As a social media platform, LinkedIn carries the same mental health concerns as Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
In 2018 I wrote an essay on the negative side effects of social media. At the core of it I discussed social comparison theory, explaining how we sometimes compare ourselves to people who have it worse, and at other times to people who seem better off. Depending on one’s self-esteem, these comparisons can lead to and reflect negative feelings or conditions we harbor like depression.
When I wrote this I was thinking about Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. But now that I’m between jobs and checking LinkedIn more frequently to network and find opportunities, I’m realizing that LinkedIn is no different.
No one is as happy as they seem on Facebook, as depressed as they seem on Twitter, or as employed as they seem on LinkedIn.
–@Rayke
It’s possible concerns about social media are clearer on the more “traditional” social media platforms because they are multimedia-heavy. People frequently share photos and videos of themselves in fun and exotic locations, highlighting the best aspects of their lives. The person posting it feels great when they get validation through the currency of the platform — likes, hearts, follows, etc. On the other hand, those validating the content may question why their lives aren’t as wonderful as it seems everyone else’s is.
LinkedIn seems different at first glance, but let’s dive in. Browsing through my LinkedIn feed, I primarily see two types of posts. The first type are people in my network sharing tips related to their field of expertise, notes of inspiration, or an open role within their company. Let’s call these “Type A” posts, which consist of information generally useful to the reader. Conversely, “Type B” posts are more personal. They often mention promotions and new job announcements, general life updates, or the unfortunate news of a layoff.
With these two buckets in mind, let’s go back to social comparison theory. Though not impossible, it’s not obvious how to make social comparisons from Type A posts, especially in a way that could lead to negative feelings. But Type B posts are a different story. It’s easy for an employed person to make downward social comparisons by looking at a feed of layoff announcements. And it’s natural to make upward comparisons seeing others getting new jobs and promotions while you’re unemployed or unhappy in your current role.
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