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Possibly one of the most annoying aspects of LinkedIn is the slimy way it tries to connect you to other people through spam. I recently received an email from

Possibly one of the most annoying aspects of LinkedIn is the slimy way it tries to connect you to other people through spam. I recently received an email from LinkedIn saying a friend I know in real life wanted to connect. I talked to him and he said he never made such a request, so it turns out LinkedIn reached out on his behalf. What benefit does this have to anybody?

wlesieutre 8y ago
LinkedIn probably did a "Let us help you connect with people you know!" and you friend said "OK! Here's permission to access my contacts!" At least I think that's how it used to work. Their user interface was vague about exactly what it will send on your behalf, but then they phrase it like "Bob wants to connect with you!" No, Bob just made the mistake of expecting to be presented with a list of people they might want to connect with, rather than silently spamming everyone they've ever emailed with a contact request.
- emodendroket 8y ago
  There's a "people you know" screen and some of them it says "add friend" and some it says "invite" (or something to that effect), and the latter will send them an e-mail asking them to join LinkedIn.
Finnucane 8y ago
The strangest thing for me was when it suggested I link with a guy who'd been a college friend of my father's, who I've not seen in person since my dad's funeral (long before Linkedin existed). How the hell did they do that? It was pretty creepy.
- emodendroket 8y ago
  Pretty sure they cross-reference address books people give them access to.
  - Finnucane 8y ago
    Given that it would be decades-old information, and I haven't given them anything, that would still require some deep background checks.
    - emodendroket 8y ago
      But if some of your mutual friends have then they can infer a connection to you.
avip 8y ago
LI did not “reach out on his behalf”. It’s likely the “people you already know” dark pattern.

wlesieutre 8y ago

LinkedIn probably did a "Let us help you connect with people you know!" and you friend said "OK! Here's permission to access my contacts!" At least I think that's how it used to work. Their user interface was vague about exactly what it will send on your behalf, but then they phrase it like "Bob wants to connect with you!" No, Bob just made the mistake of expecting to be presented with a list of people they might want to connect with, rather than silently spamming everyone they've ever emailed with a contact request.

emodendroket 8y ago
There's a "people you know" screen and some of them it says "add friend" and some it says "invite" (or something to that effect), and the latter will send them an e-mail asking them to join LinkedIn.

Finnucane 8y ago

The strangest thing for me was when it suggested I link with a guy who'd been a college friend of my father's, who I've not seen in person since my dad's funeral (long before Linkedin existed). How the hell did they do that? It was pretty creepy.

emodendroket 8y ago
Pretty sure they cross-reference address books people give them access to.
- Finnucane 8y ago
  Given that it would be decades-old information, and I haven't given them anything, that would still require some deep background checks.
  - emodendroket 8y ago
    But if some of your mutual friends have then they can infer a connection to you.

avip 8y ago

LI did not “reach out on his behalf”. It’s likely the “people you already know” dark pattern.