LinkedIn Algorithm Bias: What the “Profile Swap” Scandal Means for Black Women

Recently, LinkedIn has been popping with a scandal that, let’s be honest, shocked absolutely no one in our community. Multiple women reported that when they changed their profiles to appear as white men, their visibility skyrocketed.

Raise your hand if this surprises you . Exactly: nobody.

But even when the news isn’t shocking, it still lands like a gut punch. Who needs another reminder that the scales have never tipped, not in hiring, not in healthcare, not in leadership, and certainly not on social media platforms in our favor. Which raises bigger questions about why visibility on social media feels harder than it should.

If this resonates and you’re already thinking, “I need support navigating this,” explore my 1:1 visibility strategy services here.

Why This Hits Black Professional Women So Hard

If you’re a Black woman navigating corporate spaces, entrepreneurship, or thought leadership online, you grew up hearing the same horrible parenthetical phrase I did:

“…especially for Black women.”

• Higher death rates — especially for Black women.

• Lower salaries — especially for Black women.

• More bias, less recognition — especially for Black women.
  

So when we hear about the LinkedIn algorithm bias, it feels like confirmation of what many of us already know:The game is not fair and yet... WE STILL SHOW UP

That’s the part people underestimate. Not only the resilience, but the strategy, the presence, and the brilliance we bring to these platforms despite odds that were never designed with us in mind. None of us has allowed the idea of life being harder prevent us from the enjoyment and success we deserve as much as any one else.

➡️ Want visibility strategies created specifically for Black professional women? Follow me on Instagram for insights that help you get seen. Click here.

Is It Really Harder for Black Women to Grow on Social Media?

Yes. Let’s name that truth clearly.

Does that mean we shouldn’t pursue visibility, brand power, or community online?

Absolutely not.

Visibility isn’t just about going viral. It's about:

• Owning our narrative

• Positioning ourselves as the experts we already are

• Building a reputation that opens doors

• Creating opportunities for others who will follow you

I grew up knowing the sacrifices others made to get me here. So part of my identity, and my work, is to carry that torch forward and help other Black women get seen, recognized, and compensated. If you’ve ever wondered whether you truly have what it takes to stand out online, you’re not alone. I break that down more in this piece about stepping into your expertise with confidence. When Black women take up space online:

• We normalize our expertise

• We challenge biased algorithms with volume and consistency

• We open the door for more representation

• We show younger Black women what’s possible

Every post, article, or video you publish is more than content, it’s a digital legacy.

And that matters.

➡️ Want help crafting a visibility plan that aligns with who you are and what you stand for? Book a Visibility Strategy Session with me. Book here. If You Want to Dive Deeper into the LinkedIn Algorithm Bias: Follow Farah Harris

If you’ve been on LinkedIn for even a minute, you’ve probably come across Farah Harris, whose work is a masterclass in navigating bias, mental health, and professionalism as a Black woman. She recently wrote a powerful piece on exactly this topic.

Her analysis goes beyond the headline into what it means for workplace equity, leadership, and how Black women must often outperform and outmaneuver systems that aren’t built for us.

She is a force. And her voice is essential reading if you want to understand the deeper implications of this moment. Final Word: Focus on What You Can Control

I don’t spend my energy trying to fix algorithms, but I absolutely spend it helping Black women thrive despite them.

Because:

• Expert positioning can be engineered.

• Visibility can be built step by step.

• Authority can be earned faster with the right strategy.

• And your story deserves to be heard by the audience who needs it.

This is the work I do every day:Helping Black professional women gain visibility on social media —not by pretending the game is fair, but by learning how to play it powerfully.

Ready to Be Seen?

➡️ If you're a Black professional woman ready to amplify your voice, increase your reach, and build a visibility strategy that gets results, fill out the form on this page here.