Give the Power Back – What If LinkedIn Let You Control the Algorithm?

For years now, we’ve lived in a professional world curated by someone else’s algorithm.

You log into LinkedIn, and your feed is already decided: what to see, who to hear from, and what content gets priority. But what if that wasn’t a given? What if you could design the logic behind your own professional experience?

Imagine a LinkedIn where each user had control over the algorithm that shapes their feed, their notifications, their job suggestions, and even the ads they see. Not just in vague settings menus—but real, functional control over how the system prioritizes what matters to them.

Too radical? Maybe not.

A More Personalized, Less Predatory LinkedIn

Today’s LinkedIn feed is optimized for platform metrics, not human utility.

The more time you spend scrolling, the more ads you see. The more you click, the more content you’re fed to keep you clicking. But none of this necessarily aligns with your professional goals—or your sanity.

Want more thought leadership and less humblebragging? You can’t.

Want to mute sales pitches and elevate mentoring content? Good luck.

Want to prioritize actual expertise over viral reach? Not an option.

LinkedIn’s current algorithm is a black box. It’s optimized for attention, not intention.

What User-Controlled Algorithms Could Look Like

Let’s be clear: I’m not advocating that everyone write Python scripts for their feed.

I’m saying we should be able to choose or design logic that governs how LinkedIn works for us.

1. Feed Modes – Like Spotify for Professional Content

Let users toggle between “modes” such as:

Deep Learning Mode (long-form posts, high-credibility content)

Job-Seeking Mode (career advice, recruiter visibility)

Brand Builder Mode (visibility optimization, trend participation)

Stealth Mode (quiet observation, zero-sell zone)

These modes could reshape the ranking algorithm and platform signals without requiring technical input.

2. Explainable Feeds

Every post you see should come with a “Why am I seeing this?” option.

Just like Google explains search results or YouTube offers algorithmic insights, LinkedIn should show which factors—connections, interests, engagement similarity—brought that post to your screen.

Trust comes from transparency.

3. Signal Sliders – Let Me Tune the Noise

Imagine a simple dashboard:

Turn up: Original research, peer commentary, leadership content.

Turn down: Promotional posts, low-effort virality, company news.

Give us sliders or toggles—not just mute buttons. We don’t want to silence voices. We want to fine-tune relevance.

Why This Would Actually Help LinkedIn

At first glance, this looks like a monetization risk.

Fewer sales pitches, fewer promoted posts = less ad revenue? Not necessarily.

Done right, this could actually:

Increase user trust and time-on-platform (because the content is better)

Improve conversion rates for ads (because targeting becomes consensual)

Boost premium subscriptions (people would pay for feed control)

Attract high-value users back into active engagement

People don’t leave platforms because there’s too little content.

They leave because it feels manipulative, irrelevant, or exhausting.

A Safe, Structured Rollout

If LinkedIn fears opening the floodgates, here’s a compromise path:

Phase 1: Offer pre-set Feed Modes.

Phase 2: Introduce an “Algorithm Control Panel” with toggles and sliders.

Phase 3: Partner with thought leaders and communities to design trusted “algorithm presets” (e.g., a “VC Lens,” a “Mentorship Focus,” or “Policy Radar”).

Phase 4: Eventually, open up a plug-in marketplace for algorithmic overlays—reviewed, certified, and opt-in only.

This creates innovation without anarchy.

The Real Value Shift: From Interruption to Intention

In a world increasingly shaped by AI, what we don’t see matters just as much as what we do.

And right now, too much of LinkedIn is shaped by engagement bait, sales pressure, and professional posturing.

By giving users control over the algorithm, LinkedIn would shift from a broadcast platform to an intention platform—where each professional journey is shaped by purpose, not popularity.

Let us choose what we want to see, why we want to see it, and how much of it we want.

That’s not just good UX.

That’s the future of trust in professional platforms.

What do you think? I'm going to be launching a survey to complement this article. Would really appreciate it if you weigh in.