LinkedIn is a social media platform designed for professional networking and career development. The minimum age to create a LinkedIn profile is 14 years old according to LinkedIn’s User Agreement. However, there are some considerations for 13 year olds who want to use LinkedIn before meeting the official minimum age requirement.
LinkedIn’s Official Minimum Age
According to LinkedIn’s User Agreement, you must be at least 14 years old to create an account and use their services. This is stated in Section 2.1 of their User Agreement:
“You must be at least fourteen years old to create an account on LinkedIn (and at least thirteen years old to sign up for our Services through your school pursuant to our contract with your school).”
So officially, 13 year olds are not allowed to create their own LinkedIn profiles. This minimum age requirement is likely in place for legal reasons and to keep their platform professional.
Should a 13 Year Old Use LinkedIn?
While a 13 year old is not permitted to create their own LinkedIn profile, there are a few scenarios where using LinkedIn could be beneficial for a 13 year old:
- With parent supervision, a 13 year old may view LinkedIn profiles to explore potential careers and industries of interest.
- A 13 year old could provide input on their parent’s LinkedIn profile, such as reviewing content or helping to optimize the profile.
- If a 13 year old has an accomplishment worth highlighting like academic excellence or community service, a parent could feature this on their own profile.
However, there are also some potential concerns with a 13 year old using LinkedIn:
- Privacy and safety concerns due to interacting with unknown professionals.
- May encourage focusing too narrowly on career goals at a young age.
- Limited value compared to focusing on school, extracurriculars, and social development.
Educational Exceptions
Some school districts have partnered with LinkedIn to provide access to students under 14 years old. With these educational partnerships, students as young as 13 may be able to sign up for LinkedIn through their school.
For example, LinkedIn has an educational program called LinkedIn College Prep that they’ve piloted with some junior high and high schools. Students 13 and older have been granted access to some LinkedIn features like building a profile, posting articles, and connecting with colleges.
So in these specialized cases, a 13 year old can use some features of LinkedIn but their access is limited compared to standard members. They would only be able to participate in LinkedIn activities associated with their school partnership program.
Creating an Account Before 14
Given that LinkedIn’s policy requires members to be 14 or older, a 13 year old should not create their own LinkedIn account. Doing so would be violating LinkedIn’s User Agreement. If LinkedIn discovers the account owner is under 14, they will likely suspend the account.
While it’s tempting to enter an inaccurate birthday to bypass the age requirement, this could result in an account restriction. It’s best to wait until the minimum 14 year age before creating a LinkedIn profile.
Parental Supervision
The best approach for a 13 year old to use LinkedIn is with close parental supervision and involvement. A parent could:
- Review profiles together and discuss potential career options
- Add relevant skills or achievements to their own LinkedIn profile
- Manage connection requests and messages on their child’s behalf
With parental oversight, a 13 year old can learn about LinkedIn features and get career exposure while avoiding safety issues or activity that violates LinkedIn’s policies.
Focusing on School, Hobbies, and Relationships Instead
While some limited LinkedIn use with parental supervision can be beneficial, it’s also important for 13 year olds to focus on school, extracurricular activities, and social development instead. Some alternatives to spending time on LinkedIn include:
- Participating in school clubs like robotics, art, or student government
- Playing sports through the school or recreational leagues
- Volunteering locally through schools, religious centers, or nonprofit youth organizations
- Trying a part-time job like babysitting, pet sitting, tutoring, or yard work
- Spending time with friends and family and attending social events
These types of activities are very valuable for 13 year olds developmentally. They help build hard skills, soft skills like teamwork and communication, provide career exposure, and allow students to explore interests and passions.
Is a LinkedIn Profile Needed for College Applications?
A common question that high school students have is whether LinkedIn profiles are expected or beneficial for college applications. The short answer is no – a LinkedIn presence is not required nor expected for 13 year olds or high school students applying to college. Here are some key points on LinkedIn and college admissions:
- College applications focus on academic transcripts, test scores, essays, interviews, and extracurricular activities.
- Admissions officers want to see passions, skills, and community impact – not polished social media profiles.
- Colleges cannot require students to add admissions staff as LinkedIn connections.
- Students should be authentic both online and in applications – not portray themselves inaccurately.
That said, some students choose to include a link to their professional LinkedIn profile in their applications or interviews. The aim should be highlighting achievements, not just making connections. Overall, LinkedIn is not a key factor in college admissions for 13 year olds or high schoolers.
Alternatives to LinkedIn for 13 Year Olds
Instead of LinkedIn, there are some other online platforms and tools that 13 year olds can use to explore careers, develop professional skills, and build their network:
Career Exploration and Planning
- Career research websites like the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook.
- Job shadowing programs that allow students to observe professionals on the job.
- Informational interviews to ask professionals about their career journey.
- Volunteering with local organizations to try out roles.
Academic and Career Skills Development
- Online learning platforms like Khan Academy, Udemy, and Coursera.
- Youth leadership conferences and summits.
- Competitions like science fairs, robotics tournaments, and National History Day.
- MOOCs from universities to try out college-level classes.
Communication and Collaboration Tools
- Microsoft 365 with tools like Outlook, Word, Excel, and Teams.
- Google Workspace offering Gmail, Drive, Docs, and more.
- Project management software like Trello, Asana, or Notion.
Instead of a polished social media presence, 13 year olds should focus on developing hard skills, exploring interests hands-on, and building real-world accomplishments.
Conclusion
While LinkedIn can be a valuable professional networking platform later in life, the ideal age to join is 14 or older in accordance with their User Agreement. With parental supervision, 13 year olds can view some profiles to explore potential careers. But in general, 13 year olds would be better served developing their academic, extracurricular, volunteering, and social skills instead of focusing on a professional social media presence. There are also alternatives like career research, job shadowing, competitions, and software tools that provide career exposure. While some school districts provide access to prepare students, a 13 year old does not need a LinkedIn profile and should not create an account in violation of LinkedIn’s policies.