In a world where social networks were on the rise, developing new and improved ideas seemed to be the competition. Instead of appealing to the young adult and teenager generation, this website developed by Reid Hoffman would change the way people in the work force connected. How many people, colleagues, have you met and lost touch with throughout your professional career? Mr. Hoffman appealed to this social aspect of the business world. Build an online profile, add connections you’ve made in the work force and as you grow as a professional individual you will be able to quickly, simply and easily connect with these old acquaintances for opportunities and services required. It was to be called “LinkedIn”. This revolutionary site is still used for the same purposes. Although it hasn’t evolved much since it’s origination and development in 2003, it has changed ownership three times so far in its 10 year history and still manages to keep the same mission: connect those in the business world.

            The entire website is business related. It is essentially a “Facebook” for people in the work force, except you most likely find the traumatizing mistakes you made this weekend on your “wall”. You can create a profile for yourself and connect with people you’ve encountered throughout your job experience, ask them for services you need, and even check their connections to see if they know someone they can possibly refer you to. Even if you’re not employed as you originally were when you created your profile, LinkedIn can refer you and your experience to jobs and opportunities that might appeal to your expertise. If you are in the areas of recreation or entertainment, which are broad industries, LinkedIn allows you simply and easily to build a profile to outline yourself. Once you’ve created a network, references and opportunities come hand in hand. A downside to this business website is the group chatting feature provided for marketing features to potential customers, coworkers and employers. This feature, if utilized in the right way, is extremely helpful. Although, like any website, this one isn’t perfected from the internet hackers known to pillage the web. These hackers can send spam mail to your associates, angering them in some cases, annoying others and possibly even removing their connection with you. After all, who would like to receive spam from a potential partnership?  These things create an unprofessional image for your company, one which is dreaded in the work force.  This is a risk we must take by broadcasting and connecting on the World Wide Web. You receive an easy way to market your business, company or even yourself, but sometimes lose your professional aspects.

LinkedIn can be considered a website to socialize as well. Although your connections are made to keep for business purposes, the chats you can create can be used to associate with these connections on a personal level. There are many uses for products and services even if they were not originally developed for that purpose. The downside to this, is that it could make LinkedIn lose its professional purpose. LinkedIn was developed as a social network to keep people in business connected, not for chatting with your close connections.

Over time, LinkedIn has incorporated news into its many available and useful functions. With an available tab on the website called “News”, it links you to all articles which could affect you, your company, investments or partners. The downside to this is that all applicable articles may not always be provided for you. Technology is convenient, but may not always be the most reliable source of your information.

Technology and social networks are taking over our society, and LinkedIn has offered a service inspired by these revolutionary trends.