LinkedIn: Facebook for professionals?

Abstract

Founded in 2003, LinkedIn claims to be the world's largest professional network with over 300 million members worldwide. It is a publicly-held social networking site with a diversified business model; funded by member subscriptions, advertising sales and recruitment campaigns. Its mission is to ‘connect the world's professionals to make them more productive and successful’. However, is this business-orientated social networking site a suitable platform for midwives to connect, collaborate, share best practice and disseminate research?