Corporate memes are among the most liked, shared, and circulated memes—not just because they are funny, but because, from an outsider’s perspective, they realistically reflect corporate work systems and highlight how younger generations are weary of corporate structures and increasingly turning to freelancing or starting their own businesses.
Regarding corporate memes, recently Thai people have been sharing memes about LinkedIn, the professional networking and job-hunting website, by translating normal Thai into "LinkedIn language"—phrases used when presenting or introducing oneself to senior employees—which many see as the “mask” employees wear at work.
Reports say that younger people, especially Gen Z, are trying to delete their LinkedIn accounts—a platform many use to find jobs but is also dubbed the worst social media space. They feel it fosters toxic positivity, breeds jealousy, and completely lacks privacy.
LinkedIn was launched online in 2003 by Reid Hoffman and Eric Ly as a space for professional networking, career development, and posting work histories to find jobs matching one’s skills. As of 2026, over 1.2 billion accounts have been registered worldwide.
When LinkedIn becomes a space of toxic competition.
Many are familiar with LinkedIn not only as a job site but also for entering skills, education, activities, awards, and past work experiences. This has led some to view LinkedIn as a place for self-comparison, with its algorithm favoring profiles with more endorsements, overshadowing less experienced users and limiting their opportunities.
On Reddit, users have discussed feeling bad every time they visit LinkedIn. One said, “I’m unemployed but have to use LinkedIn out of necessity, and it feels very painful.” Another who deleted their account described LinkedIn as a space dominated by overconfident people, bordering on egoism, who put themselves at the center. Comments compared it to an endless treadmill while others boast about their achievements and happiness.
There is a consensus that LinkedIn is a place to “boast” about oneself, as everyone must wear a mask of potential to meet job market demands. Many LinkedIn users adopt formal, corporate-friendly language, which Reddit users see as fake. This formal speech has been parodied, illustrating a widely shared understanding of the platform’s nature.
Comments also mention cases where husbands were deceived by people claiming LinkedIn profiles, as personal details like emails or phone numbers make users feel unprivate. LinkedIn’s system tracks who graduated from the same university, who are alumni, and previous workplaces, making it a strange space where people are judged before truly knowing them.
However, if so many dislike LinkedIn, deleting accounts might seem a good choice, like quitting Facebook or Instagram to avoid social media. Yet deleting LinkedIn is harder because many companies require LinkedIn accounts for job applications, reviewing work history, networks, and ease of recruitment, effectively tying users to the platform.
Elle Hunt, a journalist and writer for The Guardian, wrote an article titled “LinkedIn is the worst of social media. Should I delete my account?” Eight years ago, she interviewed people who mostly felt trapped by the platform despite disliking it.
“Job seekers spend crazy amounts of time on LinkedIn. I try not to post anything about myself because I can’t guarantee it’s accurate,” she quoted.
Another opinion stated, “It’s not a good environment; it’s full of excitement and excessive positivity rather than thoughtful discussion of problems. It’s like a giant living resume designed with fake relationships.”
Strangely, some also use the platform for dating, with messages like “I really like your profile picture,” making LinkedIn feel like a place to scan for interesting people through their work profiles.
All these online comments reflect a negative view of LinkedIn as a psychologically toxic space that fails to provide genuine feelings of success or career progress.
Corporate work is a societal necessity.
While many agree LinkedIn fosters toxic positivity, John Herrman from The New York Times explains that LinkedIn wasn’t designed to connect the whole world like other social media but for professionals to feel productive and successful. He suggests understanding that the platform has a fixed format and shouldn’t be expected to be like Facebook or other social spaces.
Some Reddit users also see positive sides, noting LinkedIn as a good reference source for job applications, whether for education or previous jobs. One shared that a viral article he wrote on LinkedIn led to a writing job. Additionally, LinkedIn’s job search system actively helps unemployed users by matching them with suitable positions.
We cannot conclude LinkedIn is entirely bad since it has nearly equal levels of love and hate. Nothing is perfect. LinkedIn is designed for corporate structures, explaining why many job openings are in tech, finance, and advertising, but it is less suitable for some creative companies, which have their own dedicated platforms. The issue lies not with the platform but with possibly misusing it or not understanding its purpose.
Sometimes we must overlook problems and manage our feelings. We should view LinkedIn as a way to learn about the working world from a distance, studying corporate forms without fully immersing ourselves. Although it feels like wearing a mask and constantly boosting morale, these are normal aspects of work life designed to minimize conflict and maintain harmonious coexistence.
We do not deny the truth in people’s online comments, but internet spaces like Quora, Pantip, or Reddit have become our alter egos venting frustrations about LinkedIn. The platform itself may not be the problem; rather, these expressions show that people need places to share feelings—much like workers confiding in close colleagues during lunch about their stress. Ultimately, life goes on as usual.
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