Aditya Hadi Pratama · · 1 min readLinkedIn will shut down social features in China due to “greater requirements”
LinkedIn, a business and employment-oriented online portal, announced that it will shut down the social function of its localized platform in China later this year.
The company cited a “more challenging operating environment” and “greater compliance requirements” in the country as a reason for this closure.
Photo credit: Ben Scholzen
LinkedIn started to offer a localized version of its platform in China in February 2014. Since then, it has become a tool for Chinese users looking to find out more about global and local companies.
During the time, LinkedIn adhered to the Chinese government’s requirements as the last major US-based social media platform that was allowed to operate in the country. The government had previously blocked Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and other global platforms from being accessed by Chinese internet users. In March, LinkedIn paused new member signups to remain “in compliance with local law.”
With this development, the online portal has shifted its focus in China to providing job matching services for the country’s professionals and companies. Later this year, LinkedIn aims to launch a new standalone jobs application platform in China called InJobs. The new service will not have any social features, including the ability to share posts or articles.
Editing by Miguel Cordon and Lorenzo Kyle Subido
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