Yes, you can block LinkedIn messages. LinkedIn provides users with the ability to block other members from sending them messages. This can be done by going to the profile of the member you want to block and selecting the “Block” option.
Why Block LinkedIn Messages?
There are a few reasons why you may want to block someone on LinkedIn from messaging you:
- To stop receiving unwanted, inappropriate, or harassing messages from a particular member.
- To prevent a specific person you don’t know or trust from contacting you.
- To avoid messages from competitors, former colleagues, etc. that you don’t want to connect with.
- To generally limit incoming messages and notifications if you are receiving too many.
Blocking someone stops them from sending you further messages, connects, or invites. It can help filter out unwelcome communication.
How to Block a LinkedIn Member from Messaging You
Blocking a member on LinkedIn is easy to do by following these steps:
- Go to the profile page of the LinkedIn member you want to block.
- Click on the “More” drop-down menu located near the top right of their profile.
- Select “Block” from the menu options.
- Confirm that you want to block the member when prompted.
Once you block someone, that member will no longer be able to:
- Send you messages on LinkedIn.
- Connect with you or send you connection invites.
- Tag you in posts or comments.
- Invite you to join groups, events, etc.
In effect, blocking prevents any messaging or interactions between you and the blocked member on LinkedIn.
What Happens When You Block Someone?
Here’s what happens when you block another member on LinkedIn:
- They can no longer message you directly or see conversation/message history you’ve had.
- Any connections between you and the blocked member are removed.
- You no longer show up in their search results.
- They are removed from your connections list if previously connected.
- You disappear from their “People Also Viewed” suggestions.
- You won’t show up as a suggested connection for them.
Essentially, blocking someone cuts off all regular communication between you and that person on LinkedIn in both directions.
Who Can See You Blocked Someone?
Blocking a LinkedIn member is anonymous and private:
- The person you blocked will not be notified or know you blocked them.
- Your common connections will not be aware you blocked someone.
- There are no public notifications about you blocking a member.
- Blocking does not affect your public profile or activity.
The block action is completely discreet and between you and the person you blocked. Neither your connections nor their connections will know you blocked someone.
How to Unblock a Member
If you change your mind later on, you can easily undo blocking a member by:
- Going to your LinkedIn Settings.
- Selecting “Blocked Members” under the Privacy & Settings tab.
- Finding the member you want to unblock and clicking “Unblock”.
This will remove the block and restore normal communication abilities between you and that member.
Does Blocking Prevent Seeing Someone’s Profile?
Blocking someone on LinkedIn does not prevent you from viewing their public profile. You can still access a blocked member’s profile page to see their work experience, education, skills, recommendations, and other public activity.
The profile of a blocked member is not affected. Blocking only limits that person’s ability to interact with you directly through messaging and invitations.
Can You See Who Viewed Your LinkedIn Profile If You Blocked Them?
No, if you block someone on LinkedIn, you will no longer be able to see that they viewed your profile. LinkedIn’s “Who’s Viewed Your Profile” section will not show members you have blocked.
This works both ways – blocked members will not be able to see if you viewed their profile either.
Should You Notify Someone Before Blocking?
There is no obligation to inform someone before blocking them on LinkedIn. However, in some cases a quick message may be appropriate:
- If it’s a known contact getting blocked, a courtesy notice may preserve the relationship.
- When blocking for harassment/inappropriate behavior, notifying them could prevent issues.
- Letting recruiters/sales know you’re not interested can avoid misunderstandings.
A short message saying you feel messages are inappropriate, irrelevant, or unnecessary can give context if desired. But it’s fine to just directly block without notice.
Pros of Blocking LinkedIn Messages
Benefits of making use of LinkedIn’s blocking feature include:
- Limits unwanted communication from specific members.
- Provides more control over notifications and messages.
- Can prevent harassment or inappropriate contact.
- Avoids unwanted invitations and interactions.
- Removes visibility of you for selected blocked members.
Overall, blocking gives users more say over who can message and connect with them on the platform.
Cons of Blocking LinkedIn Messages
Potential drawbacks of blocking LinkedIn members include:
- Burning bridges with potentially useful connections.
- Missing out on relevant messages or notifications.
- Having your own visibility impacted if blocking prominent profiles.
- Needing to remember and manage your blocked member list.
- Having limited recourse if blocked in error or unfairly.
Indiscriminate blocking could hinder networking and sever worthwhile relationships. Careful consideration of who to block is wise.
LinkedIn Message Blocking and Privacy
For privacy reasons, LinkedIn does not show who you have blocked to other members. Your blocked member list and actions remain anonymous.
While sending unwanted messages could violate LinkedIn’s rules, simply blocking someone discreetly stops communication without airing issues publicly or risking accounts. This approach helps maintain professionalism.
The ability to block messages gives users some added privacy protection when needed on the platform without significant downsides in most cases.
Blocking Etiquette
Some tips on politely and appropriately blocking LinkedIn messages include:
- Inform valued connections of your reasons before blocking.
- Be prudent and selective in who you block.
- Use the “Discard Invitation” option before outright blocking where applicable.
- Block early at the first sign of inappropriate messaging.
- Be discreet about your blocking habits.
Following common sense etiquette reduces the risks of blocking and ensures the feature is used constructively.
Alternatives to Blocking
Other options beyond fully blocking members include:
- Asking contacts to change their message behavior before blocking.
- Restricting profile visibility settings.
- Using LinkedIn’s “Discard Invitations” feature for managing unwanted invites.
- Reporting members that violate LinkedIn policies.
- Updating message notifications to reduce unwanted notices.
Evaluating these alternatives first may avoid the need to formally block in some scenarios.
Key Takeaways
To recap, key points to remember about blocking LinkedIn messages are:
- Go to a member’s profile and select “Block” to stop messages.
- Blocking is anonymous and discreet to other connections.
- You can still view a blocked member’s public profile.
- Unblocking can restore communication if desired.
- Inform valued contacts before blocking when appropriate.
- Blocking provides control over incoming messages.
Overall, LinkedIn blocking is a simple and effective way to manage your incoming messages and limit unwelcome contact when needed.
