Serious question do I *have* to make a linkedin account (computer science student)?

I have a genuine reason as to why I cannot make a linkedin, I am currently a first year computer science student. I am also wanting to do a year long internship after second year. How much will it hinder me for when I apply to internships and in the future? Do I NEED a linkedin?

It won't make any material difference at all. There's absolutely no requirement to have a LInkedIn account.

People in my course were saying that it helped them land a summer internship as they got hired through there. Will it not hinder me in terms of the connections I can make, the higher chance to get hired and also won't employee's get sussed out when they search me and I don't have any social media or linkedin account?

I have a genuine reason as to why I cannot make a linkedin, I am currently a first year computer science student. I am also wanting to do a year long internship after second year. How much will it hinder me for when I apply to internships and in the future? Do I NEED a linkedin?

You don't need a LinkedIn account, and the lack of one probably won't hinder you when it comes to placements or graduate roles. But it can be useful, as some of your course mates have apparently found out. A lot of recruiters are on there (both inhouse external agency ones), so it can be a good place to find out about jobs, as well as the industry because a lot of professional content/articles etc. are posted there too.

It's only one way of getting internships etc, and not necessarily the best one. Employers don't 'search for' graduates on LinkedIn, and no-one bothers whether there are social media links on a CV anyway, it's a bigger risk than reward to put them on in any case.

alright thanks for the reassurance guys , if I was going to make one I would not have put my real name (I would have put my preferred first name and my surname initial) or a picture of my face which I think would raise some eyebrows and look more sus

what other ways can I make connections if not through linkedin, thats probs the biggest thing im worried about