LinkedIn without lunatics is deeply weird
The article explores how LinkedIn is changing as many eccentric and abrasive users leave the platform, creating a more sanitized but strangely hollow professional environment. It argues that without these controversial figures, the network feels less engaging and more predictable, prompting questions about what makes social platforms feel lively and authentic.
Background
- The post contrasts two very different "professional" social platforms: LinkedIn (mainstream, corporate-polite, increasingly filled with AI-generated engagement-bait and hustle-culture gurus — the "lunatics") and a newer, invite-only alternative that curates for signal rather than reach.
- The "lunatics" refer to the flood of inauthentic, high-volume posters on LinkedIn (think: motivational business quotes, fake vulnerability posts, AI slop) who game the algorithm. The author argues that removing them exposes how hollow the remaining content is.
- The piece reflects a growing backlash against LinkedIn's enshittification — the cycle where a platform degrades its user experience to extract more profit, driving away quality users. It ties into broader discourse about the death of authentic online communities and the rise of niche, gated alternatives.