LinkedIn is a professional networking platform used by millions of people around the world. One of the features in LinkedIn is the ability to see when someone was last active or seen on the platform. This “last seen” status can be useful in certain situations, but some LinkedIn users prefer to keep this information private.
So can you turn off or hide your last seen status on LinkedIn? The short answer is no, there is currently no setting or option within LinkedIn to disable your last seen status. LinkedIn designed this feature to facilitate further engagement and connection opportunities on the platform. The last seen indicator provides users with a cue that the person they are trying to connect with has recently been active.
What does the last seen feature show?
On LinkedIn’s desktop site and mobile app, you can see the last seen status of your 1st-degree connections and 2nd-degree connections. This shows when the person was last active on LinkedIn based on things like:
- Viewing or interacting with content in the LinkedIn feed
- Messaging conversations
- Updating their profile
- Accepting connection invites
The last seen status displays as “Active now,” “Active today,” “Active this week,” or a specific date if it has been over a week since the person was last on LinkedIn. Public profiles on LinkedIn will also show the last seen time to anyone viewing your profile.
Why there’s no option to disable last seen
Unlike other social media platforms like WhatsApp that allow you to control your online visibility, LinkedIn does not provide any settings to turn off last seen. There are a few reasons why:
- It encourages more real-time engagement on the platform. If you see someone active, you may be more inclined to message them.
- It adds a layer of credibility to accounts. You can see if someone is actively maintaining their LinkedIn presence.
- It helps simplify relationship management. You can gauge responsiveness expectations based on how recently someone was online.
- It aligns with LinkedIn’s focus on professional networking and relationship building versus more casual socializing.
Overall, LinkedIn wants to promote a culture of transparency on the platform where users connect and engage with each other openly. Hiding your activity status would go against this ethos.
Private mode – limited workaround
LinkedIn did introduce a limited private mode in 2020, which prevents your 1st-degree connections from seeing when you view their profile or make changes to yours. But it does not stop your last seen time from updating. Some key things to note about private mode:
- It only hides your activity from direct connections, all other members can still see your last seen status.
- You need to manually toggle it on each time you access LinkedIn. There’s no permanent setting.
- It may look suspicious if you constantly have private mode enabled and could hamper networking opportunities.
So in summary, private mode gives you limited control over what your 1st-degree connections can see, but it’s not a true solution for hiding your last seen time on LinkedIn.
Other workarounds
While you can’t disable last seen, there are a few workarounds to have more control over when your active status updates:
- Web access – Use a private/incognito browser window when you want to check LinkedIn without updating your last seen. Close the window when you’re done.
- Mobile app – Manually close the LinkedIn app completely after using it rather than just minimizing it.
- Logged out – View profiles and content while logged out of your account. You won’t appear active unless you interact with something.
- Notifications off – Turn off push notifications from the LinkedIn app to avoid accidental opens that would update your status.
However, these workarounds require constant manual effort. There’s no way to permanently stop your account from displaying the last seen status
Does turning last seen off help privacy?
Some LinkedIn users are understandably concerned about having their activity visible at all times and want the ability to turn it off. Here are some things to keep in mind in terms of privacy:
- Last seen only shows your recent activity level, not specific actions.
- It updates based on direct interaction with LinkedIn, not external site tracking.
- Your connections have agreed to share activity visibility when linking accounts.
- Restricting last seen visibility can arouse suspicion and inhibit openness.
- Private mode provides an option for limited control over 1st-degree connections.
While having your online status visible may feel invasive at first, remember it’s all within the context of a professional networking platform. And connections have mutually agreed to share this type of visibility in order to facilitate better networking.
Pro tips for managing last seen
Since turning off last seen isn’t an option, here are some best practices for managing it professionally:
- Periodically review your connections list and prune any untrustworthy contacts.
- Be thoughtful about posting updates and commenting when you want to appear “off duty.”
- If needed, toggle on private mode before making profile changes.
- View profiles strategically and log off to avoid unnecessary status updates.
- Remember it shows activity patterns, not specific actions taken.
With some prudent habits, you can maintain your desired professional visibility while still keeping your LinkedIn presence active. And remember, you always have the option to disconnect from any contacts whose activity tracking concerns you.
Will LinkedIn ever add a last seen toggle?
There are certainly arguments on both sides for letting users disable last seen activity. While some people would prefer it, LinkedIn has remained adamant about keeping it on for all members. The platform is fundamentally designed around visibility and engagement.
That being said, user privacy is increasingly important, so there’s a chance LinkedIn could revisit this in the future. Platforms like WhatsApp demonstrate that options to hide status activity can work perfectly well. But for now, leaving last seen on for all members aligns with LinkedIn’s core values around networking and relationship building.
If enough users request it, LinkedIn may eventually compromise by letting you limit last seen to your 1st-degree connections only. But a full opt-out across all members seems unlikely unless LinkedIn’s ethos shifts dramatically. So for now, take advantage of workarounds and focus on networking openly.
Other options if you want more privacy
If you find even the limited visibility of last seen unacceptable, and the workarounds are too cumbersome, you have a few options:
- Limit LinkedIn usage to only when necessary using private/incognito windows.
- Relax your activity patterns – if you’re online a lot, status changes become less remarkable.
- Build connections selectively with those you truly trust seeing your activity.
- Remove public viewing options like your customized LinkedIn URL.
- Periodically review your privacy settings and make changes as needed.
Essentially, focus on quality over quantity – both in your activity and your connections. Remember that viewing profiles anonymously is still an option as well. You can still benefit from the platform while limiting visibility.
That being said, too much paranoia over last seen could hinder your ability to get the most out of LinkedIn. Try to find a comfortable balance between privacy and open engagement.
Conclusion
Having visibility into the activity levels of LinkedIn connections can feel intrusive at first. But it’s a core part of how the platform facilitates networking and engagement opportunities.
Currently there is no setting to disable your last seen status. LinkedIn only offers private mode as a limited workaround. Managing visibility requires manual effort like logged out browsing and strategic app closing.
While a last seen toggle may come someday if users demand it, for now retaining it for all members aligns with LinkedIn’s transparency values. Focus on building trusted connections and comfort with open engagement to get the most from the platform.