If you’ve been on LinkedIn for a while, you may have noticed that some user profiles simply say “LinkedIn member” instead of the person’s name and other details. There are a few reasons why this happens:
1. The User Has a Basic Account
LinkedIn offers a free basic account that allows users to view profiles and join groups, but limits their ability to connect with others or access premium features. Users with basic accounts can create a profile, but their name and photo will not be visible – it will just say “LinkedIn member.” This allows them to preserve some anonymity while still having a presence on the platform.
2. The Profile is Pending Approval
When you first create a LinkedIn account, your profile may be visible to others before you have a chance to complete it. Until the profile is published, the name will display as “LinkedIn member” rather than the user’s name. Once the user finishes setting up their profile, the name and photo will be displayed.
3. The User Has Chosen to Be Anonymous
Some LinkedIn users prefer not to share their full name and identity publicly on their profile. They have the option to display just “LinkedIn member” rather than their name. This allows them to network and make connections without revealing who they are. Recruiters will still be able to see their name once connected.
4. They Don’t Want to Be Found by Name Search
Displaying “LinkedIn member” rather than a name makes it nearly impossible for people to find the user through a name search on LinkedIn or Google. Some users prefer this level of privacy and anonymity for personal or professional reasons.
5. It’s a Fake or Bot Account
Unfortunately, some LinkedIn member profiles are fake accounts or bots rather than real people. These accounts are often easy to spot, because they will not have a photo, current position, or any connections. The name will appear as “LinkedIn member” because the bot creator never bothered to fill out profile details.
6. They Only Use LinkedIn for Job Searching
If someone is using LinkedIn mainly to look for jobs and apply to openings, they may not want their current employer and network to know. Keeping their name anonymous ensures their job search remains private. Once they land a new job, they may update their profile.
7. To Control Who Can View Their Full Profile
Having an anonymous profile allows users to control who can see the full details of their profile and background. Until a connection is made, the profile remains private and unsearchable for most people. This allows managing visibility at a granular level.
8. They Have a Common Name
If someone has a very common name like “John Smith,” displaying that on their profile may lead to mistaken identity issues. Using “LinkedIn member” differentiates them from the thousands of others sharing their name.
9. They Don’t Actively Manage Their LinkedIn Profile
Many people sign up for LinkedIn accounts at some point but don’t really use them much afterwards. If the profile is neglected, it will likely revert back to displaying “LinkedIn member” by default rather than the person’s name and details.
10. To Hide Their Identity from Recruiters
Some employed professionals turn off name display specifically to avoid being contacted by recruiters and headhunters. This allows them to maintain a presence on LinkedIn without receiving pitching calls, emails, and messages.
11. To Maintain a Professional Image
Displaying “LinkedIn member” rather than a personal name gives the profile a more formal and professional appearance. This can be especially useful for customer service reps and others who interact with the public.
12. They Changed Their Name
If a member changes their name due to marriage, divorce, or other reasons, it will revert to “LinkedIn member” until they manually update the name displayed on their profile page.
13. It’s a Group Profile
Some LinkedIn profiles represent companies, organizations, or groups rather than individuals. The name will appear as “LinkedIn member” since it is not an individual’s personal account.
14. They Prefer to Remain Anonymous on Social Media
Some people simply value their privacy and prefer not to use their full real name on any social media platforms, including LinkedIn. “LinkedIn member” allows them to network anonymously.
15. To Hide their Profile from Students, Clients or Patients
Professionals like teachers, counselors, therapists, and others may wish to keep a low profile on LinkedIn to avoid blending their professional and personal social circles and relationships.
16. To Maintain Separate Professional vs. Personal Profiles
Individuals with public careers like politicians, actors, musicians, etc. will sometimes maintain separate official and personal accounts. Their personal profile may say “LinkedIn member” to protect their identity.
17. They Changed Email Addresses
Changing the email associated with your LinkedIn account can sometimes cause the profile to revert to “LinkedIn member” until the name is updated again manually.
18. Because They Have a Restricted Profile Visibility
Members can adjust their settings to restrict profile visibility. This means only direct connections or recruiters may see the full profile, while everyone else just sees “LinkedIn member.”
19. To Limit Profile Views and Impressions
Keeping a low-key anonymous profile means the account will show up less often in searches, views, impressions and other metrics tracked by LinkedIn.
20. To Test out LinkedIn without Using Real Identity
Some new users start off anonymous to experiment with LinkedIn features and see how the platform works before filling out their full profile.
In most cases, when you come across a profile that simply says “LinkedIn member,” it’s because the user desires some level of anonymity and privacy. While some may be fake accounts, it’s generally nothing to be concerned about. With over 750 million members, LinkedIn offers users many choices in how openly they want to engage!
