How To See Who You're Following On Linkedin
Hey there! So, you've been on LinkedIn for a while, right? Maybe you've been doing some serious networking, or perhaps you just clicked "Follow" on everyone who popped up because, hey, why not? Suddenly, you're looking at your profile and thinking, "Who are all these people I'm following?" It happens to the best of us. It's like a digital snowball effect, isn't it?
Let's be honest, LinkedIn can feel a bit like a never-ending party. You meet someone, shake their virtual hand, and then poof, you're following them. Before you know it, your feed is a chaotic mix of industry news, inspirational quotes, and updates from people you vaguely remember connecting with at a conference three years ago. It's a lot, I know. But don't you worry your pretty little head about it. We're going to sort this out, together.
Think of this as our little coffee chat, where I spill the beans on how to tame your LinkedIn following list. No complicated jargon, no overly professional tone. Just good old-fashioned, helpful advice. Ready to dive in?
The Great LinkedIn Following Unveiling
So, where do you even begin to find this elusive list of who you're following? It's not exactly advertised on the homepage with a giant flashing neon sign, is it? You'd think they'd make it a bit more obvious, wouldn't you? Like, "Psst! Over here! See all the people you've decided to digitally trail!"
But fear not! The secret is out, and it's surprisingly simple. It's all about navigating your own profile. You know, that place where you’ve painstakingly listed your achievements and probably debated for hours over the perfect profile picture. Your profile is the command center, folks!
Here's the lowdown, delivered with a wink and a smile. First things first, you need to be logged into your LinkedIn account. Obvious, I know, but hey, sometimes the simplest steps are the ones we overlook when we're in a tech frenzy. So, log in, take a deep breath, and let's embark on this digital detective mission.
Step 1: Head to Your Profile – The Epicenter of You
Once you're logged in, you'll want to find your way to your own personal LinkedIn space. It's usually pretty easy to spot. See that little icon of you, or your default avatar, up in the top navigation bar? Yeah, that's the one! Click on that bad boy.
This will usually drop down a menu. Look for an option that says something like "View Profile" or just "Profile." Click that. And bam! You're now staring at the digital representation of your professional self. Pretty neat, huh? It’s like looking in a mirror, but way more curated and with fewer bad hair day reflections.
Now, while you're admiring your profile (go on, you deserve it!), don't get too sidetracked. We have a mission! We're looking for the followers, and more importantly, the people you are following. It's like a social media census of your connections.
Step 2: The Magic Button – "Connections"
On your profile page, you’ll see a bunch of different sections. You've got your About section, your Experience, your Education… all the good stuff. But we're looking for something a little different. We're looking for the numbers. Specifically, the numbers related to your connections.
You'll see a section that shows how many connections you have. And right next to that, or sometimes just below it, you’ll usually find a link or button that says “Connections” or something similar. This is our golden ticket, my friends!
Click on that "Connections" link. This is where the magic starts to happen. It’s like opening a secret door to your network’s inner workings. And no, it doesn't require a secret handshake or a special password. Just a simple click. Easy peasy, right?
Step 3: Navigating Your Connections – The Grand Reveal
Once you click on "Connections," you'll be taken to a page that lists all your first-degree connections. These are the people you've directly connected with. But that's not quite what we're after yet. We're on a hunt for the follow list!
On this "Connections" page, you'll usually see a few tabs or options at the top. One will likely say "Connections" (which is where you are now). Another, and this is the crucial one for our mission, will say something like "Following" or "Followers."
Now, depending on the current LinkedIn layout (they do like to switch things up, don't they? Keeps us on our toes!), the exact wording might vary slightly. But the gist is the same. You're looking for the list of people you are actively following. It might be labeled as "Following" or it might be under a section that shows your overall network activity.
If you see a prominent "Following" option, click on that. If it's not immediately obvious, don't panic! Sometimes it's tucked away a little. Scan the page carefully. It’s usually quite near the "Connections" heading or within a dropdown menu related to your network.
Step 4: Behold! Your List of the Followed!
And there you have it! You’ve arrived. You’re now looking at a list of all the people, companies, and even hashtags that you're following on LinkedIn. Ta-da! Did you hear that? That was the sound of a thousand unanswered questions being resolved. It's a beautiful sound, isn't it?
This list is your personal curated feed of information. It’s who you've decided to keep up with, who you want to see updates from. It’s a little window into your professional interests and who you admire in your field (or maybe just who had a really catchy post once)..
Take a moment. Scroll through. Do you recognize everyone? Are there some names that make you scratch your head and think, "When on earth did I follow them?" It's perfectly normal! We're all human, and our digital footprints can sometimes be a little… mysterious.
Why Bother Knowing Who You're Following?
