LinkedIn Learning is an online learning platform that allows users to access thousands of courses taught by industry experts. Many professionals use LinkedIn Learning to gain new skills, advance their careers, or keep their knowledge current. However, some users have concerns about privacy when using the platform.
What data does LinkedIn Learning collect?
Like most online platforms, LinkedIn Learning does collect certain user data. This includes:
- Contact information provided during sign-up, such as your name, email address, and company.
- Course viewing history, including which courses you’ve watched, how long you engaged with the content, etc.
- Learning progress, such as course completion rates.
- Interaction data, such as messages with instructors and other learners.
- Technical data, such as IP address, browser type, operating system, etc.
This data allows LinkedIn Learning to provide personalized course recommendations, track your learning, and improve the platform.
Is my learning activity private?
LinkedIn Learning does keep your individual learning activity private by default. This means:
- Your course history is not shared publicly on your LinkedIn profile or with your connections.
- Your course completion progress is not shared with your employer or coworkers (unless you explicitly enable this).
- Your viewing history and activity within courses is not disclosed to anyone else.
So you can rest assured that your individual learning on LinkedIn Learning remains private. Your data is stored securely by LinkedIn.
Are there any exceptions?
There are a couple scenarios where aspects of your learning may be shared with select parties:
- Employer visibility: If your employer provides access to LinkedIn Learning through a company license, they may elect to receive aggregate analytics about employee engagement and course completion rates. However, your individual activity details remain private.
- Public sharing: You can choose to manually add certain courses to your LinkedIn profile or share your course completion certificates publicly. This obviously makes those select courses visible. But your full course history remains private unless you choose to reveal it.
So in summary, your learning is private by default unless you intentionally enable sharing capabilities.
How does LinkedIn Learning protect my data?
LinkedIn uses industry best practices and security measures to protect user data, including:
- Encryption of sensitive data both in transit and at rest.
- Secure access controls and multidfactor authentication.
- Monitoring systems to detect potential breaches.
- Data minimization strategies to only collect necessary user information.
- Undergoing regular external audits and security assessments.
LinkedIn’s privacy teams works diligently to safeguard user data and address potential vulnerabilities.
Does LinkedIn sell or share my data?
LinkedIn’s privacy policy states that they do not sell, rent, or share personal data with third parties for marketing purposes without your consent. Data may be shared with trusted third party service providers who assist in delivering LinkedIn Learning, but only as necessary for the platform’s functioning. These providers must adhere to strict data protection contracts.
Overall, you can have confidence that LinkedIn treats your data with care and does not use it for purposes beyond improving your learning experience.
Can I control the data LinkedIn Learning collects?
Yes, you have some control over the data collected by LinkedIn Learning:
- You can access your personal data and make updates through your account settings.
- You can request deletion of your account and associated data.
- You can limit ad personalization and data usage for marketing purposes in your account settings and LinkedIn ad preferences.
- You can use the platform privately through an incognito browser if you do not want browsing data collected.
While LinkedIn Learning does need to collect certain usage data to function, they aim to provide transparency and some degree of user control over data practices.
Conclusion
In summary:
- LinkedIn Learning collects user data like any online platform, but takes measures to keep individual learning activity and history private.
- Your individual course progress and viewing history is not shared publicly without your consent.
- LinkedIn leverages security best practices to protect user data from unauthorized access or breaches.
- You have some ability to control the data LinkedIn Learning collects through your account settings and browsing practices.
So while no online platform can guarantee complete privacy, LinkedIn Learning takes reasonable steps to keep your learning activity and data secure. You can use the platform to build skills without your individual history being shared beyond LinkedIn and its trusted partners. Just take care when publicly sharing certificates or adding courses to your profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can my boss see everything I do on LinkedIn Learning?
No, your individual learning activity and course history on LinkedIn Learning is private by default. Employers who provide LinkedIn Learning access may receive high-level engagement analytics, but cannot see details on individual learners. You have to intentionally enable visibility for specific courses if you want your boss to see your learning progress.
