When you think about it, Hinge and Tinder are shallow in their approach to connection: see a picture, read a soulless message, give a like. LinkedIn, on the other hand, is more personal. You see the successes and failures and aspirations of strangers in a way that makes people seem more attractive for a first date. But recently, LinkedIn has transitioned from a professional networking site to a place where people personalize their posts in an almost Facebook-like style.

This personalization of posts is not a bad thing as it humanizes network professionals. But when customization leads to too much comfort, things can take a turn. It’s human nature to see a picture of someone and find them attractive. Even so, self-policing is essential, and users must have a common understanding that some spaces are meant to be strictly professional.

Let’s say you get a connection request on LinkedIn, and their casual business image piqued your interest. You might want to cyber stalk and find their Instagram profile or even flirt directly through LinkedIn. But you have to remember which app you’re in.

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Sometimes it feels like when someone is invasive enough, any app could be a dating app, but LinkedIn is where we have to draw the line. With the rise of remote work after COVID, LinkedIn is generating quick interactions with strangers. With an influx of users, there was bound to be a disconnect in terms of the site’s purpose; an increasingly blurred line between the professional app and personal life, which becomes increasingly messy as users begin to crave connection.

A LinkedIn spokesperson said Newsweek that the site “is a professional community, and we encourage our members to engage in meaningful and authentic conversations,” though its intended use is never final when in the public’s hands.

Because the platform encourages communication, there are few regulations on how the app is used, and users are free to talk to each other in any way they want. The exhilaration of hooking up with someone you think is attractive and professionally successful is alive and well. But this isn’t Hinge; this is a networking and professional development platform.

This is not to say that fruitful relationships cannot be formed on LinkedIn or any other non-romantic site, but it is only acceptable when done in good faith. Organic matching on LinkedIn is possible, but ideally, the initial and primary intent should be to network professionally.

A survey conducted by Jannik Lindner for Gitnux Market Data in July 2024 shows that 31% of office romances lead to marriage in the United States, and 36% of those surveyed were previously involved in a workplace romance . This begs the question, why is it socially acceptable to meet your partner in an office but not on a networking site?

The basic difference is the lack of rapport. Colleagues at work have proximity and communication, whereas on an online platform you and another person may not even be colleagues. You could be complete strangers, not feeling each other’s boundaries, flirting on a social platform created for professional development.

We need to remember that on LinkedIn there is a set boundary of professionalism and an expectation to be taken seriously.

Most LinkedIn users probably want to use the site for its intended purpose. It’s undeniable that in a world where boundaries are constantly being pushed, the last place you need to be harassed is a site where you’re just hoping to advance your career.

The last thing anyone needs after a long day of networking is to open their direct messages to a chat that does everything but give them an internship. Many have spent their entire lives working to be taken seriously in the professional world, and the outspoken feeling of being looked down on on a networking platform is terrifying.

Reach out to that stranger and make that connection, but make it strictly for professional development. Consider the effects of flirting on LinkedIn as a dilution of a professional persona – mixing business with pleasure is never a good idea in the networking world. Any inappropriate behavior on LinkedIn can destroy your reputation and, at the same time, offend those around you.

The next time you make a LinkedIn connection, keep it professional and remember that Tinder and Hinge are just a few swipes away.