Ripping you off Stage 3
LinkedIn’s network effect is the product: you stay because employers and peers are there. In 2025 it began training AI on member data and sharing more with Microsoft for ads. Stage 3.
- Since
- 2003
- Category
- Social
- VC-backed
- Yes
- Public
- Since 2011 (NYSE: LNKD)
- Acquired by
- Microsoft (2016)
- Website
- linkedin.com
The promise
Its first promise, and how much is kept · Scoring
80% kept
“With LinkedIn, you find the people, jobs and services you need through the people you know and trust”
Why it’s rated 3
The criteria it meets, with sources · Method
- Alignment 0 of 3
- None
- Lock-in 1 of 4
-
- L1 Network or reputation
- Extraction 1 of 7
-
- E5 Data grab Sep 18, 2025
- Decline 0 of 3
- None
Result Two or more extraction criteria, or lock-in plus at least one, so stage 3.
News signals
Sourced reporting, tagged by strategy
Sep 18, 2025
LinkedIn to train AI on member data and share more with Microsoft for ads
Data enclosureAd expansion
Oct 16, 2023
LinkedIn lays off engineering staff as hiring slows
Investor pressure
Jun 13, 2016
Microsoft to acquire LinkedIn for $26.2 billion
Market consolidation