LinkedIn is often seen as the purview of recruiters and thought leaders. But the professional networking platform is quietly attracting a rather unexpected audience.
According to recent data, 18- to 24-year-olds now make up 20.5% of its user base. That tracks, as college students and recent grads enter a cutthroat job market, eager to build a personal brand and online résumé that might help them stand out from the competition.
What’s more surprising is that high schoolers are also getting in on the game younger than ever, treating the platform as a means to get ahead. High school students are discussing how having a professional online presence before even beginning a career is simply showing initiative. Sharing volunteer work, internships, and professional goals where future employers can see them (and keeping brainrot slang content on TikTok) shows ambition, some argue. The pressure to hit 500 connections is real.
LinkedIn opened its doors to users 13 and up back in 2013, long before today’s teens were even online. But Gen Z and Gen Alpha are coming of age in a world where career anxiety starts early, as social media feeds them an endless scroll of entrepreneurs, side hustlers, and monetizable “passions” complete with six-figure salaries, however unrealistic it may be.
As a result, early signs have shown that Gen Z and Gen Alpha may have stronger entrepreneurial aspirations than previous generations. A new survey of 2,002 Gen Z and Gen Alpha users (ages 12 to 28) by social commerce platform Whop found that more than half are already using the internet to earn money through digital side hustles like selling vintage clothing, streaming video games, and posting on social media.
And it’s paying off. Gen Alpha members report making an average of $13.92 per hour from digital pursuits, well above the federal minimum wage. When teens are bringing in the equivalent of a $28,000 salary before they can drive, it’s no wonder they want a professional profile to match.
For some teens, the platform acts as a great equalizer. LinkedIn can connect students, especially those who don’t come from wealthy or well-networked backgrounds, to mentors, internships, and career paths they might not otherwise be aware of. Tools like LinkedIn Learning offer free courses in leadership, coding, design, and more.
