LinkedIn launched in May 2003 as a professional networking website.
Reid Hoffman and founding team members created LinkedIn to connect professionals, display work histories, and support business networking online. The service initially grew more slowly than entertainment-focused social networks because its audience was centered on careers and professional contacts.
LinkedIn is often confused with job-board websites, but it is primarily a social network built around professional identity. Microsoft acquired LinkedIn in 2016 for $26.2 billion, while LinkedIn continued operating as a distinct service.
Its launch helped establish the idea that social networking could be useful for recruiting, business development, and maintaining career relationships, not only for personal messaging or sharing photos.