LinkedIn is a professional networking platform that allows you to connect with other professionals in your industry. When you connect with someone on LinkedIn, you gain access to their network of connections. However, LinkedIn has privacy settings that prevent you from seeing all of a person’s connections unless they choose to make them public.
Can I see all of someone’s LinkedIn connections?
No, you cannot see all of a person’s LinkedIn connections unless they choose to make their connections public. LinkedIn gives users control over the visibility of their network. By default, your connections are visible only to you and your direct connections.
Default LinkedIn connection settings
Here are the default settings for LinkedIn connections:
- Your connections are visible to you
- Your connections are visible to your direct connections (2nd degree connections)
- Your connections are not visible to the general public
So with the default settings, you can only see up to your 2nd degree connections on LinkedIn. You won’t be able see all connections in someone’s network unless they choose to make them public.
When are someone’s LinkedIn connections public?
There are a few scenarios where you can see all of someone’s LinkedIn connections:
They have a premium account
LinkedIn Premium accounts have the option to display all their connections publicly. So if someone has a premium account and has chosen to make their connections public, you will be able to see all of them.
You share a Group or School
If you and another LinkedIn member are both members of the same LinkedIn Group or attended the same school, you will be able to see all connections you have in common.
They have a very small network
If someone has a very small network with less than 100 connections, LinkedIn will sometimes default to making all of their connections public.
How to tell if someone’s LinkedIn connections are public
Here are some signs that indicate someone’s LinkedIn connections are viewable publicly:
- Their profile shows the total number of connections they have
- You can scroll through their connections without being stopped
- You see the “Connections” tab on their profile
Whereas if their connections are private, you’ll see a message like “Only visible to shared connections” when viewing connections.
Ethical considerations of viewing public profiles
If you come across a public profile that exposes someone’s full list of LinkedIn connections, it’s important to consider the ethics of viewing or using that information. Here are some things to keep in mind:
- Respect their privacy – don’t exploit public information for purposes like targeted sales outreach.
- Consider their intentions – did they intend to make the information public?
- Use information responsibly – be careful not to make assumptions or judgements about relationships.
- View your own public profile – think about what information you are sharing publicly.
In summary, just because a profile is public doesn’t mean that person wants their information viewed or used without thought. Be respectful and mindful of how you use public connection data.
Alternative ways to expand your LinkedIn network
Since you can’t always view someone’s full list of LinkedIn connections, here are some alternative ways to expand your own network on LinkedIn:
Send targeted connection requests
Identify people you have something in common with or would be beneficial to connect with. Send them a customized connection request explaining who you are and why you want to connect.
Join LinkedIn Groups
Join Groups related to your industry or interests. You can connect with other engaged Group members.
Follow companies
Follow companies you are interested in, and connect with their employees.
Use search filters
Use LinkedIn’s advanced search filters to find connections based on location, employer, job title, skills, and more.
Export connections
You can export a list of your LinkedIn connections and their contact information to build your own database.
Next steps for increasing your visibility
To continue growing your LinkedIn network and increasing your own visibility, here are some next steps:
- Update your profile with keywords and skills that reflect your expertise.
- Get endorsements and recommendations from your connections.
- Share relevant updates, articles, and content with your network.
- Engage with other people’s content by liking, commenting, and sharing.
- Consider upgrading to a paid Premium account for more visibility.
Conclusion
In summary, the default LinkedIn settings prevent you from seeing all of someone’s connections. The only way to see all of their connections is if they have a premium account with connections set to public, you share Groups/Schools, or they have a very small network. Rather than trying to browse through someone else’s connections, focus on building meaningful relationships with new connections and creating engaging content to boost your own visibility and expand your network.