this point. And honestly, it’s bumming me out. LinkedIn used to be a place for actual conversations, for sharing ideas and connecting with real people. Now it feels like everyone’s just trying to game the algorithm.

Is LinkedIn still worth it?

Despite all the noise, I believe LinkedIn is still valuable, but only if you’re intentional about how you use it. It’s a tool, and like any tool, its usefulness depends on the person wielding it. For those willing to be thoughtful and strategic, there’s still a lot to gain, such as career opportunities, learning, visibility, collaboration, and community.

But it may require a new approach, which includes prioritizing quality over quantity, relationships over reach, and depth over noise.

How to make genuine connections on LinkedIn

I’m still trying to figure it out for myself, but here are some initial thoughts and things I’m trying.

Post from you own voice 

Don’t outsource your posts to AI, especially when they contain tell-tale signs such as, yes, the excessive use of the em dash (I am keenly aware that I’m inserting a controversial topic here. This is not a clickbait tactic!), the typical use of title case, and emoji overload. Share your real experiences, opinions, struggles, and insights. I wish we could re-normalize posts that are not optimized for engagement.

Be thoughtful with comments

I have to admit, sometimes I am a glutton for punishment. There are folks in my network whose comments on other people’s posts I read just to cringe and smile at the absurdity of it all. Post: “Excited to unveil our new AI-powered foot massager!” Comment: “This really highlights the importance of emotional intelligence in B2B sales.”

I don’t comment on other people’s posts a whole lot, because I don’t think “Great post!” or “Preach it, sister” are particularly helpful. I do need to do better with comments, though, if I find a post insightful and valuable. Instead of leaving generic “good point” comments, take a moment to add your perspective. Ask a question. Tell the author what resonated and why. Real engagement is better at building real relationships.

Be picky about who you follow and connect with

You don’t have to accept every connection request or follow every trending voice. Be intentional. Connect with people whose work, values, and perspectives you genuinely respect, and not just those who “grow their audience.” I’m sure we’ve all had “acceptor’s” remorse more than once. 

Avoid the “engagement bait”

You know the posts I’m talking about: the ones designed to make you angry or feel inadequate, such as “Back in my day, we didn’t complain about burnout. We just got the job done!”, or “Three years ago, I had $17 in my bank account. Last year, I sold my company for 250 million. Don’t stop believing. (Also, here’s my course for $199.)”.  And let’s not forget the now notorious posts of the guy wearing a smartwatch on one wrist and a Rolex on the other, stating that you need to dress for success and wear your best attire when flying first class (in a subsequent post, he presented the opposite point of view). 

I’m trying to resist the urge to engage and instead focus on content that’s actually thoughtful and nuanced.

Share other’s successes and praise the value they bring to the platform 

Instead of self-promotion, maybe we can do more to shine a light on others without expecting anything in return. Celebrate a team member’s success. Post a recommendation of someone you’ve worked with. Share resources you’ve found valuable.

The AI-generated fakeness on LinkedIn can be frustrating, and to be honest, I’ve had many moments where I just wanted to give up and get out of the platform altogether. But if everyone sharing the same frustrations acted on this impulse, would things get even worse? Would it truly be just bot to bot “conversations” at some point? Maybe if more genuine voices with unique perspectives rose up, things would get better, or at least those voices could connect in a meaningful space. 

So, how are you dealing with the AI noise on LinkedIn? Is it just me, or is it getting harder to connect with real humans? If you’re out there, let me know.