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The video is a good example of why Linkedin's popularity is completely baffling for me — if a company has intentionally and malignantly mishandled your information in such a way a number of times, why would anyone want to hand over even more information? People you connect to, who you know, etc. It just blows my mind. Luckily I've had no problems with boycotting them, but I guess it might be hard in some industries?

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I see it like this: yes, it's a poor website which comes down to semi-legitimised spam.

However, recruiters already were semi-legitimised spam, and they like LinkedIn because it's easier/more signal vs noise for them. Employees like it enough not to quit if there's a potential new job. Signal vs noise is not much different from dealing with job hunting/recruiters outside of LinkedIn. Network effects take care of the rest.

Because they're "offering" an inelastic good (a potential job). People who need it will be willing to tolerate a lot of bullshit for a chance to get one.

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