I have a dark secret, a shameful indulgence that’s been hiding in plain sight, and it’s not my love for rewatching “Glee” in its entirety (although, let’s be real, that’s still a pretty guilty pleasure). No, my real guilty pleasure is that I’m addicted to LinkedIn’s pathetic attempts to be cool by playing its laughable “games.”
Yes, you read that right – LinkedIn, the professional networking platform, is trying to compete with The New York Times’ Wordle and other games to get your attention. Because, of course, everyone wants to play games at work, right? Who needs actual productivity when you can solve a logic puzzle or play a word association game during your lunch break? It’s not like your boss is going to notice or anything.
But hey, who am I kidding? LinkedIn’s games are actually kind of fun, in a weird, guilt-ridden way. Maybe it’s the dopamine rush I get from solving a puzzle, or maybe it’s the thrill of secretly playing games on my “professional” networking platform while my colleagues think I’m actually working. Whatever it is, I’m hooked.
And I’m not the only one. According to LinkedIn’s own data, new player engagement has grown by 20% week over week since the start of July. People can’t get enough of their daily dose of LinkedIn “fun.” I mean, who needs human interaction or meaningful connections when you can play a game and earn rewards on your professional profile?
But here’s the thing – LinkedIn’s games are just a distraction from the real issues. A distraction from the fact that we’re all just as trapped in this never-ending cycle of productivity and efficiency as we are in these games. We’re all just playing along, trying to climb the corporate ladder, and pretending that it’s all worth it in the end.
So, go ahead and play those LinkedIn games. Waste away your days solving puzzles and earning rewards. Just don’t say I didn’t warn you.
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