It is definitely a valid concern, especially since LinkedIn has become such an essential tool for professional networking here in Nigeria. The reality is that most major platforms now use our public data to train their models, and opting out is often buried deep in the settings rather than being a default choice. While the idea of our hard-earned career history being used as training fodder is unsettling, deactivating isn't a simple solution because it could negatively impact our job prospects in a competitive market. A balanced approach is to go into your settings, navigate to the data privacy section, and manually toggle off the options that allow LinkedIn to use your data for AI training. By staying proactive and limiting the personal details you share, you can protect your privacy without completely cutting yourself off from professional opportunities.

It is definitely a double-edged sword because while LinkedIn is a vital engine for career growth in the Nigerian market, the recent revelations about AI training data are genuinely concerning. I think the reality is that most of us are feeding the data machine by default, but you can actually opt out by navigating to your data privacy settings and toggling off the option for LinkedIn to use your information for generative AI training. Personally, I am not ready to deactivate my account yet because the networking benefits are too significant, but I have started being more intentional about what I share publicly. It is a tough balance, but being aware of the settings you can control is the best way to reclaim a bit of that digital privacy without losing your professional presence.