Using LinkedIn might make you doubt yourself, says a study from the University of Edinburgh. The survey of LinkedIn users found a connection between using the site and feeling like a fake, even when you’ve achieved things.

People felt less sure about their professional skills when scrolling through others’ posts and when sharing their own successes. Feeling like an imposter can bring on anxiety and thoughts of not being good enough, the study says.

Imposter syndrome

This research, the first to link social media and imposter feelings, showed that many users tried to tackle the issue by paying for courses to improve their skills.

The study involved 506 people, all with at least a Bachelor’s degree and an average age of 36. It looked at how LinkedIn affected them in two ways—by checking how they felt when looking at others’ posts and when posting about their own successes.

In an online test, the researchers found that reading other people’s posts had a small but real link to feeling like an imposter, compared to not reading them. Posting on LinkedIn had a strong connection to imposter feelings, even when considering other factors, the study found.

Professional development

LinkedIn and similar sites like Xing have become very popular, with LinkedIn having over 930 million users worldwide. While these platforms offer chances for career growth and connecting with others, the study suggests there’s a downside—users dealing with imposter feelings.

Knowing that imposter feelings are common among professionals could help in creating support programs for staff development, the researchers say. When employees realize others are going through similar things, it might lessen the negative feelings tied to imposter syndrome.

“Just browsing the newsfeed or even posting an achievement on LinkedIn can trigger a reflection on your professional identity that can ignite imposter thoughts, which is associated with a fear of being found out as an imposter. Our findings show the negative well-being effects of social media are not only because we compare ourselves to others, but because we believe others think more highly of us than we think of ourselves,” the researchers conclude.