With over 575 million users, it’s safe to say that LinkedIn is a great social network. Its astonishing growth rate highlights the fact that it is an impressive platform for professionals, marketers, entrepreneurs, and anyone who wants to expand their network.
But just like every other social networking platform, it has its downsides. While LinkedIn is certainly an important tool for anyone who wants to get ahead in their chosen industry, there are still a few things you need to watch out for.
Things to Watch Out For
It is important that you don’t overlook LinkedIn as a potential corporate security risk. So while LinkedIn is not dangerous per se, you just need to be careful around certain things in order to protect your account and yourself.
Fraud and Phishing
Fraud and phishing are tactics that have been around far longer than LinkedIn. Tricking people into clicking malicious links or defrauding them through impersonation are examples of fraud and phishing. Sadly, these things may happen in any online platform and not just on LinkedIn. This is why you need to be aware of them.
LinkedIn is particularly attractive for those who want to scam others because the site contains a large pool of career-focused professionals.
Corporate Espionage
Corporate espionage was a hot topic in the news not too long ago — and LinkedIn served as a connection tool that was exploited by those seeking secrets. While this is no longer a huge threat, the fact that LinkedIn is often used to make new connections makes corporate espionage possible.
Security Risks
Any website that contains your personal information is risky because some people go out of their way to obtain them. LinkedIn’s privacy settings help offset the risks. These settings are effective when it comes to keeping your information safe. There are options you can use to maintain your anonymity. When expanding your network, try to focus more on people you already know in real life.
LinkedIn is no different from social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter, where you have to consciously protect your data and remain vigilant when it comes to online interactions.
LinkedIn insists that you add detailed information about yourself in order to make the most out of the platform. Having a very public profile with lots of information has its benefits, but it is also a calculated risk.
Reputational Risk
This is a very minor concern, but if you are worried about how you present yourself online, then you need to be very careful about what you post online. This goes for any social networking site you use. Avoid sharing fake news, highly personal or religious views, and low quality content. These may harm your reputation — and because LinkedIn is a platform that is geared towards professionals, people may judge you before deciding to work with you. Losing credibility on LinkedIn can harm your reputation and limit your opportunities.
LinkedIn’s “dangers” are things that are present in every social networking platform. The only difference is that it caters to professionals, so it is more attractive to phishers and scammers. While these risks are present, they should not prevent you from enjoying all the benefits of having an active LinkedIn profile.
LinkedIn has an active user base that puts it among the top social media sites. It is the platform of choice for professionals.
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