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Rife with fake job postings, depressing layoff announcements and AI-generated biz-spirational posts written by your former boss, browsing through LinkedIn in 2026 can be a real bummer.
But an increasing number of professional doomscrollers are using the app for a different kind of “networking.”
In a survey of 1,000 U.S. worker bees from resume-building site Zety, 1 in 8 respondents said that hanging around on the career site had led them into romantic relationships.
A full 25% of respondents agreed that the app as a way to date is “fair game” — though 65% said they believed using LinkedIn as a way to meet people could wind up harming their reputation.
The app is also seen as a helpful vetting tool for daters — 1 in 5 respondents admitted to using LinkedIn to research a potential paramour.
“For a significant minority, using LinkedIn as a dating app has become more effective than Tinder because it replaces superficial swipes with a foundation of shared interests, career goals, and mutual connections,” study authors stated.
How to stand out to suitors, if you’re looking to use the site to nab your next date?
The survey said the most attractive profiles will have a photo, a filled-out bio and career history, and — best of all — some solid, mutual connections.
“The modern workforce doesn’t separate professional and personal identity as neatly as it once did,” Jasmine Escalera, a career expert with Zety, explained to SFGATE.
“LinkedIn profiles now communicate far more than someone’s job title. They offer insight into personality, values, and credibility, which helps explain why some people are looking beyond networking and viewing the platform through a more personal lens,” the pro stated.
According to Escalera, men were twice as likely as women to find it appropriate to use LinkedIn for dating.
People were split on how they would actually react to being flirted with on the app. 34% said they would feel uncomfortable, while 31% said would feel neutral, and that it depends on the situation.
19% would report or block the user — while 16% said they would feel flattered.
There’s also a generational divide when it comes to dating through LinkedIn.
Millennials and Gen Z were more likely than Gen X and Boomers to use LinkedIn to vet a partner.
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