How to Reprogram Your LinkedIn Algorithm by Building a Power Network with High-Level Deciders
Last Updated on 16 June 2025 at 19:39
Let me start with a number that might shock you: 2 (two).
The average user scrolls through social media for over 2 (two) hours a day — according to Datareportal’s “Digital Global Overview Report”. This number equates to 730 hours a year. In other words, every year is about a month lost to doom-scrolling through “thought leaders” posts, conference photos, forced “humblebrag” achievements, and endless useless certificates the market doesn’t need. And yet, these professional platforms sell us a lie: more time on social equals more opportunity.
The truth is much darker.
The more time you spend on social networks, the more you’re being harvested — and fed information designed to keep you hooked, not empowered.
So how do you reclaim your attention and start getting real value from these digital platforms ? Treat it like a marketing investment — which you should do if your professional life is fulfilled.
Let’s explore how to regain control, cut the noise, and turn your social media from a parasite into a tool for your professional development. We’re not talking about digital detoxes, screen time limits, or publishing more; we’re talking about reshaping your entire approach to online engagement — strategically, ruthlessly, and with just enough contrarian edge to make it stick.
The number 2 (two) is also the number of serious business connections I’ve made via my LinkedIn profile in 16 years. Two. You are probably wondering if that’s a typo or an unoptimized profile, as marketing influencers are paid to say so — after all, LinkedIn is marketed as the mecca of professional networking, the holy grail of “opportunities.” But the reality is far less impressive. And if you’re like most people, scrolling through an endless parade of “influencers” and self-proclaimed “thought leaders,” you’re likely not getting much out of it either.
So, how can you get the algorithm to start showing you more positive, useful, and interesting connections ?
Here’s the inconvenient truth: as a user, you can decide who and how to interact and fix this problem. Or rather, the way you engage with these platforms is the problem. There are interesting ways to hack the system — not through tech wizardry, but by rethinking your entire relationship with social media.
Let’s explore how to regain control, cut the noise, and turn social media from a parasite into a tool. We’re not talking about digital detoxes or screen time limits; we’re talking about reshaping your entire approach to online engagement — strategically, ruthlessly, and with just a strong practical edge to make it stick.
Table of Contents
1. The 140 Rule: Why Dunbar’s Number is Social Media Kryptonite
Have you ever heard of Dunbar’s Number? British anthropologist Robin Dunbar posited that humans can maintain stable social relationships with about 150 people — not 5,000 LinkedIn connections, 2,000 Facebook friends, or 400 Twitter followers — just 150.
Anything beyond that ? Noise.
In the context of digital media, Dunbar’s Number is not just a quality limitation; it is a weapon to defend against algorithms. The algorithm thrives on the fact that most of us are connected to far more people than we can genuinely interact with. It feeds us superficial content from this overstuffed LinkedIn Rolodex because that’s how it keeps us hooked.
So, the first step is to reduce your online network to 140 people — yes, 140, not even the full 150. Why ? You need a buffer for those few who slip in and out naturally. For every new person you add, boot someone else out. You can’t just hoard connections like you’re collecting Pokémon cards. Be ruthless.
Focus on your meaningful connections and shoves the noise into the background. Every person in your network now serves a purpose.
When I did this, my feed transformed. Suddenly, I wasn’t being force-fed the latest insipid career advice from self-promoting “gurus.” Instead, my network was curated, streamlined, and relevant. I saw posts from people whose insights I cared about — and with people with whom I’d had real interactions. It wasn’t magic because it was a “natural content curation”. No more noise from randoms and no more transactional messages asking for favours.
People think the more connections they have, the greater their odds of hitting on some opportunity, but the reality is brutal, so you will need to filter aggressively. LinkedIn, Instagram, Twitter(X), and Facebook aren’t designed to showcase your most valuable connections — they’re designed to serve you the highest engagement bait. Your actual connections — those that matter — get lost in the deluge.
2. LinkedIn Is not a Professional Rolodex — but a Lottery Ticket
Everyone’s been sold this idea: LinkedIn is your professional hub, the key to endless opportunities. But here’s what they don’t tell you — it’s a business lottery, not a professional Rolodex. And unless you’re an “influencer” pushing your brand or that of other entities who depend on such platforms, you are probably playing the wrong game.
Most people use LinkedIn because they believe the more connections they have, the better their chances of stumbling across that golden opportunity. However, LinkedIn doesn’t work like that for most people.
You can get inspired by my practice; I don’t use LinkedIn to maintain a list of everyone I’ve ever met professionally. Frankly, I keep in contact with entities I want to work with again, but such contact is not always happening online. That’s it. It’s not about sheer volume but quality. I’m not saying LinkedIn can’t help — I’m saying it probably won’t help if you are relying on algorithms instead of real connections.
The more bloated your network, the more diluted the content and connections. If you’re connecting with everyone who ever handed you a business card, you’re setting yourself up for a newsfeed filled with noise. Instead, be selective — filter your network to focus on meaningful, high-value relationships.
