Unsolicited flirtatious DMs on LinkedIn are turning some users off the platform.

Some users on LinkedIn have reported receiving unsolicited flirtatious messages, with expert Bernie Hogan at the Oxford Internet Institute stating that the employment-focused social website is increasingly being used for dating purposes.

According to Blair Huddy, CEO of Hudson Davis Communications, a LinkedIn user reached out to her twice seeking to connect her with clients for her business, but she did not respond.

The user sent a final message saying, "Shoot me a text back whenever you're done playing hard to get," which was viewed by CNBC Make It via screenshots.

Huddy, a 35-year-old resident of Los Angeles, has been an active user of LinkedIn since 2012. When she receives messages like this, she often takes screenshots of them and posts them on LinkedIn, tagging the sender. "It's just a gross feeling... It's gross, it's unprofessional," Huddy stated.

In 2020, Shriya Boppana, a technology consultant, drew the attention of an unusual group of followers on LinkedIn after updating her profile to reveal her recent beauty pageant win and TV show hosting gig.

A former colleague of Huddy's found her on a platform and complimented her appearance, while another man acknowledged her beauty and her status as a pageant queen. Both Huddy and Boppana continue to post on LinkedIn.

LinkedIn, launched in 2003 and with over 1 billion members worldwide, defines itself as a "professional community" that promotes "meaningful, authentic conversations." The platform is owned by Microsoft.

The spokesperson stated that light-hearted, respectful conversations are allowed as long as they do not violate community policies. Romantic advances and harassment of any form are prohibited, and our policies provide detailed examples of unacceptable content on LinkedIn.

A survey of 1,049 female LinkedIn users in the U.S. last year revealed that 91% of them had received romantic advances or inappropriate messages at least once on the platform. As a result, 74% of respondents felt the need to disengage or limit their activity on the platform, according to a survey published by photo studio Passport Photo Online.

A recent survey of 505 U.S. consumers aged 20 to 40, published by DatingNews.com, revealed that 52% of them had met people for dating through networking platforms such as LinkedIn and Facebook.

'People are jaded by traditional dating apps'

LinkedIn is a social media platform, similar to Instagram or Facebook, as noted by Bernie Hogan, an associate professor at the Oxford Internet Institute. Despite being often perceived as a work tool, users on LinkedIn have the freedom to send messages to anyone they choose without strict guidelines.

"He stated that LinkedIn is not a true workplace, but rather presents itself as one. "Workplaces typically regulate such matters, but social media allows individuals to control themselves.""

Courtney Boyer, a relationships expert, stated to CNBC Make It that LinkedIn is gaining popularity as an alternative to traditional dating apps such as Hinge, Tinder, and Bumble, which have lost favor.

According to a Forbes Health Survey of 1,000 Americans who have used dating apps in the past year, 78% of them experienced emotional, mental, or physical fatigue due to dating apps at some point.

According to Boyer, people are disillusioned with traditional dating apps because they lack the easily customizable features that users value. However, LinkedIn offers free filters for sector, education, and experience level, which can enhance one's appeal during dating.

According to Hogan at the Oxford Internet Institute, the website is "adjacent to dating" because it involves "the practice of presenting the self to meet people you don't know for some end."

Hogan stated that although LinkedIn has essentially established a dating platform without actual dating, the key element is to provide individuals with the option to decline and withdraw from discussions if they are not interested.

Sasha Dutta, founder and CEO of Fierce Events, based in Central Florida, admitted to receiving flirtatious DMs on LinkedIn. She stated that she would have considered some of the more respectful messages if she wasn't in a relationship at the time.

Dutta, a 34-year-old married woman, emphasizes the importance of career and education compatibility in her South Asian community when two people are romantically involved.

Dutta stated that the widespread use of dating apps has been enormous, and every friend of his who uses a dating app considers it a part-time job and a lot of work to sift through everyone.

"LinkedIn allows you to eliminate basic surface-level questions typically asked on a first date, such as "What do you do?" and "What is your career trajectory?""

'Maintaining a professional environment'

LinkedIn's community policies prohibit using the platform for romantic connections, asking for dates, or making sexual comments about someone's appearance or attractiveness.

Hogan believes that LinkedIn may not always adequately penalize users for inappropriate behavior, which often forces victims to handle the situation independently through tactics such as blocking or public shaming.

"LinkedIn cannot rely solely on employers to maintain a professional environment on their platform, as they are not responsible for it."

The LinkedIn spokesperson stated that the platform has advanced safety features to safeguard users from unwanted behavior, including a feature that alerts members when harassment is detected in private messaging when enabled.

The spokesperson stated that we also encourage members to report any instances of harassment on LinkedIn and indicate that such behavior is unwanted, so that we can take appropriate actions, such as removing the offender's content or suspending their account.

Hogan proposed that LinkedIn should utilize AI technology to monitor and regulate users who send inappropriate messages, instead of relying on the recipient to report or block the sender.

AI would detect and prevent users from sending inappropriate messages.

Hogan suggested that LinkedIn should implement safety protocols similar to those of Bumble and Tinder to prevent unsolicited pictures and sexualized messages from being sent.