Accessibility and LinkedIn

LinkedIn is a career-focused social networking platform used to build professional connections, explore job opportunities, and engage with colleagues and organizations. Owned by Microsoft, LinkedIn is widely used by blind and low vision professionals for networking, job searching, and professional visibility.

Through LinkedIn, users can create a detailed professional profile, connect with colleagues and peers, follow organizations, join groups, and search for jobs. Many people find LinkedIn valuable even when they are not actively job hunting, as it supports long-term professional networking and career development.

Using LinkedIn with Assistive Technology

LinkedIn on the Web

The LinkedIn website is generally usable with screen readers. Pages are structured using headings, lists, and standard controls, allowing users to navigate with screen reader quick navigation commands rather than relying on site-specific keyboard shortcuts.

Common tasks that can typically be completed accessibly on the web include:

• Creating and editing a profile
• Viewing and responding to connection requests
• Reading and sending messages
• Searching for people, organizations, and jobs
• Applying for jobs that use LinkedIn’s built-in application process

LinkedIn publishes guidance for screen reader users through its Help Center, including a collection of screen reader support articles.

Because LinkedIn updates its interface frequently, the company does not publish or guarantee a stable set of keyboard shortcuts. Using standard screen reader navigation and on-screen controls is the most reliable approach.

Profile and Content Accessibility

LinkedIn supports alternative text for images shared in posts and on profiles. Adding alt text helps ensure that visual content is accessible to people who use screen readers.

As with other social platforms, the accessibility of user-generated content may vary depending on whether individuals and organizations choose to add descriptions and follow accessibility best practices.

LinkedIn on Mobile Devices

LinkedIn offers mobile apps for iOS and Android that are commonly used with VoiceOver and TalkBack. Many blind and low vision users prefer the mobile apps for tasks such as messaging, managing notifications, and browsing the feed.

From the mobile apps, users can:

• Edit their profile
• Manage connections and messages
• Search and apply for jobs
• Receive and respond to notifications

Accessibility and usability may vary depending on the specific task, device, and app version.

Accessibility Best Practices for LinkedIn

Whether you are posting updates, sharing articles, or managing an organizational page, following accessibility best practices on LinkedIn helps ensure your content can be understood by a wider audience, including people who use screen readers or other assistive technologies.

Add Alternative Text to Images

When adding alternative text to images on LinkedIn:

• Describe the purpose or key information in the image, not every visual detail
• Use punctuation and complete sentences to improve how descriptions are read aloud
• Keep descriptions concise and focused
• Avoid phrases such as “image of” or “photo of,” as screen readers already announce images
• Include visible text from the image if it is important for understanding the post
• Do not repeat information that is already fully explained in the post text
• Avoid emojis, decorative symbols, or excessive capitalization in alt text

Learn how add alternative text to images for accessibility.

Use Clear, Descriptive Post Text

When sharing information on LinkedIn:

• Write complete, descriptive sentences that explain the purpose of your post
• Do not rely on images alone to convey important information
• If you share a link, include context in the post text rather than relying on the link preview

LinkedIn does not allow users to customize link preview text in an accessible way, so providing context in the post itself is especially important.

Write Hashtags Accessibly

Hashtags are more accessible to screen reader users when written in CamelCase, with each word capitalized.

Example:
#DigitalAccessibility instead of #digitalaccessibility

Avoid using long strings of hashtags, which can be difficult to navigate when read aloud.

Avoid Emojis and Decorative Formatting

From an accessibility standpoint, using emojis in LinkedIn posts is not recommended. Screen readers announce emojis aloud, which can interrupt the flow of text and make posts harder to understand.

Avoid:

• Emojis within sentences or used to replace words
• Excessive line breaks used for visual spacing
• Decorative symbols (such as repeated punctuation or shapes)
• All-caps text for emphasis

These elements are often read aloud literally by screen readers and can significantly reduce clarity and comprehension. If emojis are used at all, they should be minimal and placed only at the very end of a post. Emojis and decorative formatting should never convey essential information.

Make Video Content Accessible

For videos shared on LinkedIn:

• Include accurate captions for spoken content
• Avoid placing essential information only in on-screen text
• When possible, incorporate audio description to describe important visuals naturally in the narration

While LinkedIn supports captions, audio description must be included in the video’s main audio track if it is needed.

Learn More About LinkedIn Accessibility

LinkedIn publishes accessibility-related guidance through its Help Center, including:

• Screen reader support articles
• Add alternative text to images for accessibility

Users who encounter accessibility barriers can contact LinkedIn support through the Help Center and request assistance.

Because LinkedIn is owned by Microsoft, broader accessibility guidance and training resources are also available through Microsoft Accessibility Resources.