By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism.
Why LinkedIn is worth $26.2 billion and how to make it work for you
97748513a3f1a2c90c468c65fbfe0b2ce4a62873ae93c238ec48741fe2e83c18
Microsoft announced Monday that it would purchase the career-focused social media site. - photo by Kelsey Dallas
When Microsoft announced last week that it would purchase LinkedIn for more than $26 billion, some observers were confused.

The social-networking site presents itself as a valuable tool for job seekers, but for every success story, there seems to be a tale of someone who created an account after college graduation and then promptly abandoned it.

"I remember the surprise I felt a couple of years ago when I learned that LinkedIn has been enjoying robust growth. I joined LinkedIn about a decade ago, but I didn't find it very useful," writes Timothy Lee for Vox.com.

Confusion about LinkedIn's value stems, in part, from the fact that the site is more popular and effective in some industries than others.

"Professionals going into marketing or finance will probably get more out of it than, say, scientists or engineers," MTV News reported in 2014.

Some workers may sign-up and receive countless job offers and connection requests, while others regret ever taking the time to upload a profile picture and resume.

But people in this second group may want to reconsider their stance, according to career experts. LinkedIn holds many benefits for job-seekers of all stripes, even if they're not immediately obvious.

"LinkedIn is a massive database, and within its gazillions of records are critical elements in your job-search plan and strategy," Forbes reported.

Users can learn about how the people who have their dream jobs got to where they are today and learn how to reach out to leaders at companies they admire, the article noted.

"Using LinkedIn, you can see who your friends know, where people have been and what they're interested in, what people are talking about and who's gone from Company A to Company B. If you're paying attention, LinkedIn can absorb at least 30 percent of your job-search related research load," Forbes reported.

However, people do need to work hard to get the most out of the site, experts said. LinkedIn compiles information, but individual users need to make creative use of it.

"LinkedIn matters, but with the disclaimer that it's only as effective as the user," said Stacy Harriman, UCLA's counseling manager, to MTV News.

The recent LinkedIn acquisition shouldn't change much about how the site functions, at least at first. Microsoft will allow the company to keep its current chief executive and operate as an independent brand, The New York Times reported.
Its toxic: New study says blue light from tech devices can speed up blindness
93cbd7a5475cccd1cee701424125d3abaa9b4beaa58d3663208f656cbbbd7661
A new study from the University of Toledo found that blue light from digital devices can transform molecules in your eyes retina into cell killers. - photo by Herb Scribner
It turns out checking Twitter or Facebook before bed is bad for your health.

A new study from the University of Toledo found that blue light from digital devices can transform molecules in your eyes retina into cell killers.

That process can lead to age-related macular degeneration, which is a leading cause of blindness in the United States, according to the researchs extract.

Blue light is a common issue for many modern Americans. Blue light is emitted from screens, most notably at night, causing sleep loss, eye strain and a number of other issues.

Dr. Ajith Karunarathne, assistant professor in the UT Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, said our constant exposure to blue light cant be blocked by the lens or cornea.

"It's no secret that blue light harms our vision by damaging the eye's retina. Our experiments explain how this happens, and we hope this leads to therapies that slow macular degeneration, such as a new kind of eye drop, he said.

Macular degeneration is an incurable eye disease that often affects those in their 50s or 60s. It occurs after the death of photoreceptor cells in the retina. Those cells need retinal to sense light and help signal the brain.

The research team found blue light exposure created poisonous chemical molecules that killed photoreceptor cells

"It's toxic. If you shine blue light on retinal, the retinal kills photoreceptor cells as the signaling molecule on the membrane dissolves," said Kasun Ratnayake, a Ph.D. student researcher working in Karunarathne's cellular photo chemistry group. "Photoreceptor cells do not regenerate in the eye. When they're dead, they're dead for good."

However, the researchers found a molecule called alpha-tocopherol, which comes from Vitamin E, can help prevent cell death, according to Futurism.

The researchers plan to review how light from TVs, cellphones and tablet screens affect the eyes as well.

"If you look at the amount of light coming out of your cellphone, it's not great but it seems tolerable," said Dr. John Payton, visiting assistant professor in the UT Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. "Some cellphone companies are adding blue-light filters to the screens, and I think that is a good idea."

Indeed, Apple released a Night Shift mode two years ago to help quell blue lights strain on the eyes, according to The Verge. The screen will dim into a warmer, orange light that will cause less stress on the eyes.