Emily Brown
A dating columnist has claimed there's a new social media site people are using to flirt, and it's not one of the usual suspects.
When it comes to 'sliding into the DMs', your mind probably goes straight to Instagram, where a private message is the next step after a flurry of likes and maybe a telling comment or two.
It's not as obvious as a dating app, but if you're on the dating market, spotting a message from someone on Instagram who potentially wants to be more than friends isn't totally unexpected.
Apparently, however, people are willing to use pretty much any method of connection if it means they might be in with a chance of a new romance - or even just one night of fun.
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This revelation comes from dating expert Jana Hocking, who claimed that one 'unassuming' app has become the 'secret, underground dating app of the 2020s'.
The app in question?
LinkedIn. That's right, the same app people use to look for jobs, share their work wins and make connections designed to help boost their career. At least, that's usually what it's used for.
In an article for The New York Post, Hocking claimed that one of her friends was the subject of a LinkedIn dating story.
She made a connection with a man on the site over their 'similar careers', and now they're married.
Noting that her own inbox is 'constantly flooded with requests from men in finance, construction, and tech' - industries that having nothing to do with her life as a dating columnist - she asked: "We have zero work-related connections, so why are they so eager to network with me?"
It's not too hard to guess the answer, as Hocking wrote: "They’re not after career advice."
Since apparently no social media site is safe, Hocking went on to share some red flags which people in relationships might be able to look out for if they're concerned about any connections being made online.
LinkedIn is great for business, but how much time does one person really need to spend on the app? Hocking warned that if a user isn't 'chasing business deals', they could instead be 'chasing digital attention'.
Red flags on the platform could include connections with attractive strangers who aren't in their industry, or messages about 'connecting over coffee'.
But the warning signs extend beyond LinkedIn...
Hocking noted that one sign of danger could be someone who 'never fails to like and comment' on social media posts made by 'random women', though manages to miss the photos you post of the two of you together.
She added: "If you take a peep at their explore page and it looks like the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition, that’s a red flag."
By blocking you from seeing their story, your partner could run rampant with 'thirst trap' posts on Instagram. They might claim blocking you was an 'accident', though Hocking noted: "Chances are, it wasn’t. (It never is!)"
If you spot your partner's phone lighting up in the middle of the night, despite being largely silent in the day, it could be a warning sign to make note of.
Hocking said it best: "Honestly, no one is discussing work projects at 2 AM. "