still confused about why people use them in the first place.i see no benefits of having a linkedin account. i'm probably just confused about what they are and how they work.
In my experience it exists so that lazy recruiters can relentlessly spam users with completely irrelevant job vacancies based on odd keywords that appear in their profiles.
A year ago I made the transition from contract developer to employer and therefore have a lot of "developer" keywords and experience on there. My profile makes it very clear that I'm busy running a business and not looking for entry-level contract positions. It also clearly says "no agencies" in the contact details. I still get multiple messages and connection requests from clueless recruiters playing the numbers game to the point where the site actually has a net negative value to me due to wasted time.
Still, I'll probably go check it out now that I've been reminded that it exists... If only to go and clear out my inbox again.