Quick Answer: Turning Off Ads on LinkedIn
LinkedIn is a social media platform focused on professional networking and career development. Like many free online services, LinkedIn relies on advertising revenue to support its operations. While there is no way to completely eliminate ads on LinkedIn, there are some steps users can take to reduce the number of ads they see:
- Upgrade to a premium account like LinkedIn Premium or Sales Navigator. These paid services offer an ad-free experience.
- Adjust ad preferences in your account settings. You can opt out of targeted advertising and customize which types of ads you want to see.
- Use a third-party ad blocker in your web browser when browsing LinkedIn.
- Access LinkedIn’s mobile app, which serves fewer ads than the desktop site.
So in summary, the only way to truly turn off all ads on LinkedIn is to upgrade to a premium paid account. Otherwise, users can minimize ads by adjusting preferences, using an ad blocker, and using the mobile app. But some ads will still be present on the free version of LinkedIn.
Understanding LinkedIn’s Use of Advertising
LinkedIn relies heavily on advertising revenue, much like other major social networks and free online platforms. Advertising makes up the majority of LinkedIn’s income. Here are some key things to understand about how LinkedIn utilizes ads:
- Profile-based targeting – LinkedIn can target ads to users based on the information in their professional profiles, including job title, industry, skills, and more.
- Interest and interaction-based targeting – LinkedIn also tracks users’ activity and interactions to determine their interests and target relevant ads.
- Premium accounts see fewer ads – Upgraded, paid accounts like Premium and Sales Navigator receive a reduced number of ads compared to free accounts.
- 3 types of ads – Sponsored content, sponsored InMail, and text ads appear in various places on LinkedIn’s desktop and mobile platforms.
- Ads are LinkedIn’s primary revenue generator – Without advertising income, LinkedIn would have to rely solely on premium subscriptions and other services, which likely do not generate enough revenue to support operations.
Understanding that advertising is core to LinkedIn’s business model provides useful context for why users cannot completely eliminate ads on the platform without paying for an upgraded account. Advertising allows LinkedIn to keep basic access free while still generating income.
Options for Reducing Ads on LinkedIn
While turning off LinkedIn ads completely is impossible without a premium account, there are ways free users can cut back on the number of ads they see. Here are a few suggestions:
Upgrade to Premium
The most direct way to turn off LinkedIn ads is to upgrade to a premium paid account. LinkedIn Premium and Sales Navigator are the main premium offerings. Benefits include:
- No ads
- Expanded profile views
- Unlimited InMail messages
- More search filters
- Premium courses and videos
Of course, these accounts come with a monthly or annual subscription cost. But for frequent LinkedIn users who want an ad-free experience, premium is the best option.
Adjust Ad Preferences
In your account settings, LinkedIn allows you to customize the types of ads you see to some degree. You can opt out of targeted advertising and indicate which broad categories of ads you prefer. Adjusting these ad preferences can potentially reduce the number of irrelevant or bothersome ads. Keep in mind you’ll still see ads, just hopefully ones more suited to your needs.
Use an Ad Blocker
Installing an ad blocking extension or plugin in your web browser is an easy way to block many LinkedIn ads. Popular ad blockers include AdBlock Plus, uBlock Origin, and AdGuard. Just keep in mind ad blockers work better on the desktop version of LinkedIn. The mobile app serves ads that are harder to block externally.
Use the Mobile App
LinkedIn’s mobile app typically displays fewer ads than the desktop website. The app focuses more on profile management, messaging, and notifications. Simply accessing LinkedIn on your smartphone or tablet instead of a computer can cut down on the number of ads you see in your feed.
Downsides of Removing LinkedIn Ads
Although minimizing ads can improve the LinkedIn experience in some ways, there are also a few potential downsides to consider:
- You may miss out on relevant opportunities – Some ads are actually helpful for finding jobs, products/services, business partners, and new industry information.
- LinkedIn loses ad revenue – Ads allow LinkedIn to keep the platform free for the majority of users. Without ad income, LinkedIn may have to implement more fees.
- It can seem overly promotional – Seeing some ads helps balance out the self-promotional posts from individuals and companies.
- Premium accounts cost money – Upgrading to avoid ads completely involves spending money on a monthly or annual subscription.
Finding the right balance is key. Cutting back ads improves the experience for many users. But some ads are useful, and provide revenue that keeps LinkedIn operating at scale.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are answers to some common questions about eliminating ads on LinkedIn:
Does LinkedIn Premium remove all ads?
Yes, upgrading to LinkedIn Premium or Sales Navigator removes all ads from your feed and page views. This is the only way to completely eliminate LinkedIn ads.
Can I stop targeted ads without a premium account?
You can minimize targeted ads by adjusting your ad preferences in account settings. Disable targeted advertising and customize the broad categories of ads you want to see. However, this only reduces targeting, it doesn’t eliminate ads altogether.
What’s the best ad blocker for LinkedIn?
AdBlock Plus and uBlock Origin generally work well for blocking LinkedIn ads on desktop. On mobile, the options are more limited, but Browser app allows ad blocking. Another option is using LinkedIn’s mobile app, which serves fewer ads than desktop.
Does downloading the LinkedIn app remove ads?
The LinkedIn mobile app will display fewer ads than the desktop website experience. However, you’ll still see some ads even when using the app on your phone or tablet. To remove all ads, a Premium account is required.
What are the main benefits of LinkedIn Premium?
The key benefits of upgrading to Premium include:
- No ads
- Unlimited profile views
- Expanded InMail messaging
- Premium articles and courses
- More search filters
Premium provides an ad-free experience along with greater access to profiles, messages, and content.
Conclusion
Turning off ads completely on the free version of LinkedIn is not possible, given the platform’s reliance on advertising revenue. However, users do have options like upgrading to Premium, adjusting ad preferences, using ad blockers, and accessing LinkedIn via mobile app to reduce the number of ads. While removing ads can enhance the experience in some ways, there are also benefits to seeing relevant, targeted ads. Finding the right balance comes down to individual preference and use case. For those seeking an entirely ad-free LinkedIn platform, paying for a premium account is the only sure solution.
