LinkedIn Gender Bias: Women Use Pronouns, Fake Moustaches

LinkedIn Gender Bias Experiment

Women are ​testing a ⁢theory that linkedin’s algorithm favors male profiles. By changing their gender​ settings to male (and sometiems using AI to adjust their language and adding fake moustaches), ‌many have reported a substantial ​boost in reach and engagement.

• The Experiment: Women altered⁢ their profiles to appear⁣ male ​- changing names (Simone to Simon), pronouns ​(to he/him),⁢ and even using AI to rewrite posts.⁤ Some added stick-on moustaches.
• Reported Results: Many women⁢ experienced a significant increase in reach and engagement, with one entrepreneur (Jo ⁤Dalton) reporting a 244% boost.
• AFP Verification: An AFP reporter confirmed the trend, observing a spike in post impressions after changing settings to male.
• Industry Perspective: Malin Frithiofsson (Daya Ventures ⁤CEO) sees this as‌ evidence ⁣of long-felt “gendered discrepancies” on the platform.
• LinkedIn’s⁣ Response: LinkedIn⁤ denies using gender as a ranking signal and claims changing gender⁤ doesn’t affect algorithm performance.

Source: AFP