LinkedIn may bill itself as all business, but some users are quietly treating it as a soft-focus dating app. With fatigue over swipe-based platforms rising, professionals are testing whether a resume and headshot can double as a dating profile, just without saying so outright, per the Wall Street Journal. One survey by resume site Zety found that roughly a quarter of workers think using LinkedIn to look for romance is acceptable, with close to 1 in 5 admitting that they've sent or replied to a message with that in mind.
The line is drawn across generations: Around 30% of millennials and Gen Z say they're more likely to use LinkedIn to vet a potential partner, while just 19% of Gen X users and only 6% of baby boomers claim the same, per SFGate, which calls LinkedIn a new "unexpected space for romance." "The younger generation is looking for stability, shared ambitions, and authenticity, all things found on LinkedIn rather than a dating app," notes the HR Digest.
LinkedIn's rules ban romantic approaches, and a spokesperson for the site stresses that its priority is shielding users from unwanted advances, per the Journal. Still, success stories are emerging: a user who connected on LinkedIn with someone he first saw on Tinder and is now planning a wedding; an internship follow-up that turned into a first date at a local pub; a recruiter and candidate whose connection ended at the altar.
Dating coaches advise keeping any first message overtly professional and steering clear of direct flirtation. Others use LinkedIn less for outreach and more as a vetting tool, checking majors, jobs, and clubs to gauge ambition—even if that sometimes requires a burner account to avoid showing up in the "Who's viewed your profile" section.
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