LinkedIn – Network for loans, solar panels and insurance

LinkedIn used to be a place for careers, contacts and coffee dates with HR professionals.

Today it feels more like the digital equivalent of the depths of the red light district in the dead of night – only with less neon light and more politically correct people who are desperate to occupational disability insurance want to talk you into it.

You've barely confirmed a new contact – and suddenly the first message lands in your inbox. Or the messages arrive without you even knowing the sender.

Incredibly good offers

Contents: An “incredibly good offer” for commercial loans, insurance against everything except bad taste or the hint that how to finally get started with solar systems (even without sun or roof).

But that's not all. The way these messages are formulated has long since earned its own discipline. Classics include:

◉ “I came across your profile by chance…”
◉ “I see you are also active in the business sector…”
◉ “Let’s talk for 15 minutes – completely without obligation!”

Sure. Just as non-binding as a marriage proposal in Mallorca after three buckets of sangria or a tout in front of a shisha bar.

Finally live efficiently

The escalation doesn't take long. By now, everyone fully expects the next message to contain tips for professional escorts, casino tips, or stimulant substances.

All that’s missing are bots with the slogan: “Finally make your life efficient, no matter how – book now!”

Between ego content, life wisdom in Canva design and sponsored B2B webinars, this Spam flood like an attack on the last remaining dignity on the internet.

One might think this is all a social experiment: How many unwanted pitch messages does it take for a seasoned medium-sized company to voluntarily move into a dead zone?

The dollar is rolling

And LinkedIn? They don't respond. Why should they? They make money from it. I can't even reply to sponsored messages from non-connections to tell them how much I hate it.

The algorithm loves interactions – and whether you angrily reject, reply ironically, or simply click "Ignore" in annoyance, the platform doesn't care. The main thing is that the money keeps rolling in.

Sometimes you almost wish you could go back to the days when cold calls came via landlines and you could at least hang up with a firm “Not interested, thanks!”

Just don't click

Today, however, all that remains is a digital shrug of the shoulders and the quiet hope that the next time you visit LinkedIn, there won't be someone promoting their "passionate project in the field of finance" in your inbox.

So: If you open your LinkedIn in the morning and don't get at least three offers for loans, solar systems or insurance models, you are either extremely lucky - or your profile is so inactive that even the spam gives up on you.

With that in mind: Stay professional. And don't forget to regularly detoxify your inbox. Or just don't click on all those weird messages at all...

Sierks Media / © Photo: LinkedIn Sales Solutions, Unsplash