Why I Left LinkedIn and Rediscovering Weak Ties

Greg Twemlow's Medium article discusses his decision to leave LinkedIn, citing its transformation of genuine "weak ties" (casual connections) into a superficial numbers game. He contrasts LinkedIn's focus on accumulating connections with the authentic, organically formed weak ties described in Mark Granovetter's book, The Strength of Weak Ties. Twemlow argues that LinkedIn's commodification of these connections detracted from meaningful interaction. He found liberation in leaving and now prioritizes more authentic engagement on platforms like Medium. The article advocates for reevaluating one's use of LinkedIn to prioritize quality over quantity in networking.About the Author - Greg Twemlow writes and teaches at the intersection of technology, education, and human judgment. He works with educators and businesses to make AI explainable and assessable in classrooms and boardrooms — to ensure AI users show their process and own their decisions. His cognition protocol, the Context & Critique Rule™, is built on a three-step process: Evidence → Cognition → Discernment — a bridge from what’s scattered to what’s chosen. Context & Critique → Accountable AI™. © 2025 Greg Twemlow. “Context & Critique → Accountable AI” and “Context & Critique Rule” are unregistered trademarks (™).