Most people consider LinkedIn a professional photo album, thinking visibility and the number of connections equal credibility. Wrong. The more connections you make or someone has, the less you connect and the fewer professional opportunities you get. However, the number of genuine followers that are not bought is much more interesting.
High-quality connections and visibility are inversely related on LinkedIn.
Quality beats quantity every single time. Forget the industry trend of “growing your network” with every passerby. Treat LinkedIn like a boardroom meeting, not a house party. Keep your audience small, deliberate, and with high value.
3. Instagram as a New Age Filter for Fake LinkedIn Resumes
Instagram gets a bad rap for being shallow, fake, and, quite frankly, a time suck. Most of us associate it with endless vacation posts, “hustle culture” slogans, envy, vanity, and a near-constant reminder of “lives better than ours.” In my experience, this is the case. But here’s the twist: Instagram is not useless. For me, Instagram is a great addition to LinkedIn. Instagram is not a place to showcase a life, or even to keep up with friends or family. It’s a filter. Specifically, a red flag filter for partners and employees.
When I vet potential candidates or partners, I check their Instagram profiles — and not for the reasons you might think. I look for flashiness, over-the-top lifestyle posts, exaggerated claims, or anything that screams “not serious.” Because here’s the thing: You can tell a lot about someone by what they’re willing to post online.
A flashy, ostentatious Instagram profile is often a dead giveaway that the person’s priorities don’t align with mine. Flashiness and seriousness rarely co-exist. So, instead of wasting time with a formal interview process for someone who is a terrible fit, I let Instagram do the weeding out for me — like a new-age resume filter. So, Instagram is not about networking; it is about filtering. Use it as such, and you’ll save yourself a lot of time.
Instagram isn’t about finding people who impress; it’s about screening out those who don’t.
4. Twitter (or X): Stop Interacting, Start Absorbing
Let’s talk Twitter — or X, as the geniuses in charge now call it. It’s been described as a hellscape, and let’s be honest, it’s hard to argue with such a description. But it’s also a place where you can still find value — if you know how to use it. Here’s the beauty of Twitter: the posts are short. You can scan through a ton of information in minutes.
The world has two types of Twitter users: the screamers and the lurkers. Most people go wrong — they engage, reply, retweet, and feed the chaos. The algorithm learns from such actions and begins to warp your feed accordingly. The less you interact, the more diverse and interesting your feed becomes. The variety of content is not into rabbit holes, political debates, or echo chambers.
By not engaging on Twitter(X), it is possible to keep a feed diverse and unpredictable — a digital oasis in the middle of an otherwise combative space.
Think of Twitter as a library. You wouldn’t start scribbling in the margins of every book you read, would you ? No. You’d read, absorb, and move on. Treat Twitter the same way. Just read.
5. Real Life: The Only Social Network That Matters
The most important social network for professional interactions is not LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter. It’s the real-life network. While most people are busy curating their online personas, the people who truly matter are the ones who still know how to shake hands and make eye contact. Indeed, social media is built on facades — real life is built on reputation. The people who know your work ethic, expertise, and integrity are worth 1’000s of LinkedIn connections.
Real-life connections are algorithm-proof, and they carry the kind of weight LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter only dream of.
In the real world, trust isn’t earned by clicking “connect” — it’s earned by delivering, by showing up, and by standing out. Real networking events, industry panels, and even grabbing a drink with a peer — these experiences carry a value that can’t be replicated online. Real-life networks — not those of the showing-up kind — don’t thrive on algorithms but on respect, trust, and shared history. You won’t go viral in real life but will gain trust.
Besides, the most valuable connections are not excessively active on social media. They don’t have time for it. They’re out there building businesses, making decisions, and driving real change. These are the people who will have a great range of opportunities, not because they liked a post — but because they’ve seen you delivering results.
Own Your Network — the new Playbook
So, how do you get the algorithm to show you more positive, useful content ? You don’t. The real secret isn’t hacking the algorithm; it’s taking control of your engagement. The trick isn’t to game the algorithm — it’s to make it irrelevant.
When you stop treating social media like a means to an end and start using it as a strategic filter, you’ll find value where there was once just noise. The algorithm can manipulate engagement, but it can’t touch real, intentional relationships. Take back control by making your online footprint as deliberate as your offline one.
Final Reflection: A Challenge for You
Here’s my challenge: open your LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or whatever social network you use, and start purging. By the end of today, you should have a tighter network, a cleaner feed, and a new approach. Social media doesn’t have to be the mindless dopamine loop it’s designed to be; it can be a tool, a filter, or even a kind of digital curation in knowing what is happening and having a general feeling about it. But that requires intention — your intention.
You are not obligated to be “on” every social platform, nor to be visible at all times.
You are in control.
Every click, every post, every connection — reclaim it.
If you badly need a digital presence, then invest in a social media management service.
Elena Debbaut is a strategic execution expert to boards and executive teams. She leads and advises on complex transformations when governance barriers, internal politics, or structural fragmentation prevent organizations from executing critical decisions.
Specialities:
• governance-constrained transformation
• operational restructuring
• strategic recovery & execution