You log into LinkedIn for some professional networking, only to be greeted by a suggested connection that makes you do a double-take: an ex-partner from years ago, a distant acquaintance you barely remember, or worse—your ex's new spouse. The label reads "Based on Your Profile," but you're left wondering how LinkedIn could possibly know about these personal connections that have nothing to do with your professional life.

If you've experienced this peculiar and sometimes uncomfortable situation, you're not alone. Many LinkedIn users have expressed confusion and concern over the platform's seemingly invasive connection recommendations.

The Mystery Behind "Based on Your Profile" Recommendations

LinkedIn's primary function as a social networking site is to connect professionals. To facilitate this, the platform uses various algorithms to suggest potential connections through its "People You May Know" feature.

When you see "Based on Your Profile" attached to a suggestion, LinkedIn is indicating that something in your profile information—your work history, education, skills, or other profile elements—has triggered this recommendation.

However, many users report experiences that challenge this explanation:

"100% of the people that were listed as 'Based on your profile' (and nothing else) on my LinkedIn were women I dated in the last few years who were not connected to me professionally."

"Some random guy I dated 6 years ago just showed up 'based on my profile' and I don't understand how. He's not even in my contacts anymore."

These testimonials from confused LinkedIn users on Reddit highlight a disconnect between LinkedIn's stated recommendation criteria and users' actual experiences.

How LinkedIn's Connection Algorithm Actually Works

LinkedIn's official explanation states that connection recommendations are generated based on:

1. Shared connections - People who know people you know

2. Employment and education - Colleagues, classmates, and alumni

3. Profile similarity - People with similar job titles or industries

4. Imported contacts - People from your email address book or phone contacts

While LinkedIn explicitly states that it doesn't scan message content for suggestions, the platform does leverage a wide range of data points that may not be immediately obvious to users.

The Hidden Connection Factors

According to user experiences and digital privacy experts, LinkedIn's recommendation algorithm likely considers these additional factors:

1. Cross-platform data sharing - While not officially confirmed, many users suspect information sharing between social platforms. As one user noted: "It seems like social media has been sharing information. People from dating apps are showing up as suggestions on my personal profile on Facebook. So much for privacy."

2. Phone contact analysis - If you've ever granted LinkedIn permission to access your contacts (or if someone has your contact information in their phone), this creates a potential connection pathway. One Reddit user theorized: "It's likely based on THEIR cellphone contacts confirming your name and number, being in each other's phone contacts if you have that app."

3. Profile visits and search history - When you search for someone on LinkedIn or view their profile, the algorithm may flag this as potential interest in connecting. Similarly, if someone searches for or views your profile, they might appear in your recommendations.

4. IP address and location data - People who access LinkedIn from the same networks or locations as you might be suggested as connections.

5. Email domain relationships - People who share your email domain (like your company email) might appear in recommendations, even if you haven't directly worked together.

Visual representation of how the LinkedIn algorithm processes user data

Privacy Concerns and Implications

The seemingly mysterious nature of LinkedIn's recommendations raises legitimate privacy concerns. Users expect a professional networking site to maintain clear boundaries between professional and personal connections. When those boundaries blur, it can create awkward or even distressing situations.

"I just received a notification to connect with my ex boyfriend's wife - WHYYY?"

This user's experience highlights how algorithmic suggestions can inadvertently create uncomfortable social dynamics. For professionals trying to maintain separation between their personal and work lives, these unexpected connections can feel invasive.

The confusion is compounded by LinkedIn's labeling system. Many users report seeing personal connections labeled as "Based on Your Profile" rather than the more logical "Found in Contacts," leading to additional confusion about how the platform is identifying these relationships.

Managing Your LinkedIn Connection Recommendations

If you're receiving unwanted or confusing connection suggestions, here are practical steps you can take to regain control:

1. Audit Your Privacy Settings

LinkedIn offers several privacy controls that can impact what information is used for recommendations:

• Go to your Privacy settings and review how your data is being used

• Check settings for "Connections" and "Data privacy" sections

• Consider adjusting who can see your connections list

2. Review App Permissions

LinkedIn's mobile app often requests access to your contacts. If you've previously granted this permission:

• On iOS: Go to Settings > Privacy > Contacts > LinkedIn and toggle off access

• On Android: Go to Settings > Apps > LinkedIn > Permissions > Contacts and revoke access

• In LinkedIn: Go to Settings > Visibility > Sync contacts and ensure it's turned off

3. Manage Connection Suggestions Directly

When you receive unwanted recommendations:

• Click the "X" next to any suggestion to remove it

• Select "Fewer suggestions like this" when available

• Remove unwanted suggestions consistently to help the algorithm learn your preferences

4. Clear Your Search History

Your search activity on LinkedIn influences recommendations:

• Go to your LinkedIn settings

• Select "Data privacy"

• Find "Search history" and clear it

LinkedIn's system for filtering content, which also influences recommendation quality

Taking Control of Your Professional Network

Rather than passively receiving LinkedIn's sometimes confusing recommendations, a proactive approach to building your network can yield better results:

1. Engage meaningfully with relevant professionals - Comment on industry posts, participate in groups, and share insights to attract connections that truly match your professional interests.

