LinkedIn, the Microsoft-owned professional networking platform, is dipping its toes into the burgeoning world of short-form video content, echoing the success seen by platforms like TikTok. The company confirmed to TechCrunch that it is experimenting with a new feature that integrates a TikTok-like video feed within its application. This move places LinkedIn among a bevy of popular apps such as Instagram, YouTube, Snapchat, and Netflix, all of which have introduced similar short-form video offerings in response to TikTok's meteoric rise.
Discovered by Austin Null, a strategy director at McKinney, an influencer agency, the new video feed feature is accessible via a dedicated "Video" tab located in the app’s navigation bar. Upon tapping this tab, users are greeted with a vertical feed of short videos, allowing for interactions such as likes, comments, and shares. The criteria for video selection within the feed remain under wraps, as LinkedIn has not disclosed the specifics of its algorithm.
Distinguished by its professional and career-oriented content, LinkedIn’s foray into short-form video diverges from the eclectic mix of themes found on other platforms, focusing instead on enriching the user experience with career development and professional learning content. Historically, LinkedIn has supported video posts, but the introduction of a specialized feed aims to bolster content engagement and discovery, offering users a streamlined way to consume and interact with relevant video material.
The introduction of this feature underscores the growing preference among LinkedIn users for video as a medium for learning and gaining insights from industry professionals and experts. With the platform currently in the early stages of testing this feature, access is limited to a select group of users.
As TikTok creators have successfully attracted large audiences by sharing career advice, job search tips, and professional development content, LinkedIn's new video feed presents an opportunity for these creators to expand their reach and engage with a more professionally oriented audience. Furthermore, the potential for future monetization could incentivize creators to prioritize LinkedIn as a platform for sharing their video content.
While the new video feed feature promises to enrich the LinkedIn experience for content creators and consumers alike, it remains to be seen how the broader user base will receive this addition, especially those who may feel overwhelmed by the proliferation of short-form video feeds across multiple social media platforms.