Staying Safe on LinkedIn® – What You Need to Know

LinkedIn is the hub of professional life for millions of people around the world. But with that central role comes risk. In our recent Link∙Ability [IN]sights livestream, LinkedIn sales trainer and author Brynne Tillman joined me to unpack what’s happening behind the scenes and what every professional should know about keeping their account safe.

Why Safety Matters Now

Account shutdowns aren’t new, but Brynne explained that LinkedIn has ramped up enforcement by deploying AI-driven detection systems that automatically flag accounts. These shutdowns often happen without human review, meaning your profile, connections, and content can be locked away overnight. For business owners, consultants, and sales professionals, that’s devastating.

The Top Triggers for Account Restrictions

Brynne highlighted two primary reasons people are losing access to their accounts:

◼ Risky browser extensions – Many popular tools scrape data or automate actions, which violates the LinkedIn user agreement (8.2.2). Even well-loved productivity tools like text expanders or other browser extensions may contain scraping features that put your account at risk.

◼ Outsourced or patterned activity – If someone is logging in from another location and performing the same number of actions daily, LinkedIn’s AI may flag this as automation.

Other risky behaviours include:

◼ Mass messaging, even to first-degree connections

◼ Excessive connection requests that go unanswered (risking restriction appeals)

◼ Over-tagging people in posts who then remove themselves

◼ Use of engagement pods that obligate members to engage every time

How to Protect Yourself

The best defence is prevention. Brynne recommends:

◼ Running a regular browser extension audit and remove anything that scrapes profile fields or automates viewing, connecting, or messaging

◼ Withdrawing unanswered connection requests every month to avoid hitting system limits

◼ Avoiding repetitive, machine-like activity patterns

◼ Building credibility with authentic engagement instead of automation or bulk tactics

A Quick “Do and Don’t” Guide

• Do: Focus on meaningful comments, useful posts, and personal outreach
• Don’t: Use mass messaging tools – they’re a spam signal
• Do: Withdraw stale requests regularly
• Don’t: Tag large groups of people without context or permission

Building Trust, Not Spam

Perhaps Brynne’s most important point was that safety and trust are intertwined. Spammy “connect and pitch” messages not only risk penalties, they damage your credibility. Instead, show up as a trusted advisor who adds value first. As Brynne put it:

“Detach from what the prospect is worth to you and attach to what you are worth to the prospect.”

That mindset shift changes everything.

The Bottom Line

LinkedIn safety isn’t just about avoiding account shutdowns. It’s about preserving the trust and credibility you’ve worked hard to build. Audit your tools, slow down your outreach, and focus on bringing genuine value to your network. If you do face an account restriction appeal, you’ll be in a stronger position to demonstrate compliance.

#linkedin #linkedinsafety #linkedinjail

How Link∙Ability member Simon Fawkes benefits from being part of our community.

"I joined Link Ability Members’ Community because I was struggling to keep up with LinkedIn’s constant changes and wanted to improve my results on the platform. Since joining, I’ve gained a solid understanding of current best practices and learned techniques to make my posts more effective.

"What really stands out is Lynnaire herself – she’s a LinkedIn powerhouse who generously shares her own expertise, as well as insights from top experts around the world. I also really value being part of such a supportive and active community.

"I can only speak directly about Link Ability Members, but I can say this: it’s an excellent resource at a very affordable monthly subscription. I hold Lynnaire in high regard and wouldn’t hesitate to recommend her work."