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If you use LinkedIn (and you should), you might not be aware of a recent update. A recently launched ad format integrates member activities into their advertising — and you’re automatically opted in for participation.

The idea behind the enhancement is to serve highly relevant, timely and useful ads to you by leveraging the wisdom of your professional network.

From the LinkedIn blog in late June: “We’re excited to announce today that we plan to roll out changes to the advertising platform across LinkedIn which will surface actions from your network, like recommendations and company follows.”

Here’s an example of a recruitment ad. If you’re a job seeker, this will show you people in your own personal network who could potentially refer you directly.

LinkedIn recruitment ad and social networking

According to LinkedIn: “….we do not provide your name or image back to any advertiser when that ad is served.” This is good news.

As you’ve been “opted-in” to this, I thought you might like to know how to “opt-out,” should you decide you  don’t want your name or photo used in social advertising,

Follow these steps and you should be good to go.

  1. Scroll over your name at the top of your LinkedIn homepage (upper right), and click on “Settings” in the drop-down menu.
  2. From there, click on “Account” at bottom left of page.
  3. Under “Privacy Controls,” select “Manage Social Advertising,” and uncheck the box next to “LinkedIn may use my name, photo in social advertising.
What do you think of the new ads?