Okay, so you've found the list. Great! But why is this even important? Isn't it just a bunch of names on a screen? Well, yes and no. It’s actually kind of a big deal for your LinkedIn game, believe it or not.
First off, clarity is key. Knowing who you're following helps you understand what content is actually showing up in your feed. If your feed is full of stuff you don't care about, it's probably because you're following too many things that are outside your core interests. It’s like having your radio tuned to every station at once – pure noise!
Secondly, it’s about curation. LinkedIn is a powerful tool, but only if you use it effectively. By knowing who you're following, you can make deliberate choices about who to keep following and who to perhaps… unfollow. Yes, that’s right, you have the power to prune your digital garden!
Think about it. Are you following someone who consistently posts content that's irrelevant, or worse, annoying? Maybe it's time to hit that "unfollow" button. It’s not mean; it’s strategic. You’re optimizing your experience, my friend. You’re taking control of your digital destiny!
This also applies to companies. Are you following a company that’s no longer relevant to your career goals? Unfollow! Are you bombarded with job alerts from a place you’d never work? Yep, you know what to do.
Unfollowing: The Art of Digital Decluttering
Now that you know how to see who you're following, let's talk about the fun part: unfollowing. It's like spring cleaning for your LinkedIn account. Refreshing, liberating, and surprisingly satisfying.
When you're on that list of people you're following, you’ll usually see an option next to each name to "Unfollow" or "Remove Connection." Be careful! "Remove Connection" is a bigger deal. That means you're cutting ties entirely. "Unfollow" just means you won't see their posts in your feed anymore, but you'll remain connected. For our purposes, we're usually looking to unfollow to declutter the feed.
Just click that "Unfollow" button. It’s usually a simple confirmation, and then poof, they’re gone from your active feed. You might feel a tiny pang of guilt, but then you’ll notice how much cleaner and more relevant your feed becomes, and all that guilt will vanish like a free donut at a meeting.
It’s also worth noting that sometimes, the option to unfollow is right on the person's profile itself. If you’re on someone’s profile and you decide, “You know what? I’ve seen enough cat memes from this account,” you can usually find a “More” button or a similar dropdown, and there will be an “Unfollow” option. So, you have multiple avenues of digital escape!
What About Followers?
So, we've covered who you're following. But what about who's following you? This is a slightly different beast, and the process is also quite similar. You’ll find this information on your main profile page as well.
Typically, on your profile, you'll see a section that displays your number of followers. Clicking on this will usually show you the list of people who are following your updates. This can be interesting to see who's keeping tabs on your professional journey. Are they potential employers? Future collaborators? Or just people who accidentally clicked "Follow" while trying to endorse you for "Teamwork"? Who knows!
Understanding your followers is a different kind of insight. It’s about who is interested in what you are putting out there. Are your posts resonating? Are you attracting the right kind of attention? It’s all part of the big LinkedIn puzzle.
The "More" Button – Your Universal LinkedIn Tool
I want to emphasize this because it's a lifesaver: that little "More" button or three-dot icon. On LinkedIn, when you're unsure about what action you can take with a connection or a piece of content, look for the "More" button. It’s like the Swiss Army knife of LinkedIn actions. It usually contains options like "Unfollow," "Block," "Report," and sometimes even "Add to a list." So, next time you're stumped, that’s your first port of call!
A Word on Following vs. Connecting
This is a really important distinction to make, and it often trips people up. When you connect with someone on LinkedIn, it's a two-way street. You send a request, they accept, and you're officially connected. You can then message each other directly, see each other's full profiles (depending on privacy settings), and your posts will appear in each other's feeds.
When you follow someone, it's more of a one-way street. You see their public posts and updates in your feed, but they don't necessarily see yours unless they also follow you or are connected to you. They also don't necessarily know you're following them unless they go looking for it. It's a less intense, more observational relationship.
So, when you're on that "Following" list, you're seeing people you’ve chosen to observe. You might be connected to them, or you might just be following them without a direct connection. Both scenarios are valid and contribute to your feed’s content.
The ability to follow people without connecting is great for keeping up with industry leaders or companies without needing their explicit approval. It’s like being a fan in the digital stands!
Final Thoughts: Own Your Feed!
So there you have it! The mystery of the LinkedIn following list is officially solved. It's not rocket science, is it? Just a few clicks and you're in the know. And once you know, you can start to own your LinkedIn experience.
Don't let your feed be a chaotic free-for-all. Be intentional. Be strategic. Unfollow the noise, and focus on the signals that matter to you. Your professional development will thank you for it. And who knows, you might even start to enjoy your LinkedIn feed again!
Go forth and declutter, my friend! Happy networking (and unfollowing)!