Understanding LinkedIn Behavior: Are Users Acting Like NPCs?

2 responses to “Why do LinkedIn users behave like NPCs? Help me understand.”

1. It sounds like you’ve encountered a common phenomenon observed on LinkedIn and many other social media platforms. Let’s break down why LinkedIn interactions sometimes feel like they’re coming from NPCs (Non-Playable Characters) and why this behavior happens:

   Understanding the Behavior

   1. Engagement for Visibility:

      • Algorithm Favorability: LinkedIn, like other social media platforms, uses algorithms to determine what content appears in users’ feeds. Engaging with posts through likes, shares, and comments helps increase a post’s reach. The more engagement a post gets, the more visibility it receives, potentially reaching a broader audience. This is why you often see generic, positive comments—users are trying to boost each other’s posts algorithmically.

   2. Personal Branding:

      • Maintaining Presence: Many users, especially those who brand themselves as “experts” or “influencers,” rely on constant visibility to reinforce their personal brand. Frequent posting and interaction keep them in the public eye, reminding their network of their presence and expertise.

   3. Network Building:

      • Mutual Support: Commenting on someone’s post can be a form of networking and building goodwill. By regularly engaging with each other’s posts, users build reciprocal relationships, which can lead to professional opportunities.

   4. Perception of Credibility:

      • Social Proof: Seeing a post with numerous likes and positive comments can create a perception of credibility and authority, even if the content is generic. This can influence newcomers and less experienced users on the platform, perpetuating the cycle.

   Why the Content Feels Generic

   1. Appealing to a Broad Audience:

      • Safe and Relatable: Generic content tends to be relatable to a broader audience, which increases its engagement potential. However, this often results in surface-level insights that don’t delve into niche-specific or in-depth information.

   2. Minimizing Risk:

      • Avoiding Controversy: By sticking to generic content, users avoid alienating parts of their audience or sparking controversy. This can be particularly important in professional environments like LinkedIn.

   Tips for Navigating and Improving Your Feed

   1. Curate Connections:

      • Quality over Quantity: Consider connecting with individuals and thought leaders who provide valuable, insightful content. Unfollow connections who frequently post content you don’t find valuable.

   2. Engage Thoughtfully

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2. This is an intriguing observation, and I believe it highlights a crucial aspect of social media dynamics, particularly on LinkedIn. The reaction you’re seeing could definitely be attributed to a strategic use of engagement, where users prioritize visibility and interaction over the quality of content. This behavior might stem from the platform’s algorithm, which tends to favor posts that receive higher engagement rates.

   However, it raises a deeper question about the value of thought leadership in these spaces. Are we prioritizing quantity over quality? The irony here is that while the interactions may give the illusion of being rich and meaningful, they could ultimately dilute genuine discourse and innovation within our industries.

   Encouragingly, this pattern also presents an opportunity for those of us in the SEO and Digital Marketing realms. We have the chance to break away from the ‘NPC-like’ behavior by sharing more profound insights and fostering authentic conversations. Posting valuable, thought-provoking content and engaging with others in meaningful ways can help set a new standard on the platform. What strategies do you think we can implement to promote higher quality interactions?

   Reply