LinkedIn Data Identifies Connection Barriers Between Gen Z Users
New research from LinkedIn suggests that Generation Z professionals can be reluctant to initiate connections, with concerns around authenticity, judgement and bothering others potentially limiting opportunities to build relationships.
The findings come from a survey of more than 18,000 professionals examining how Gen Z approaches work and networking. Around 72% of Gen Z respondents said they were missing opportunities because they were hesitant to put themselves forward. The main reasons included fear of bothering people or being judged, both cited by 37%, while 34% were concerned about sounding inauthentic.
More than half, or 53%, also said they were unsure how to get started with professional networking. The LinkedIn research also found that 27% of Gen Z professionals had found their next opportunity through online professional communities.
While the research focuses on professional relationships, the findings have potential relevance for dating platforms, where younger users face similar questions around initiating conversations and presenting themselves authentically online.
The hesitation to make the first move is already a familiar issue for dating services. Users have to decide whether to send a message, respond to a match or engage with someone’s profile, often with limited context about how the other person will react. Concerns about appearing overly eager, being rejected or coming across as inauthentic can all influence that behaviour.
LinkedIn is responding by looking at ways to create more informal opportunities for users to interact, including its expanding range of in-app games designed to provide potential icebreakers. Dating apps have similarly experimented with prompts, games, questions and other features intended to reduce the pressure associated with starting a conversation.
As Gen Z becomes a larger share of dating-app users, understanding how this generation approaches online connection could become increasingly important – as is reducing the friction that they encounter.
