LinkedIn is a popular professional networking platform used by millions of people around the world. With so many users, there are bound to be some contacts you would rather avoid on the site. Luckily, LinkedIn allows you to block other members if you no longer wish to connect with them.
Blocking someone on LinkedIn prevents them from viewing your profile or sending you messages. It can be useful for cutting ties with old coworkers, recruiters you don’t want to hear from, or anyone else you wish to avoid. However, blocking does not completely erase your presence from that person’s LinkedIn experience.
What the blocked user can see
When you block someone on LinkedIn, that user will no longer be able to:
- View your profile
- Send you connection requests
- Send you messages
- Comment on your posts
- See your comments on mutual connections’ posts
- Endorse you for skills
Essentially, blocking removes your entire existence from their LinkedIn world. You become an anonymous, faceless user to them.
Profile views
However, there is one exception – profile views. If a user views your profile and then gets blocked by you later, they will still be able to see that they previously viewed your profile. The profile view will show up in their “Who’s Viewed Your Profile” section.
So in summary:
- Yes, a blocked user can see that they previously viewed your profile
- They cannot see when exactly they viewed your profile
- They cannot see any updates to your profile since being blocked
Why blocked users can still see profile views
There are a couple reasons why LinkedIn still allows blocked users to see they previously viewed your profile:
1. Search history retention
LinkedIn holds on to users’ search and browsing history for their own analytics. So even if you block someone, LinkedIn will still have a record of that user viewing your profile in their system. It is simply not deleted.
2. User experience
Without this view history, the experience may be confusing or concerning for the blocked user. Imagine you viewed someone’s profile earlier in the day and then found yourself blocked by them that afternoon. If the profile view was erased, it may seem like you are blocked out of nowhere with no prior interaction.
By allowing blocked users to see the view, it preserves context around the blocking. The user still understands they engaged with your profile previously.
How to tell if you’re blocked
If you are ever unsure if someone has blocked you on LinkedIn, there are a few ways to check:
- Search for their profile – if blocked, it will say “Profile unavailable”
- Visit their profile URL directly – if blocked, it will say “Page not found”
- Check your messages – you cannot message a user who has blocked you
You will not get any kind of notification that you are blocked. The profile will simply seem to vanish. However, you can still see the profile view activity if you interacted with that profile previously.
Who can see your profile views?
While we’re on the topic of profile views, it’s important to understand who else can see that you’ve been looking at their LinkedIn profile:
- 1st degree connections – They will see you in “Who’s Viewed Your Profile”
- 2nd degree connections – They will NOT see you
- 3rd degree connections and beyond – They will NOT see you
- Non-connections – They will NOT see you
So in summary, the only people who can see your LinkedIn profile views are direct connections. No one else will realize you’ve been looking at their profile.
How to block someone on LinkedIn
If you do decide you want to block another LinkedIn user, here is how to do it:
- Go to their profile page
- Click the “More” icon (3 dots) in the top right
- Select “Block or report”
- Choose “Block” to confirm
And that’s it! They will immediately be blocked from interacting with you or your profile in any way.
Unblocking a user
If you change your mind later on, you can reverse the block just as easily:
- Go to your settings
- Select “Blocked accounts”
- Find the user and click “Unblock”
They will then be able to view your profile and send connection requests again if you choose to unblock them.
Conclusion
Blocking other users is a helpful tool on LinkedIn for controlling unwanted communication and contact. While a blocked user cannot see your profile anymore, they will still be able to see that they previously viewed your profile.
LinkedIn retains search and view history for all users, so this view activity remains visible. However, blocked users cannot see any new profile changes or updates after being blocked.
Overall, the blocking feature allows you to take control of your LinkedIn connections and focus on the people who matter most in your professional network.