Messaging

LinkedIn's Digital Services Act (DSA) reports set out the routes into a conversation, which depend on whether the two members are connected12. A member can send a message to a connection, or to several connections in a Group chat12. Members can send message requests to certain people they are not connected to based on a shared context, such as a fellow Group member or a coworker at their current company, send connection requests with personal messages to other members, or use premium InMail, which requires credits, to message people they are not connected to17.

LinkedIn's advice on messaging people a member does not yet know builds on the connections the member already has3. LinkedIn's October 2019 advice said one of the member's connections might know the person, and that a connection could start a group message on LinkedIn to make the introduction3. The October 2019 guidance also said members could @ mention a connection to add them to a group conversation; the February 2025 report describes messaging multiple connections without specifying how members are added37. The blog describes this as a good way to get a conversation started, which could eventually turn into a new, strong professional connection3.

Once a conversation is under way, LinkedIn's messaging has tools for managing and protecting it4. LinkedIn's Pressroom says members can edit or delete sent messages4. It also says members can select several conversations at once to archive, delete or mark them read or unread together4. Members can react to messages with emojis, which LinkedIn says makes it easier to express themselves4. LinkedIn Ireland Unlimited Company's August 22, 2025 report describes optional automated detection of sexual harassment and certain other abusive messages, with detected messages routed to spam or hidden behind a warning depending on prior communications, and recipients able to dismiss the warning, view the message and report it to LinkedIn for review1.