Computer Support Blog

When one thinks of online social networks, the names that tend to be on the tip of the tongue are Facebook, Twitter, the emerging Google+ and (usually in the past tense) MySpace.  Very few people remember or consider LinkedIn a social network.  While LinkedIn’s slogan is “The World’s Largest Professional Network,” few consider it a social network. Most LinkedIn users utilize the site as a place to learn about potential employees or employers and to have a centralized place for one’s resume on the Internet.  LinkedIn, however, is working hard to change that; it wants to be a social network that users use for all manner of social networking activities.

LinkedIn began prioritizing the social aspect of the site when it radically upgraded its LinkedIn Today site.  LinkedIn Today, as the name suggests, is LinkedIn’s attempt to make the site into a destination beyond simple job hunting (after all, if you are using LinkedIn as an online repository for your resume, there is no need to visit the site each day!).  Last week, LinkedIn Today added “liking” and commenting functions to the news feed on LinkedIn Today.  By adding those basic functions, LinkedIn hopes that users will begin prioritizing using LinkedIn today, as well as form discussions that help users to network better.

The LinkedIn Today network is also customized now to create news feeds relevant to selected categories you use on LinkedIn.  LinkedIn Today now reflects your chosen interests by focusing on the stories that fit your interests, much like the way StumbleUpon finds sites based upon interests you select from a menu.  Your new LinkedIn Today feed will feature trending articles that prioritize your stated interests.  This replaces the relationship that LinkedIn had with Twitter that was terminated by Twitter earlier this year.  That kept LinkedIn Today robust, but now with the feed updated in-house, LinkedIn becomes a stronger social network without reliance upon Twitter.

Foreshadowing more social growth to come, LinkedIn bought patents from Digg, which is in the process of disintegrating.  The prime patent purchased by LinkedIn is one that helped define Digg’s rating system and social interaction mechanism.  The most logical reason for LinkedIn to purchase that patent is to increase its own social networking and rating tools.

For those who might not have looked at LinkedIn as a social network, there has never been a better time to log in and become familiar with LinkedIn Today!

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RESCUECOM provides computer repair and computer support, 24/7: Meeting every tech support need including data recovery, virus removal, networking, wireless services, and computer support for all brands of hardware and software. For computer support or information on products, services, or computer repair, visit https://www.rescuecom.com or call 1-800-RESCUE-PC.

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