Birthday Announcements on LinkedIn: Harmless Fun or HR Red Flag?

Today’s my last lap of my 50’s and I just got my first, “Happy Birthday” message from someone in Australia and it had me thinking….

It’s my 59th day on earth and if you know me, you know I’m not exactly quiet about aging. I celebrate it. Loudly. Proudly. Boldly. Aging isn’t something I hide. It’s something I live out loud just like my mother does and always has.

But here’s the thing… not everyone can or even wants to.

Every year, LinkedIn does its automated confetti thing — announcing your birthday to your network like we’re back in third grade passing out cupcakes or invites to our birthday party. It’s meant to spark connection. But in a world where age bias still shows up in hiring, promotions, and perception, a simple birthday announcement can reveal more than someone may want to share.

Barbara Brooks

I know plenty of professionals especially women in midlife who keep their birthdays off LinkedIn, not because they’re ashamed of their age, but because they know how quickly age can become a silent filter. A hiring manager does the math, a recruiter makes an assumption, and suddenly that birthday balloon carries more than baggage.

As someone turning 59, I’m choosing to celebrate. I’ve earned every single one of these years, facial bookmarks aka crinkles and years of experience. But I also understand why others hit “hide.”

So, here’s my question for LinkedIn: should users have more control over how birthdays are shared? Not everyone wants (or can afford) to have their age announced in a professional space where bias still exists.