How post after post, LinkedIn fuels feelings of inadequacy and self-doubt in me

Let me clarify that I have no issue with people choosing to pursue opportunities abroad and build their lives there. However, there seems to be a need for some individuals to excessively boast about their achievements. On social media, particularly on LinkedIn, I come across countless posts every day where people proudly showcase their admission to Ivy League colleges, selection in top banks, or landing jobs in Silicon Valley companies. It creates an impression that they are the “chosen ones” with a deep sense of accomplishment and pride. It’s as if they are telling recruiters, “I got hired because I attended Stanford or Harvard.”

In my opinion, LinkedIn is the worst offender among social media platforms in this regard. There is a great deal of toxicity on the platform, with many individuals using it solely for self-promotion. The more I use LinkedIn, the more I find myself engaging in self-comparison, which is my main issue with the platform. As a human, it’s natural to think that pursuing specialised courses or obtaining advanced degrees could potentially benefit our professional lives. However, spending too much time on social platforms can lead to the false belief that others are thriving both personally and professionally, while we are lagging behind.

There is a great deal of toxicity on Linkedin, with many individuals using it solely for self-promotion. (Representational image via Canva)

I am not against networking and building connections, but LinkedIn tends to place excessive emphasis on professional hierarchy, connections, and educational background as the sole measures of success. I have witnessed people accepting what is projected on LinkedIn solely based on someone’s profile. Recently, I came across a post where someone shared a long note along with a picture of welcome goodies they received as a new hire in a bank. It has become a trend to flaunt joining kits and tag managers and recruiters on LinkedIn. I don’t know who started this, but there seems to be a great deal of interest in what Google’s onboarding kits look like on YouTube.

As someone in my thirties, I have no regrets about the career path I have chosen. However, I do worry about the impact of the misleading narratives people create about themselves and their companies on social media, particularly for those in their mid-twenties and early thirties. Imagine how they feel when they come across news articles about an IIT graduate securing a Rs 1 crore salary package or a former colleague landing a job at a bank in Singapore. Such instances not only fuel self-doubt and insecurity but can also take a toll on their mental health.

Not being employed by Google or attending an IIT does not signify the end of a successful professional career. However, social media, along with societal pressures, often makes individuals feel rejected and incomplete. No one tells you upfront about the realities within big tech companies or whether a Rs 2 crore salary is sufficient to thrive in San Francisco. Nonetheless, LinkedIn glorifies the competitive nature of the job market and highlights what you currently lack.

On LinkedIn, I have come across numerous individuals, especially in their twenties, who strive to present themselves as the cleverest and highest achievers. They appear desperate to share their career victories, the prestigious colleges they attended, and how they secured positions in top financial institutions or big tech companies despite facing humble backgrounds and personal struggles. While LinkedIn is a valuable platform for making professional connections, I can’t help but feel that it also encourages a culture of being the best and exaggerating professional achievements.

It’s important to recognise that a social science graduate will never earn the same salary and benefits as a computer science engineer working at a tech company. However, no one openly discusses this reality with recent college graduates, not their professors or social media. There is little discourse about how big tech companies have contributed to income inequality, both in the US and India. Consequently, individuals with non-tech backgrounds often feel economically insecure, yet this topic is rarely addressed on LinkedIn or any other social platform. The majority of discussions on LinkedIn are led by individuals in positions of power, such as those from McKinsey and Google. This often makes it difficult to relate to a professional social platform like LinkedIn since you are surrounded by connections whose posts are carefully curated as part of a marketing strategy. I rarely come across discussions about the mental stress people experience in their jobs on LinkedIn. Everyone seems to be painting a “nice” picture of corporate culture, creating the illusion that your career’s foundation is solely based on professional growth.

In reality, social media discourages authenticity and being true to oneself. Moreover, there is a fair amount of judgment from colleagues, bosses, and connections if you dare to speak your mind. The truth is, no one applauds you for highlighting weaknesses and flaws in the system, and the moment you become vulnerable, you are likely to be socially attacked and trolled for having a victim mentality.