{
  "id": 4603718,
  "title": "‘Singles have become their own private investigators’: Daters are using LinkedIn to screen matches",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/31/singles-have-become-their-own-private-investigators-daters-are-using",
  "topic": "finance",
  "section": "Finance & Markets",
  "published": "2026-08-31T07:30:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Fortune",
    "slug": "fortune",
    "url": "https://fortune.com/2026/08/31/singles-have-become-their-own-private-investigators-daters-are-using-linkedin-to-screen-matches/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "LinkedIn users are increasingly turning to the professional network as a tool for vetting romantic prospects, despite the company's explicit prohibition against using it for romantic pursuits. When North Carolina-based writer Pat Brothwell received a message request from a New York matchmaker on LinkedIn, he initially suspected it might be a scam. However, the matchmaker, Marin Haugo, claimed the distance wouldn't be an issue and even suggested Brothwell fly to New York for dates if necessary. Brothwell felt that Haugo had done little research into his background, as she did not seem to have looked into his location in Asheville, North Carolina. Brothwell never met any of Haugo's clients after the meeting, which took place three years ago, and Haugo stopped responding when he revealed he was a nonfiction author participating for research purposes. LinkedIn's professional community policies specifically state that users should not use the platform to pursue romantic connections, but a June Zety survey found that one in four U.S. employees believe it's \"fair game\" for romantic advances on LinkedIn. The platform has taken steps to address unwanted advances, removing 477,911 comments that provoked harassment or abuse and 80,806 comments using adult language or imagery in the second half of 2025. However, LinkedIn users remain divided on the appropriateness of using the platform for romantic purposes, with some seeing it as a more reliable source of information than dating apps. Professional matchmakers recommend researching potential partners online, including scanning their LinkedIn profiles, to gain additional context and feel more informed and comfortable before meeting someone in person.",
  "summary": "LinkedIn isn’t a dating app, but a survey of U.S. workers found that about one in four consider using the platform for romance “fair game.”",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}