LinkedIn is one of the most popular professional social networking platforms, with over 810 million members worldwide as of 2021. On LinkedIn, users create profiles to network, connect with other professionals, find jobs, share content, and more. An important feature on LinkedIn is messaging – members can send direct messages to connect with other members.
Does everyone see messages you send on LinkedIn?
The short answer is no – messages sent between members on LinkedIn are private and confidential. When you send a message to another member, it goes into their private inbox that only they can access. Other LinkedIn members cannot see the messages you send unless you or the recipient specifically shares them.
LinkedIn messaging works similarly to email. When you send a message, it goes directly to the recipient’s inbox. Only you and the person you messaged can see the conversation. LinkedIn messages are not posted publicly on profiles or in the LinkedIn feed for all to see.
LinkedIn messaging privacy settings
LinkedIn has privacy settings to control messaging. Members can adjust settings to manage who can message them. There are three main options:
- Open to anyone on LinkedIn – anyone can send you messages
- Connections only – only your 1st-degree connections can message you
- Invitations only – only people you’ve invited to connect can message, not existing connections
The default setting is “Connections only.” This limits messages to people in your professional network. You can tighten or relax this setting under Messaging preferences in your account settings. But even on the most open setting, messages are still private between the sender and recipient.
When are LinkedIn messages visible to others?
In a few cases, parts of a LinkedIn message may be visible elsewhere:
- Recipient’s inbox preview – Your 1st name, headline, and message preview may appear if you message someone new. They see a snippet before accepting the connection request.
- Search engines – Parts of messages may be indexed by search engines if the recipient specifically shares them outside of LinkedIn.
- Legal requests – LinkedIn may have to provide messaging records in response to legal requests from law enforcement agencies or during litigation.
But in general, the contents of LinkedIn messages are not public. Messages live privately in the inbox until the recipient deletes them. Neither party can access the conversation after one person removes it.
LinkedIn messaging tips
To keep LinkedIn messaging professional:
- Only message people you know or want to network with
- Use a friendly but professional tone
- Keep messages concise and relevant
- Respect if someone does not respond
- Avoid sharing confidential information
Messages are completely private between the two parties, so you can feel comfortable messaging new connections to grow your network.
Other types of LinkedIn posts
While direct messages are private, other content shared on LinkedIn can be visible to a wider audience. Posts on your profile, interactions under posts, and activity in LinkedIn Groups may be seen by others, depending on your settings. Types of public or semi-public LinkedIn content include:
- Profile updates – Posts on your LinkedIn profile are visible to your connections by default.
- Commenting – Comments you leave on other posts can be seen by anyone who can see the original post.
- Sharing articles – Articles you share via your profile or the LinkedIn feed are generally public.
- Joining groups – Your membership in some LinkedIn Groups may be listed on your profile.
- Endorsing skills – Endorsements you give for someone’s skills are shown on their profile.
These types of engagement are designed to be social, professional exchanges visible to your networks and communities. But direct messages remain private conversations.
Is it OK to message LinkedIn connections?
Generally, it’s fine to send direct messages to your LinkedIn connections. That’s one of the main benefits of building a network! It lets you privately communicate and collaborate with other professionals in your industry.
Many people include an option on their profile inviting viewers to “Send me a message.” If someone has this tagline, they are openly inviting messages. But even without this prompt, networking messages are acceptable as long as:
- You have an existing 1st-degree connection.
- Your message has a professional purpose (not spam or selling).
- You respect the recipient’s time and response preferences.
For example, reasonable messages to connections include:
- Following up after meeting someone
- Asking for career advice
- Proposing collaborating
- Catching up
- Exploring job opportunities
- Connecting them to someone
The key is keeping the focus on networking and professional development, not one-sided outreach. Send purposeful messages to build relationships, not random contacts. And avoid mass messaging – make each exchange personal.
How to send messages on LinkedIn:
On LinkedIn.com or the mobile app:
- Go to the profile of a 1st-degree connection
- Click “Message” next to the “Connect” button
- Type your message in the text box
- Click the airplane icon to send
On the mobile app, you can also start messages from:
- The messaging inbox
- Your connections list
- Group conversations
- Shared content like posts/articles
Premium subscribers can also send messages to anyone with an open profile, even if you’re not connected. But focusing on established connections tends to get better results.
Conclusion
LinkedIn messaging allows private, one-on-one communication with connections. Messages are not visible to others unless shared outside the platform. While posting content and commenting are public forms of engaging, direct messaging remains private. Feel free to connect with your network via LinkedIn messages in a professional manner.
Messaging works much like email. The contents are only visible to the recipient in their inbox. Under most settings, you can only message people in your 1st-degree connection network. Note that some snippets like your name and headline may be visible to recipients before they accept your connection request. But the full contents remain private between you and the person you message. Handle LinkedIn messaging professionally, and it can be a great way to build beneficial relationships.
LinkedIn is designed for professional networking and development. Messaging connections is perfectly acceptable to build relationships and have meaningful exchanges. But always maintain a cordial, professional tone. Avoid spamming or mass messages. Personalize each exchange, focused on a specific purpose. With good messaging etiquette, you can connect with your network to exchange ideas, advice, opportunities, and more.
In summary, the contents of LinkedIn messages are not visible to others and remain private between the sender and recipient. The messaging system works similarly to email. Some partial message details like your name may be visible as a preview to new recipients. But the full message contents are not public or posted on your profile. Keep messages professional, and messaging can be a valuable way to nurture your LinkedIn network.
LinkedIn messaging allows private communication between connections for networking and professional development. Take advantage of messaging respectfully to build beneficial relationships with others in your industry. With proper etiquette, messaging is a great tool for one-on-one exchanges out of the public eye.
LinkedIn messaging is not public. It allows confidential communication between connections. Don’t hesitate to send professional messages to grow your network. Messaging is a key benefit of LinkedIn – just keep exchanges purposeful and cordial. With some common sense, messaging connections can help you advance your career and expand your circle.
In summary:
- LinkedIn messages are private between the sender and recipient
- Messages do not appear in the LinkedIn feed or on profiles
- Only 1st-degree connections can message each other by default
- Partial previews may show your name/headline to new recipients
- Messages function similar to email in a closed 1-on-1 conversation
- Keep messaging professional – no spam or mass contacts
- Focus messages on networking, career advice, opportunities, and other professional purposes
With the right approach, LinkedIn messaging can be very beneficial for connecting with your network. Take advantage of this private communication channel strategically.
