LinkedIn is a popular social media platform used by professionals to network, share content, and build their personal brand. With over 810 million members worldwide, LinkedIn provides ample opportunity to connect with other professionals in your industry. However, with such a large network, not every connection may be interested in all of the content you share. Fortunately, LinkedIn offers options to control the visibility of your posts.
Who can see your posts by default?
When you post content on LinkedIn, it is visible to your 1st degree connections by default. These are people you are directly connected with on the platform. When you share an article, image, or status update, it will appear in the feeds of your 1st degree connections who follow you.
In addition to 1st degree connections, your posts are also visible to 2nd and 3rd degree connections. These are people connected to your direct connections. For example, a 2nd degree connection is someone who is connected to someone you are connected with but not directly connected to you. Your posts may show up in their feeds, especially if multiple 1st degree connections like, comment, or share your post. However, 2nd and 3rd degree connections will have less visibility of your posts compared to 1st degree connections.
Options for limiting visibility of your posts
If you want to limit the visibility of a particular post, LinkedIn provides a few options:
- Connections only: This option limits visibility to just your 1st degree connections who follow you. 2nd and 3rd degree connections will not see the post.
- Connections except: You can exclude specific connections from seeing the post.
- Account: Only you can see the post.
To adjust these settings when sharing a post, click the dropdown arrow next to “Post to” and select your desired audience. You can also change the visibility after publishing by clicking the three dots icon on a post and selecting “Change visibility settings.”
How to hide LinkedIn posts from specific connections
If you want to prevent a particular connection or group of connections from seeing any of your future posts, you can unfollow or block them:
Unfollowing connections
- Go to their profile page
- Click “More” under the intro section
- Select “Unfollow” to stop seeing their posts
Once you unfollow someone, your posts will no longer show up in their feed. However, they can still visit your profile and see your posts there.
Blocking connections
- Go to their profile page
- Click the “More” icon in the upper right corner
- Select “Block” to prevent them from viewing your profile or posts
Blocking is more restrictive than unfollowing. When you block someone, they will no longer be able to find or see any part of your profile, including future posts and activities.
Other privacy controls
In addition to adjusting post visibility and unfollowing/blocking connections, LinkedIn also offers these privacy controls:
- Anonymous browsing – View LinkedIn profiles anonymously without other members seeing you viewed them.
- Content visibility – Choose who can see your posts, articles, photos, education, skills, and other profile content.
- Profile viewing options – Manage who can view your LinkedIn profile and network information.
You can access these settings under the “Privacy & Settings” option when clicking your profile image. The settings allow you to limit the visibility of your full profile as well as customize visibility for individual parts of your profile.
Best practices for managing visibility
Here are some tips for managing the visibility of your LinkedIn posts and profile:
- Be selective about your connections – Only connect with people you want to network with.
- Review your connections regularly – Unfollow or block any irrelevant connections.
- Use post targeting options – Tailor visibility as needed for each post.
- Limit profile visibility – Use anonymous browsing and adjust profile visibility settings.
- Be cautious about 3rd party apps – Don’t authorize apps that may share too much of your profile data.
- Check notifications frequently – Respond promptly to any unwanted content tagging or sharing by others.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I hide my LinkedIn posts from my boss?
Yes, you can hide LinkedIn posts from specific connections, including your boss. When sharing a post, change the visibility setting to “Connections Except” and select your boss’s name to exclude them. You can also unfollow your boss so your future posts don’t show in their feed without them realizing you unfollowed them.
What happens when I block someone on LinkedIn?
Blocking someone on LinkedIn prevents them from viewing any part of your profile or posts. You will also stop seeing their profile and posts. Essentially it removes the connection in both directions.
Can I limit who sees my LinkedIn profile?
Yes, LinkedIn provides options to control who can view your full profile as well as customize visibility for specific sections like posts, education, skills, etc. You can limit visibility to connections only, exclude specific connections, or make sections completely private.
Is there a way to see who viewed my LinkedIn profile?
LinkedIn’s premium account options include analytics that show who has viewed your full profile in the last 90 days. However, basic LinkedIn accounts do not provide info on profile views. The only way to see who specifically is viewing your profile with a basic account is through anonymous browsing.
Can I see the posts someone shared without following them back?
No, you can only see someone’s posts on LinkedIn if you are following them. The exception is if one of your connections likes or shares the post, in which case it may become visible in your feed.
| Connection Type | What They Can See |
|---|---|
| 1st degree connections | Can see your posts in their feed by default unless they unfollow you or are specifically excluded |
| 2nd degree connections | May see your posts if shared by multiple 1st degree connections, but have limited visibility |
| 3rd degree connections | Very low visibility of your posts unless engagement from 1st/2nd degree connections causes high virality |
| Followers | See all your posts since they follow you, unless they are excluded for a specific post |
| Connections you’ve unfollowed | Will not see your future posts in their feed |
| Blocked connections | Cannot see any part of your profile or posts |
Conclusion
Managing visibility on LinkedIn involves striking a balance between network expansion and privacy control. Take advantage of options like post targeting, unfollowing, blocking, and profile visibility settings to limit exposure as needed. But be strategic, transparent, and considerate when limiting access since visibility is important for professional networking and engagement on the platform.