This is a rotten time we live in, and sometimes I feel the “Upside Down” is not a far-fetched scenario. Hell broke loose after the Weinstein revelations (that’s a start) and everyone’s becoming more and more discerning towards small doses of harassment, especially online.
I wasn’t intending on writing this article for a while, until I read this on The Cut, a story of how two former founders, who stepped down after a sexual harassment allegation, joked about it on LinkedIn by messing with their former titles. “Janitor” wrote one and “Head of Self-Reflection, Accountability and Change” the other. Is this a joke?
More importantly, how is this even allowed on the platform? Of all the apps out there, LinkedIn was considered a “safe space” for professionals, a space where what you see is what you get, and when it’s not, people *will* call you out.
We’ve seen that numerous times: exasperated status updates by women, repeating time and again that this is not Tinder, exposing all the inappropriate messages they receive. As an active user myself, I’ve come across many men in positions of power in my inbox. My gut told me they didn’t really have the best “networking” intentions in mind. And I am one of the lucky ones.
So, in this day and age, it really baffles me how an app like LinkedIn hasn’t caught up with what’s been going on for ages. I wonder how its top execs are seemingly oblivious to this reality, and haven’t taken any actions towards limiting those incidents.
And it’s nothing too complicated. I mean, if *I* can come up with a couple measures, I’m sure the good folks over there can do wonders.
How great would it be if there was an option in our Messages to report users for sexual harassment? And that would signify a loud and clear acknowledgment of this issue. Not a “I don’t know this person.” or “I think it’s spam or a scam. Not a “I think it’s something else.” And not a “I think this account may have been hacked.” These are the options we get, as I write this.
Of course, there should be a better filtration of connection requests. LinkedIn doesn’t let you add anyone your contact book desires, but: 1. asking to verify your connection to another person is just against the app’s entire philosophy and 2. there are so many loopholes in this system, so it’s already rendered useless.
So, go back to work on this one, guys – and come up with a more efficient safety system against suspicious requests (especially from unrelated industries).
A notification system should also be established, when employers and employees alike are reported/suspended/fired for sexual harassment/assault within their work environment.
Lastly, it is crucial for LinkedIn to team up with its InFluencers in order to raise awareness and create educational content around sexual harassment.
What other measures do you think the platform should or could take?
You might also like
More from Lifestyle
Pornhub Is Offering Lifelong Premium Access This Black Friday
Since you can't get out, Pornhub is offering a very special deal for Black Friday: lifelong premium access to its …
5 Must-Have Accessories For The PS5
Got the new Playstation 5? Now it's time to spice it up with the must-have PS5 accessories to up your …
Nikon Is Bringing Back Its Free Online Photography Classes
Nokia is bringing back free online photography classes, just in time for the holiday season.
Reebok Launches Rentable Sneaker Service
In what might be the craziest idea in urban mobility, Reebok has launched Reebok To Go, the first rentable sneaker …
Supreme Sells To Vans Owner For Over $2 Billion
VF Corp, the parent company of The North Face and Vans, has acquired streetwear brand Supreme for $2.1 billion.
Teslaquila Is Here To Help You Cope With The World
Teslaquila, the Tesla-branded liquor born out of Elon Musk's April Fool's joke, is now a real product available on the …
Brooklyn Nets Debut Jean-Michel Basquiat-Inspired Jerseys
The Brooklyn Nets will honor Jean-Michel Basquiat, another Brooklynite, for its 2020 City Edition jersey.
Pornhub Is Launching Its First Ever Sex Education Series
Pornhub sex education aims to bridge the gap between porn and actual sex education with ‘real talk about sex from …
You Can Now Buy Jerseys Worn By The Best PSG Players
Owning a game-worn jersey from your favorite football player is a dream for many die-hard fans. For PSG fans, it …
