Can you anonymously look someone up on LinkedIn?

Answered by Frank Schwing

You can anonymously look someone up on LinkedIn by using the private mode feature. When you view a profile in private mode, the person whose profile you are viewing will see that a LinkedIn Member is viewing their profile, but they won’t have any specific information about you. Instead, they will see a generic message stating “This person is viewing profiles in private mode.” This allows you to maintain your anonymity while still being able to browse profiles on LinkedIn.

Using private mode can be helpful in situations where you may not want others to know that you are researching their profile. It can be especially useful if you are conducting market research, competitor analysis, or simply exploring potential job candidates or business prospects.

By default, LinkedIn profiles are set to public, meaning that when you view someone’s profile, they can see your name and some information about you. However, by switching to private mode, you can browse profiles without revealing your identity. This can be particularly useful if you are in a sensitive industry or want to maintain a level of confidentiality.

It is important to note that while private mode allows you to browse anonymously, it does not provide complete invisibility. LinkedIn can still track your activities and usage patterns, even in private mode. Additionally, if you interact with someone’s profile (e.g., sending a connection request or liking a post), they may still receive notifications and be able to see your activity.

To enable private mode on LinkedIn, follow these steps:

1. Log in to your LinkedIn account.
2. Click on your profile picture in the top right corner of the LinkedIn homepage.
3. Select “Settings & Privacy” from the dropdown menu.
4. In the Privacy tab, under “How others see your LinkedIn activity,” click on “Change” next to “Profile viewing options.”
5. Choose the option for private mode, which is typically labeled as “Private mode” or “Anonymous LinkedIn Member.”
6. Click “Save” to apply the changes.

Once you have enabled private mode, you can start browsing profiles anonymously. Remember to review your privacy settings periodically to ensure they align with your preferences.

Yes, you can look someone up on LinkedIn anonymously by using private mode. This feature allows you to view profiles without revealing your identity, and the person whose profile you are viewing will only see a generic message indicating that a LinkedIn Member is viewing their profile. However, it’s important to keep in mind that private mode does not provide complete invisibility, as LinkedIn can still track your activities and certain interactions may reveal your identity.