Is LinkedIn Learning safe to access on a shared or public computer?
LinkedIn Learning utilizes standard security measures like encryption and HTTPS to keep data safe. However, for maximum privacy, avoid accessing sensitive accounts on shared machines. Either use a private computer or browse in incognito/private mode to prevent caching data locally.
Are my course certificates public?
Certificates you earn are only visible to you by default. You can selectively choose to showcase certain certificates publicly on your LinkedIn profile if desired. But otherwise certificates remain private.
Can LinkedIn see all my course history?
Yes, LinkedIn can view your full course history since they own LinkedIn Learning. But this data is not shared externally without your consent. LinkedIn may analyze it in aggregate for internal analytics and improvements.
Is it safe to access LinkedIn Learning on public Wi-Fi?
Public Wi-Fi can be risky for sensitive browsing. While LinkedIn Learning uses encryption, some connection data like your IP address could be intercepted. For full security, either use private Wi-Fi or a VPN when accessing your account in public spaces.
| Course | Length | Category |
|---|---|---|
| Excel Essential Training | 6 hours | Software |
| Project Management Foundations | 3 hours | Business |
| JavaScript Essential Training | 9 hours | Programming |
| Business Writing Principles | 2 hours | Writing |
| Logo Design Tips and Tricks | 1.5 hours | Design |
| SQL Essential Training | 5 hours | Data |
This table displays a sample of popular courses on LinkedIn Learning and key info like length and category. There are thousands of courses covering dozens of skill areas. Course lengths range from quick 1-2 hour primers to comprehensive 10+ hour courses to learn complex topics from scratch. Categories span tech skills like programming and software, creative skills like design and photography, business skills like project management and data analysis, and more. LinkedIn Learning has a vast professional development library – all accessible through private individual accounts.
| Mobile | Desktop |
|---|---|
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This table summarizes the ways to access LinkedIn Learning on various devices. On mobile, LinkedIn Learning offers dedicated apps for iOS and Android with features like offline viewing and notifications. On desktop, you can watch courses directly in your web browser or use the Windows/MacOS desktop apps for added features like speed control and downloads. So LinkedIn Learning is accessible across all major devices and platforms.
How do I download courses for offline viewing?
LinkedIn Learning allows downloads for offline viewing in the mobile apps or desktop browser using these steps:
- Open the course page and look for the download icon, usually below the video player.
- Select the video quality you want to download.
- Confirm the download. This will save the videos to your device storage.
- Once downloaded, you can access the course videos offline via the LinkedIn Learning app or desktop player.
- Remember to connect online periodically to sync progress across devices.
Offline downloads allow you to learn even without an internet connection. Just note that some content like practice files may require online access. Downloaded courses are available for 30 days before needing to be renewed.
Can I speed up the video playback?
Yes, LinkedIn Learning provides playback speed controls to watch courses faster. On desktop, look for the speed selector under the video player. On mobile, tap the video to bring up speed controls. You can watch videos sped up by as much as 2-3x the normal rate. This is handy for experienced learners who want a quick refresher. Just keep in mind that increased speeds can make comprehension harder for complex topics.
How do I control notifications from LinkedIn Learning?
You can manage notifications in LinkedIn Learning account settings:
- On the website, go to your account settings and select Notifications.
- On mobile, go to app settings or your device notification settings.
- Here you can enable/disable different notification types like course assignments, reminders, new content, etc.
- You can also control frequency and delivery method (push, email, etc).
Controlling notifications prevents unwanted distractions while keeping you informed of relevant course updates. Set your preferences so LinkedIn Learning fits your learning style.
Conclusion
In summary, while no online platform offers complete privacy, LinkedIn Learning provides a reasonably private way to advance your skills. Your individual data and course activity is kept secure and not shared publicly without consent. You retain some control over data collection through account settings. And LinkedIn employs security best practices to further protect user information. So don’t let privacy concerns discourage you from investing in your learning journey. LinkedIn Learning provides a vast professional development resource you can use confidently and privately.