LinkedIn is the world’s largest professional networking platform, with over 810 million members worldwide as of 2021. With so many profiles to browse, LinkedIn can provide valuable insights into industries, companies, and potential contacts. However, some users wonder – can LinkedIn members see who viewed their profile? The short answer is: generally, no. LinkedIn’s default settings keep your browsing private from other members in most cases.
Can standard LinkedIn members see who viewed their profile?
For regular LinkedIn member accounts, profile views are private by default. Other members will not be notified or shown the identities of those who have viewed their profiles. The exception is when you view the profile of someone who is not a 1st-degree connection. In this case, the user will receive an anonymous notification that “Someone in [your network or company] viewed your profile”. However, your name or photo will not be shown.
LinkedIn profile view privacy settings
LinkedIn members can adjust their profile viewing options under Privacy & Settings > Viewers of this profile. There are 3 settings:
- Your name and headline (Most open setting)
- Anonymous profile characteristics only
- Totally private (Most restrictive setting)
However, even the most open setting will not show the specific identities of anonymous profile viewers. The “Your name and headline” setting only impacts connections within your network.
What can LinkedIn members see about your profile views?
While your identity remains anonymous in most cases, LinkedIn does allow members to see some information about who has viewed their profile:
- Industry
- Location
- Company size
- Job function
- Seniority
For example, you might see that your profile was viewed by someone working in the higher education industry in Chicago. Or someone in the banking industry who works at a company with 10,000+ employees. However, your name or photo will not be disclosed.
When can your LinkedIn profile views be seen?
There are a few special scenarios in which your identity could be revealed as a profile viewer on LinkedIn:
- You are connected – If you are directly connected to another member, they will be able to see that you specifically viewed their profile.
- You interact – If you view someone’s profile and then like, comment on or share one of their posts, your identity will be revealed.
- Job searcher – Members with a Job Seeker premium account can see the identities of anyone who has viewed their profile in the past 90 days, including anonymous users.
- Recruiter – Recruiters with a Recruiter premium account can also identify anonymous profile viewers.
- Targeted status update – If another member pays to sponsor a status update targeting you based on criteria like industry or job title, they will be able to see your name and headline if you view their profile after being served the targeted update.
Does LinkedIn notify contacts when you view their profile?
In most cases, no. Your 1st-degree connections on LinkedIn will not receive any notification when you view their profile. The exception is if you interact with their content after viewing their profile, as noted above.
For 2nd and 3rd-degree connections or members outside your network, they may receive an anonymous notification that “Someone in [your network or company] viewed your profile”. But again, your identity remains private.
Can you tell who viewed your LinkedIn profile?
As a regular LinkedIn member, you cannot see the identities of those who have viewed your profile, unless they are 1st-degree connections or they interact with your content. However, there are a few options to glean insights:
- You will receive notifications when your 1st-degree connections view your profile.
- Under your LinkedIn activity dashboard, you can see anonymous information on who has viewed your profile, such as industry, location, job function, etc.
- With a Job Seeker premium account, you can identify anyone (even anonymous users) who has viewed your profile in the last 90 days.
- The Premium Career profile allows you to see the growth and geography of your profile views over time.
Can LinkedIn admins see your profile views?
LinkedIn admins and internal employees do have the ability to see user profile viewing activity and usage data. However, they do not actively monitor individuals’ profile viewing patterns. Data access is limited to technical administrators and aggregated for product analytics and improvements.
Does LinkedIn show when you view someone’s profile multiple times?
No. If you view the same LinkedIn profile multiple times, the user will not receive multiple notifications or be able to distinguish repeat views. The activity simply shows as 1 profile view from an anonymous user (or your name if directly connected).
Can LinkedIn members see when you view their company page?
No. Viewing a LinkedIn Company Page does not trigger any notification and remains anonymous. Company admins cannot identify who has viewed their company page. Your identity remains private.
Does LinkedIn show when you view a job posting?
Employers will not receive any notification or be able to identify anonymous users who have viewed their job postings. However, they can see aggregate data on job posting page views and applicant sources.
Can LinkedIn detect fake or bot profile views?
LinkedIn does have mechanisms in place to detect and filter out automated bot activity and fake profile views. These measures are in place to ensure the integrity of the platform and improve the experience for genuine members.
Conclusion
In summary, LinkedIn’s default settings keep your profile viewing activity private in most cases. While anonymous viewers may receive some general information about who viewed their profile, your identity typically remains hidden unless you are directly connected, interact with their content, or the viewer has a premium account.
Viewer Identity Visible? | 1st degree connections | 2nd & 3rd degree connections | Outside network |
---|---|---|---|
General profile viewing | Yes | No | No |
Job Seeker account holder | Yes | Yes (past 90 days) | Yes (past 90 days) |
Recruiter account holder | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Interact after viewing | Yes | Yes | Yes |
In most cases, you can browse LinkedIn profiles without others being aware. But it’s important to be mindful of the visibility settings and capabilities of various account types. Focus on making meaningful connections and engaging with quality content rather than anonymous profile views.
LinkedIn is constantly evolving its product features and privacy settings based on user feedback. So always check your account’s current privacy settings before browsing profiles you wish to remain anonymous. With the right configuration, you can privately research profiles to enrich your professional network and gain industry knowledge.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can LinkedIn members see who viewed their profile?
In most cases, no. Regular LinkedIn members cannot see the identities of anonymous profile visitors. The exception is when a viewer is directly connected, interacts after viewing, or has a premium account with viewing insights.
Does LinkedIn notify someone when you view their profile?
LinkedIn will not notify members when someone views their profile. The exception is when a 1st degree connection views your profile – in this case, you will be notified of their visit.
Can you see who viewed your LinkedIn profile?
Regular members can see when their 1st degree connections viewed their profile. To see more insights, Job Seeker and Premium Career accounts provide visibility into anonymous profile views.
Is LinkedIn profile viewing truly anonymous?
For the most part, yes. But LinkedIn does reveal some anonymous viewer info like industry, location, and company size. Job seekers and recruiters can also identify anonymous viewers with premium accounts.
Can someone tell if you view their LinkedIn everyday?
No. Frequently viewing the same profile will not trigger multiple notifications or be identifiable as repeat views. The activity simply shows once as a single anonymous viewer.
Is LinkedIn profile stalking allowed?
Technically yes, due to the site’s public, professional nature. But repeatedly viewing someone’s profile who does not know you can come across as inappropriate. Focus instead on making authentic connections.
Can LinkedIn admins see my profile views?
LinkedIn employees and admins can see usage data, but do not actively monitor individuals’ viewing patterns. The access is to improve products and analytics.
Key Takeaways
- LinkedIn profile viewing is anonymous by default, unless connections are directly linked.
- Premium account holders can identify anonymous profile visitors.
- Interacting with a profile reveals your identity as the viewer.
- Focus on making meaningful connections, not anonymous views.
- Job seekers get the most profile view insights with Premium accounts.