Is LinkedIn’s business strategy starting to backfire? With its increasing focus on video and visual content, LinkedIn continues down the path of “TikTokification” that began a few years ago. But add an overabundance of AI-generated posts to the mix, and you get a bloated feed that’s starting to wear on many users of the platform.
Magali Brochu, founder of Obrigado, summed up the current mood on LinkedIn perfectly in one post:
“50% are doing the starter pack trend. 50% are complaining about the starter pack trend. Are we really debating memes like it’s some existential dilemma? Just breathe—it’s a trend. Want to do it? Do it. Don’t want to? Scroll. No need to write a thesis on it.”
For professionals who haven’t yet fallen into the LinkedIn addiction, the “starter pack” is a visual format generated using AI. It typically shows a figurine-style packaging featuring the author, along with accessories representing their job.
Before that, a viral meme trend involved generating portraits in the style of Studio Ghibli—the renowned Japanese animation studio behind The Boy and the Heron. This wave of AI-stylized imagery quickly flooded LinkedIn feeds, to the dismay of many users.
“Are we giving any thought to the environmental impact of all this?”
“LinkedIn, we need to talk,” wrote children’s author Betty Piccioli. “I made the decision a few weeks ago to unfollow every person, company, or organization using generative AI in their posts. Yes, that includes your cute little Ghibli-style portraits or this week’s starter pack trend.”
Her gesture is meant to protest a range of issues—“environmental, social, the illegality of artistic theft, replacing artists, far-right manipulation…”—while acknowledging that her stance might be seen as radical.
Others have taken a more measured approach.
“We’re all kind of caught up in the starter pack wave right now,” wrote Alexanne Ouellet, a digital marketing consultant, on her LinkedIn. “But while we’re having fun generating 48 prompts per minute, I can’t help but ask: are we giving any thought to the environmental cost of it all? I’m not pointing fingers—just sharing a reflection. I actually dug into the topic recently… and the numbers really shocked me.”
Even casual users of the platform have reached their breaking point with AI-generated posts:
“I rarely post on LinkedIn, but I’ve had enough,” declared Océane Lhomme, a senior project manager.
“First it was Bref, then the Ghibli-inspired AI images, and now the starter packs—ENOUGH! These trends are killing originality and creativity. People don’t even think anymore—they just follow a wave, hoping the algorithm will throw them a bone.”
When Generative AI Creates “Original” Concepts
On April 1st, everything came to a head. April Fool’s Day turned into the perfect storm as everyone scrambled to post something “original” on their personal or business accounts. The result? A glut of eerily similar posts.
Content creation consultant and Isarta trainer Francis Jette caught on when he noticed two Quebec cities had posted nearly identical zipline-related jokes. A quick search revealed that dozens of cities—both in Quebec and abroad—had made the same gag. Companies, too, joined in with equally absurd fake product launches.
Jette confessed:
“I’m one of the first to use AI—but when you’re brainstorming, you have to expect you’re not the only one with that idea.”
To break from the flood of trendy posts, he opted instead to share a bright, authentic portrait taken by professional photographer Aurore Degaigne, along with a much-needed reminder:
“Just a reminder: You don’t have to jump on every trend. Especially if you really want to stand out.”
