LinkedIn is a popular professional networking platform used by over 800 million members worldwide. With so many users, there may be times when you want to block a connection without fully disconnecting from them.
What happens when you block someone on LinkedIn?
When you block someone on LinkedIn:
- They will no longer be able to view your profile or search for you on LinkedIn.
- Any connections you have in common will not be notified.
- You will no longer be able to view their profile or search for them on LinkedIn.
- You will both remain connected on LinkedIn.
So in essence, blocking someone prevents either of you from viewing each other’s profiles or interacting, but does not remove the connection itself. This allows you to discreetly prevent unwanted contact or viewing of your profile, without having to fully disconnect.
When should you block someone instead of disconnecting?
There are a few instances when you may want to block someone instead of disconnecting:
- You want to avoid contact with them, but keep the connection for professional reasons. For example, you may still share common contacts or work in the same industry.
- You don’t want to trigger a notification by disconnecting. Blocking allows you to discreetly remove profile access.
- You want to maintain your overall number of connections. Disconnecting reduces your total network size.
- You may reconnect with them in the future, so want to keep the door open versus a firm disconnect.
In essence, blocking is a “soft” disconnect that limits interaction but maintains the professional relationship, just in case. Disconnecting is more final.
How to block someone on LinkedIn
Blocking someone on LinkedIn is a simple process:
- Go to their LinkedIn profile page.
- Click on the “More” dropdown menu in the top right corner.
- Select “Block or report”.
- Choose “Block” and confirm when prompted.
Once blocked, that user will immediately be unable to view your profile or search for you. The block will also be mutual – you will be unable to view their profile. There is no notification the block has occurred.
How to unblock someone on LinkedIn
If you change your mind, you can easily unblock someone:
- Go to your profile Settings.
- Select “Blocked accounts” under Account preferences.
- Locate the blocked account and click “Unblock”.
- Confirm you want to remove the block when prompted.
This will immediately restore mutual access to each other’s profiles. There is no notification the unblock has occurred.
Pros of blocking instead of disconnecting
Some pros of blocking instead of disconnecting include:
- Maintains professional relationship and connection
- Avoids triggering a notification
- Limits profile views but keeps door open
- Preserves total number of connections
- Allows for discreetly managing unwanted interactions or contact
Cons of blocking instead of disconnecting
Some potential cons of blocking instead of disconnecting:
- Person remains in your connections list
- You may still appear in their notifications
- Doesn’t fully sever professional relationship
- May require monitoring if trying to avoid all contact
Disconnecting versus blocking statistics
Here is a comparison of disconnecting versus blocking on LinkedIn:
| Action | Disconnect | Block |
|---|---|---|
| Removes connection | Yes | No |
| Sends notification | Yes | No |
| Prevents profile views | Yes | Yes |
| Limits interactions | Yes | Yes |
| Reduces total connections | Yes | No |
As shown, blocking limits interactions without removing the connection itself. Disconnecting severs the relationship fully.
Should you block or disconnect from someone?
Whether you should block or disconnect from someone depends on the situation:
- If you want to remove all ties, disconnecting is better.
- If you may interact with them again someday, blocking is preferable.
- If you want to subtly limit contact, blocking allows this.
- If there are professional implications, blocking avoids an obvious disconnect.
- If the reason is harassment or abuse, disconnection sends a firm message.
Evaluate the specific circumstances and end goal. Blocking maintains a connection but establishes boundaries. Disconnecting severs all ties. Choose the option that best fits the situation.
Conclusion
On LinkedIn, it is possible to block someone without fully disconnecting from them. Blocking limits profile views and interactions, but maintains the professional connection discretely. Disconnecting removes the relationship entirely. Evaluate the situation to determine if blocking or disconnecting is the right approach based on your specific needs and reasons.