2. Use advanced search features - LinkedIn's search functionality lets you find connections based on specific criteria that matter to you professionally.

3. Request and give recommendations - Authentic recommendations strengthen your professional connections and may help the algorithm better understand your professional network.

4. Optimize your profile - A clear, complete profile with specific industry keywords helps LinkedIn better understand your professional identity and suggest more relevant connections.

For professionals dealing with high volumes of LinkedIn messages and connection requests, tools like Kondo can help organize your LinkedIn inbox with features like labels, reminders, and keyboard shortcuts. This is particularly useful when managing growing networks and ensuring important messages don't get lost among connection notifications.

The Future of Professional Networking Recommendations

As algorithms continue to evolve, we can expect LinkedIn to refine its recommendation systems. However, the fundamental tension between convenience and privacy will likely remain. The most effective strategy is to stay informed about how these systems work and take active steps to manage your digital presence.

LinkedIn connection recommendations, while sometimes puzzling or even uncomfortable, are ultimately designed to expand your professional network. By understanding the mechanics behind these suggestions and implementing the strategies outlined above, you can transform this feature from a potential privacy concern into a valuable networking tool.

Remember that you have significant control over your LinkedIn experience. Take the time to customize your settings, manage your connections deliberately, and build a professional network that truly serves your career goals.

Understanding platform engagement patterns can help optimize your LinkedIn networking strategy

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is LinkedIn recommending personal contacts like my ex or old acquaintances?

LinkedIn recommends personal contacts primarily because its algorithm has found a data connection between you, which can come from shared phone contacts, past profile views, or suspected data from other platforms, even if there's no professional link. The platform's algorithm looks beyond just your work history. If you've ever synced your phone contacts with LinkedIn (or if your ex has your number in their synced contacts), the system may suggest a connection. Other factors include mutual profile visits, being in the same location, or suspected data sharing between social media apps.

What does "Based on Your Profile" on LinkedIn actually mean?

Officially, "Based on Your Profile" means the recommendation is triggered by information in your profile, such as your work history, education, or skills. However, user experience suggests this label is often used more broadly. It can be applied when the connection is found through less obvious data points that LinkedIn associates with your profile, such as synced contacts, location data, or even your search history on the platform.

How can I stop LinkedIn from suggesting personal acquaintances?

You can stop unwanted personal suggestions by revoking LinkedIn's access to your phone contacts, clearing your search history, and consistently removing unwanted recommendations by clicking the "X" next to their name. Start by going into your phone's settings (iOS or Android) and disabling contact access for the LinkedIn app. Then, within LinkedIn's privacy settings, ensure contact syncing is off and clear your search history. This reduces the personal data points the algorithm can use.

Can LinkedIn see my phone contacts even if I didn't sync them?

Yes, LinkedIn might suggest someone from your phone contacts even if you haven't synced them yourself. This can happen if the other person has your contact information in their phone and has synced their contacts with LinkedIn. The connection is made on their end, and the algorithm may use that link to suggest you to each other.

Does LinkedIn share data with other apps like Facebook or dating apps?

While LinkedIn does not officially confirm sharing data with other social media or dating apps for connection suggestions, many users report seeing recommendations that strongly suggest some form of cross-platform data analysis is occurring. The appearance of people from non-professional contexts in LinkedIn suggestions is a common complaint, suggesting that data brokers or shared advertising networks might be creating indirect links between your profiles on different platforms.

What should I do if I get an uncomfortable connection request?

If you receive an uncomfortable connection request, the best course of action is to simply ignore or dismiss it. You are under no obligation to accept every request. Click the 'X' or 'Ignore' button to remove the request from your queue; the sender will not be notified. This helps you maintain control over your professional network and its boundaries.

For further reading on optimizing your LinkedIn experience, check out Sprout Social's comprehensive guide to the LinkedIn algorithm and LinkedIn's own help documentation on the People You May Know feature.