This message got shadow banned on LinkedIn

What happens when you call out the "rage-bait" culture online

I have been posting on LinkedIn for over 2 years.

I’ve had a few posts get shadow banned, but to hide the message I shared today is ridiculous.

I followed the same routine I always do for posting some of my best content on LinkedIn.

I drove home and sat in my car until I got my ideas out of my brain and onto LinkedIn.

Here is what was on my mind:

Post anything online… and someone will hate it.

People who feed on your rage.

People who make content designed to divide us.

Even around something as serious as suicide prevention.

And yet, there’s only one week left in Suicide Prevention Month.

So here’s the message I want to leave you with:

In a world full of anger, choose joy.
In a world full of despair, choose hope.
In a world full of hate, choose love.

I refuse to make content that adds to division.

This page will always be a place to bring people together and remind them: you are not alone.

So here’s my ask:

What message of hope can you give someone this week?

Drop it in the comments 🧡

Where did this idea come from?

I saw a post on LinkedIn about this group called “LinkedIn Lunatics” who make fun of viral content on LinkedIn.

It made me curious if they had ever seen my content.

One search of my name and I found this:

I’m honestly flattered that I caught their attention.

Plus, the comments were mostly in my defense.

My post they are making fun of here has over 1,000 likes and 200,000 views to date.

A picture of my brother and I out for a run, talking about practical tips for self care, leaving people with hope and connection.

So I shared this on LinkedIn this morning…

…and the post is stuck at 1 impression.

I got shadow banned for calling out the bullies online. For talking about hope and connection.

It’s not that deep. I’ll go back to “staying in my lane” tomorrow, talking about suicide prevention, grief, and hope.

But this experience highlights the current moment we are in.

We are in a “rage-bait” culture full of content made to piss you off because anger gets reactions.

There will always be hate online.

That is why it is more important than ever before to share messages of hope.

If you have received hate online, I see you.

If social media has made you feel isolated, remember that you are not alone.

And if LinkedIn won’t share your message, build your own community of resilient, hope filled people who you actually enjoy talking to.

Thank you for reading this.

Since I won’t get responses to this message on LinkedIn, leave a comment below or reply to this email with your thoughts.

With hope,

Ethan