Social media comparison isn’t just an Instagram problem anymore—Gen Z is feeling it on LinkedIn, too. Dubbed “LinkedIn envy,” this phenomenon leaves young professionals feeling inadequate as they scroll through endless career milestones and job announcements.
With job hunting becoming tougher, LinkedIn has been called the "unrivaled behemoth of digital inadequacy," according to journalist Lotte Brundle. She recalled feeling hopeless while reading a former classmate’s job update during her own unemployment.
Despite often being overlooked in discussions on social media’s impact, LinkedIn is now recognized as a major stressor for younger users. A 2019 Slate column even called it “the ideal place to lose your mind.”
Brundle compared LinkedIn to a dating app, noting that people check up on exes and rivals. Some even report being “chatted up” on the platform, and a 2024 survey found many have landed dates through LinkedIn.
With over 260 million U.S. users, the pressure to measure up can be overwhelming. Some cope by deleting the app. One Reddit user admitted, “Every time I go on it, I feel terrible about myself.” Others called it “the overachievers’ Facebook.”
Psychologist Susan Biali Haas advises using LinkedIn envy as motivation. While she mutes overwhelming feeds, she also believes envy can drive personal growth.
“Those we envy can point toward what we long to—and need to—accomplish,” she wrote.
While LinkedIn envy is real, curating feeds and shifting perspectives may help maintain mental well-being in the digital job market.
Source: New York Post
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