Microsoft operates LinkedIn after buying it in 2016.
Microsoft announced its acquisition of LinkedIn in June 2016 and completed the transaction in December 2016 for approximately $26.2 billion. LinkedIn continued operating as a separate brand and service within Microsoft rather than being renamed as a Microsoft social network.
LinkedIn was founded in 2003 and launched publicly in 2003. Its platform focuses on professional identities, employment listings, recruiting, business networking, and workplace learning. The service became a major source of professional data and advertising for its parent company.
Microsoft’s other major businesses include Windows, Office, Azure cloud services, Xbox, and business software. Its ownership of LinkedIn is sometimes confused with Microsoft’s acquisition of GitHub, which was announced in 2018 and completed later that year. Both are separate platforms owned by Microsoft.