Many people would like to be able to use LinkedIn anonymously. The reasons are diverse: to discreetly carry out competitive intelligence, to identify a future recruiter or even to find out what is happening to a former colleague or a childhood friend professionally.
However, by default, it is not possible to go unnoticed on LinkedIn: the platform automatically notifies the owner of the observed profile of your visit by showing your name. However, there are alternatives to going to a member’s page while remaining invisible. You should already know that on LinkedIn, the display of your profile to other users of the platform can be configured in three different ways.
- viewable mode
This is the default setting for your profile. It implies that any LinkedIn member whose page you have consulted has access to your photo, as well as all your personal information.
- semi-private mode
On this device, people can only see certain information from your profile: your position, your company, your school and your sector of activity (for example, “production team” if you work in audiovisual). No other remaining information is displayed, including your photo.
- private mode
This setting does not filter any information about you. You will be identified on the Platform as a “LinkedIn Anonymous User”. You just have to activate this famous private mode to be able to see without being seen on the social network.
How to put a LinkedIn profile in private mode
- Go to LinkedIn and click your profile icon in the top right. In the menu that appears, select “Preferences and Privacy”
- Go to the “Visibility” tab and select “Profile View Options”
- Tap the “Private Mode” box
Keep in mind that if the private mode has many advantages, it is not without disadvantages: it greatly limits the functions available to you. Your visibility with potential recruiters or employees is reduced and you no longer have access to your profile history and the list of people who have viewed it. Limitations that can cause you to lose professional opportunities…
Sign up for a LinkedIn Premium subscription
An alternative solution is to purchase a LinkedIn Premium subscription. In fact, holders of this type of account also have the possibility to browse the platform in private mode.
However, unlike Basic account users, Premium members can switch to private mode while retaining access to the list of people viewing their page. The Premium subscription offers a 30-day trial period.
- On the LinkedIn home page, click “Find a job faster. Try Premium for free.”
- If not, you can also click on your profile picture and hit “Free Premium Trial” in the menu that appears
Create an anonymous LinkedIn profile
If the technique can be criticized from an ethical point of view, it is always possible to create a second account that uses another email address in addition to a false name in order to be able to browse anonymously on LinkedIn.
Source: BFM TV
