New York Times · Isabella Kwai ·

How LinkedIn is transforming into a "post-cringe" social network as it courts high-profile influencers, who are building audiences on corporate-friendly topics

Celebrities and paid influencers have transformed the career-focused platform, which for some users, has become a job unto itself.

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How LinkedIn is transforming into a "post-cringe" social network as it courts high-profile influencers, who are building audiences on corporate-friendly topics

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LinkedIn Goes 'Post-Cringe' With Celebrity Influencer Push

LinkedIn is courting high-profile influencers to reshape its image into a 'post-cringe' social network.

LinkedIn is actively reinventing itself. The career-focused platform is courting celebrities and high-profile influencers, transforming into what's being described as a "post-cringe" social network.

The strategy centers on paid influencers building audiences around corporate-friendly topics. It's working — big names are flocking to the platform, bringing their followings with them.

The shift is so dramatic that for some users, posting on LinkedIn has essentially become a job in itself. The platform that once served primarily as a digital resume repository is now a full-blown content machine.

The move signals LinkedIn's ambition to compete more broadly in the social media landscape while keeping its professional DNA intact. Whether the "post-cringe" era sticks depends on how well the platform balances influencer content with the career networking that made it relevant in the first place.