Ignoring LinkedIn messages can be seen as rude by some people, while others may not take offense. There are a few factors to consider when determining if ignoring a LinkedIn message is impolite.
It depends on who the message is from
If the LinkedIn message is from someone you have an existing relationship with, like a colleague, client, or former coworker, ignoring their message could come across as rude. These are people you likely want to maintain a professional relationship with, so not responding to their messages may damage that relationship.
On the other hand, if the message is from a recruiter you don’t know, someone trying to sell you something, or another LinkedIn connection you have little to no history with, ignoring their message is less likely to be seen as impolite. You don’t have an obligation to respond to strangers or people you hardly know on LinkedIn.
It depends on the type of message
If the LinkedIn message is a thoughtful, personalized request or inquiry, ignoring it could be rude. For example, if a former colleague sends you a message congratulating you on a work anniversary or promotion, it would be polite to respond thanking them.
However, if the message is a generic invitation to connect or a copied and pasted sales pitch, ignoring these types of impersonal messages is generally not considered impolite. You are under no obligation to respond to mass messages sent to many people.
It depends how long you take to respond
Replying to a LinkedIn message weeks or months later can come across as rude, unless you include an apology and explanation for the delayed response. Even if you don’t know the sender well, promptly acknowledging the message, even if just to say you’ll reply properly later, shows professional courtesy.
That said, it’s understandable that with a busy schedule, you may not be able to respond to some LinkedIn messages right away. Taking up to a week to reply is often acceptable. But leaving someone hanging for weeks or longer without a reply can be seen as rude.
It depends on your reply (or lack thereof)
Not only is the timing of your response important, but also the content. Replying with a curt “No thank you” or one-word answer can come across as rude, even if you reply promptly. The sender took the time to reach out, so taking a moment to politely decline requests or write a thoughtful response shows respect.
That said, even a brief reply acknowledging the message is better than ignoring it altogether in most cases. A simple “Thanks for reaching out, but I’m not interested at this time,” is better than no response.
Reasons people may ignore LinkedIn messages
There are a few common reasons people may ignore LinkedIn messages, though these reasons don’t necessarily make it polite to do so:
- They receive too many messages to respond to all of them
- The message seems spammy or suspicious
- They don’t feel comfortable responding or declining the request
- They intend to respond later when they have more time
- They simply forget to respond
How to politely ignore a LinkedIn message
In cases where you don’t want to or can’t respond to a LinkedIn message, there are some polite ways to ignore the message without being rude:
- Quickly send a short response saying you’ll get back to them when you have a chance, even if you have no intention to do so. This shows you received the message.
- Use LinkedIn settings to automatically send connection requests to your “LinkedIn Relationship Manager” folder, which keeps them visible only to you. The sender will not know you ignored their request.
- Turn on email notifications for new LinkedIn messages so even if you don’t respond, you’ll know the message didn’t get lost or go to spam.
- If necessary, use LinkedIn settings to hide notifications and remove messages from particular senders.
When it’s OK to ignore LinkedIn messages
Here are a few common scenarios when ignoring a LinkedIn message may be acceptable and not necessarily rude:
- The message is from a stranger requesting you connect without any context or introduction.
- It’s an obvious mass message or sales pitch sent without personalization.
- You don’t have the bandwidth or mental energy to respond at the moment.
- Responding would require emotional labor you aren’t able to expend.
- The message is suspicious or strange and makes you uncomfortable.
- The sender is someone toxic or abusive you want no contact with.
Best practices for responding to LinkedIn messages
To avoid appearing rude when ignoring LinkedIn messages, it’s best to reply promptly when possible and practice good messaging etiquette overall. Some tips include:
- Personalize your responses and use a warm, friendly tone.
- Be direct but polite when declining requests or pitches.
- Reply within 1-2 weeks, even if just a short response saying you’ll follow up.
- Let the sender know if you need more time to thoughtfully reply to their message.
- Send connection requests to your relationship manager folder to privately review later.
- Disable notifications from persistent senders who message too frequently.
The risks of ignoring LinkedIn messages
While ignoring the occasional message may be fine, consistently ignoring LinkedIn messages can have relationship and career consequences to consider:
- You may come across as aloof, thoughtless, or unresponsive.
- Valuable professional connections and opportunities may be lost.
- Your reputation within your industry as someone difficult to reach could be damaged.
- People may be less likely to send you messages or help you in the future.
- You may miss out on exciting job leads or career growth prospects.
Summary
Whether ignoring LinkedIn messages is considered rude or acceptable depends on the situation – who the sender is, the message type and tone, and your reason for not responding. While overlooking the occasional message is fine, consistently ignoring messages could hurt your professional relationships and reputation.
Being thoughtful and prompt when possible shows respect. But it’s also okay to set boundaries and ignore truly spammy outreach. With some etiquette and selective responding, you can maintain your LinkedIn relationships without feeling overwhelmed.