Web Site 'LinkedIn' Sets Sights On College-Bound Teens
By Melony Roy
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- The professional networking site LinkedIn is now trying to help teens network before college.
Starting September 13th, students in the United States ages 14 and up will be able to sign up for LinkedIn, create a profile, and start connecting with "University Pages."
Devon Powers, assistant professor of culture and communications at Drexel University, says networking is very important for prospective college students.
"Everything that I've seen about this development has been all about trying to tap into the data that LinkedIn already has about what kind of degrees people get and what type of career they go on to do," she explains.
The service could also help LinkedIn grow its membership base, already over 225 million.
"They obviously are trying to find their niche among the social networks and attract a different kind of audience with a different kind of service," Powers tells KYW Newsradio.
LinkedIn has teamed up with more than 200 colleges and universities on University Pages, and in the next few weeks thousands more schools will be given access to these college-specific pages.
