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Ask HN: Why did LinkedIn become what it is today?

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Re: Ask HN: Why did LinkedIn become what it is today?

#21

Post by sethherr »

alephnerd wrote: post #13

You need to tune the algorithm. Are you following people who are pushing politics on their LinkedIns? I've found following relevant VCs, PMs, Academics, and corporate leadership has drastically improved my LinkedIn with almost zero noise. Mute and unfollow people who post too much politics on LinkedIn, and engage with content that is more relevant to you. The algorithm will tune itself for you accordingly

But… I don’t follow anyone on LinkedIn, I don’t use it as a social network. This suggestions seems like how you’d make it a better “work twitter” which is a product I don’t think I need.

Re: Ask HN: Why did LinkedIn become what it is today?

#22

Post by mgillett54 »

plexman wrote: post #11
nsenifty wrote: post #9

Politics and war discussions have been increasingly common at work too. Companies have promoting ERGs in the hope of diversity and in the name of "bringing your authentic self to work", and these groups have become a hotbed of activism. I've witnessed flamewars in work channels on the topics of BLM, war in Gaza etc in the past two companies I've worked.

what is ERG? [edit] ok this is news to me So what are Employee Resource Groups (ERGs)? Employee Resource Groups are voluntary, employee-led groups whose aim is to foster a diverse, inclusive workplace aligned with the organizations they serve.

Employee resource group, basically a group of employees that have some shared interest or background

Re: Ask HN: Why did LinkedIn become what it is today?

#24

Post by jvans »

I would say this is the fate of all products where the decision makers are focused on short term metric gains instead of long term quality. Data driven decision making encourages myopic product vision in a lot of scenarios.

Good data organizations acknowledge that all metrics can be manipulated and take changes in metrics with a grain of salt. They combine a/b testing with first principles thinking and make imperfect decisions based on imperfect information. They don't always get it right, but they embrace uncertainty and critically evaluate outcomes both "good" and "bad", because they know a/b test metrics don't tell the full story.

Bad data organizations focus on the a/b test metrics and ignore common sense logic, because short term metric wins are rewarded. Rinse and repeat for years on end and the product evolves to puzzling place like you mention. It was all the result of someone winning an a/b test over and over, and not critically thinking about the long term.

Also see: expedia, quora, facebook, instagram, etc.

Re: Ask HN: Why did LinkedIn become what it is today?

#26

Post by alephnerd »

sethherr wrote: post #21
alephnerd wrote: post #13

You need to tune the algorithm. Are you following people who are pushing politics on their LinkedIns? I've found following relevant VCs, PMs, Academics, and corporate leadership has drastically improved my LinkedIn with almost zero noise. Mute and unfollow people who post too much politics on LinkedIn, and engage with content that is more relevant to you. The algorithm will tune itself for you accordingly

But… I don’t follow anyone on LinkedIn, I don’t use it as a social network. This suggestions seems like how you’d make it a better “work twitter” which is a product I don’t think I need.

When you add a connection on LinkedIn, you end up automatically following them.

If your network is filled with people who liked stunting on LinkedIn or doing unnecessary arguments it will come up on your feed.

The assumption is you will keep your LinkedIn trimmed and managed with only people you care about.

Make your LinkedIn curate better content by following people who generate actually insightful content.

Also, I am connects with actual politicians and staffers on LinkedIn because of my previous career and they almost never post any political flamewars on there. It's basically used as a constructive Twitter for those of us who don't need the noise that comes from Twitter.

Re: Ask HN: Why did LinkedIn become what it is today?

#28

Post by epicureanideal »

mgillett54 wrote: post #22
plexman wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

what is ERG? [edit] ok this is news to me So what are Employee Resource Groups (ERGs)? Employee Resource Groups are voluntary, employee-led groups whose aim is to foster a diverse, inclusive workplace aligned with the organizations they serve.

Employee resource group, basically a group of employees that have some shared interest or background

Although as with most race, gender, or interest groups, it would be unwise to try to start one for specific combinations. Strangely, the same combinations that are labeled “oppressors”.

I’m not saying I would want to, but I find that ERGs for every other combination starts to feel like a way for organized preferential treatment to happen for all those other combinations, and all their various interests to be promoted, to the exclusion of a handful of other combinations.

No conspiracy theory here, also no prejudice here, just how it seems to work, and how I sometimes perceive these interest groups.

Re: Ask HN: Why did LinkedIn become what it is today?

#29

Post by AlbertCory »

They've been around forever. "Everyone has it but no one is on it" was always the description.

One good application is finding someone you USED to work with (if they have email notifications turned on, of course). And hearing where your friends are working now.

As for revenue: job listings. That's it.

Re: Ask HN: Why did LinkedIn become what it is today?

#30

Post by andrewjf »

nsenifty wrote: post #9

Politics and war discussions have been increasingly common at work too. Companies have promoting ERGs in the hope of diversity and in the name of "bringing your authentic self to work", and these groups have become a hotbed of activism. I've witnessed flamewars in work channels on the topics of BLM, war in Gaza etc in the past two companies I've worked.

> Companies have promoting ERGs in the hope of diversity and in the name of "bringing your authentic self to work", and these groups have become a hotbed of activism.

…and it’s absolutely vile. Leave me alone at work. Work is not your place to advocate for whatever agenda you happen to have. Whether I agree or not isn’t relevant to the mission of the company, and it’s not the company’s job to support your cause.

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