LinkedIn can be a great platform for networking and making professional connections. However, you may encounter some users whose behavior makes you uncomfortable. If someone is harassing you or you simply want to prevent them from viewing your profile and posts, you can block them on LinkedIn.
Why You Might Want to Block Someone on LinkedIn
Here are some common reasons for blocking another user on LinkedIn:
- They are sending you unwanted, inappropriate messages
- They are repeatedly trying to connect with you after you’ve rejected their connection request
- They are posting unprofessional or rude comments on your posts
- They are a former coworker or boss you had a bad relationship with
- You suspect they may be scraping your data or info for unethical purposes
- You are ending a business relationship and want to limit contact
Blocking someone prevents them from viewing your profile, posts, and network connections. It also prevents them from sending you messages. Blocking is generally permanent on LinkedIn unless you later decide to unblock the user.
How to Block Someone on LinkedIn’s Website
Blocking another member on LinkedIn’s website is easy to do:
- Go to their LinkedIn profile page
- Click the More icon (three dots) next to the Message button
- Select Block or report from the dropdown menu
- Choose Block on the pop-up window
You will no longer be able to view the profile of someone you’ve blocked. And they will be unable to find or contact you on LinkedIn.
Blocking on LinkedIn’s Mobile App
The process for blocking a connection via LinkedIn’s mobile app is very similar:
- Go to their profile page in the app
- Tap the More icon (three dots) in the upper right corner
- Choose Block or Report from the menu
- Select Block on the next screen to confirm
After blocking someone in the mobile app, you won’t be able to view their profile anymore. And they won’t be able to connect with you.
What Happens When You Block Someone
Here’s what happens when you block another user on LinkedIn:
- They are removed from your connections list if connected
- All past messages from them are deleted
- They can no longer view your profile or posts
- They are unable to send you messages
- They do not receive notification that you blocked them
- Your common connections will not be notified either
- You disappear from their connections list if you were connected
Essentially, blocking someone severs the connection between you and that person on LinkedIn. It’s as if you never had any association whatsoever within the platform.
Unblocking a User
If you change your mind later, you can easily unblock a user:
- Go to your Settings & Privacy page
- Select Blocking from the left sidebar
- Locate the user and click Unblock
This will remove all blocking restrictions. The user will be able to view your profile, send messages, and attempt to reconnect if you were previously connected.
Things to Consider Before Blocking
Before blocking someone on LinkedIn, keep the following things in mind:
- Blocking may escalate the situation if they notice and get upset
- You may lose access to someone who has valuable industry connections
- Is there a polite way to resolve the conflict instead?
- For recruiters, will blocking limit your ability to fill job openings?
In some cases, blocking may not be the best solution. You could instead:
- Politely ask them to stop contacting you
- Adjust your settings to ignore messages from them
- Remove them from your connections
- Report any harassment to LinkedIn
Think carefully before blocking someone on LinkedIn. In some scenarios, there may be better ways to deal with the situation.
Protecting Yourself from Blocked Users
To ensure a blocked person can’t contact you from a different account, be sure to:
- Set your profile to private mode
- Be selective when accepting connection requests
- Disable message requests from people not in your network
- Report any harassing messages to LinkedIn
You can also block someone through LinkedIn support if you feel unsafe. Make use of LinkedIn’s security features to prevent further issues.
Relationship Recommendations When Blocking Connections
Here are some tips for mitigating relationship damage when blocking a current connection:
- If appropriate, explain to them why you felt blocking was necessary
- Emphasize that you value your other mutual connections
- Share positive remarks publicly to show no ill will
- Suggest moving the relationship offline if reasonable
- Ask common connections to convey your sincere wishes
With care and diplomacy, you may be able to blockade a connection without causing major fallout. But always prioritize your needs first when deciding on blocking.
Summary
Blocking another user on LinkedIn quickly severs contact between you and that person. You simply visit their profile, select block, and all messaging and viewing abilities will be cut off. Take care when blocking, as doing so may have unwanted consequences in certain situations. But don’t hesitate to block someone if you feel harassed, uncomfortable, or unsafe.
