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Ask HN: LinkedIn mysteriously banned me permanently; where to go next?

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Re: Ask HN: LinkedIn mysteriously banned me permanently; where to go next?

#51
As an aside, I wonder how we as a community can force the hands of these 'utility companies' (MS, Google et al) in the coming years. I'm just repeating our common woes of course, but...

Here I feel we could insist on a compromise somehow, 'Automated bans must be reviewed and responded to within 1 business day by a human, with no templated responses allowed. A clear path to account reinstatement must be provided'.

We can't vote with our wallets, it wouldn't move the needle. We can't act maliciously or illegally. We could possibly raise awareness on mass and organise petitions (I'm sceptical). We could use our networks to pester individuals. We could shame specific people (I notice such a disconnect in some faang employees. E.g. Facebook employees seem blind to Myanmar interference).

The irony of how much power we ostensibly have at our fingertips, contrasted with how little power we have in practice.

Currently, we rely on the teeth of the EU. And nothing else significant occurs from my pov, the troubles just worsen.

Re: Ask HN: LinkedIn mysteriously banned me permanently; where to go next?

#52

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Nearly all recruiters I've known in the tech sector (context: developers, project managers, consultants, business and technical analysts, mid level managers in bespoke development and inhouse verticals) used LinkedIn exclusively for talent scouting (I know Github is a thing but more in software product dev). If you are not on LinkedIn, you are simply not on the radar. So you would not be in their CRM without a Linked…

100% in agreement there and that is exactly why I focused solely on LinkedIn to build my network. Now it all vanished.

You can get your data through a GDPR Data Subject Access Request.

Re: Ask HN: LinkedIn mysteriously banned me permanently; where to go next?

#53

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Plot twist: OP is actually an LLM paired with an internet-connected python state machine, and has now discovered how to post on HN as a possible remedy. (Sorry it seemed too timely not to make the joke!) Hope you'll be able to resolve this, or find another way; I do agree that LinkedIn is a monopoly here and you should have recourse as an individual. Scary how Kafka-esque our techno future has become.

That can happen cause it some point some LLM folks are scraping HN. But then, aren’t the majority of LLM owners the same that own the social media products, especially the centralized ones. It is indeed scary where we are heading. Side question, what does OP stand for?

[deleted]

Re: Ask HN: LinkedIn mysteriously banned me permanently; where to go next?

#54

It's not useful for commentators to dismiss OP's concerns about losing their LinkedIn account. Just because it has never been helpful to you, doesn't mean it isn't helpful or important to others. And it is true that recruiters heavily use LinkedIn to source or validate candidates, especially ones who operate in client facing roles. We should focus on trying to help this guy find resolution or alternatives. Onto Linke…

Thank you. If only I can talk to a human not a machine at LinkedIn. I am always getting the same automated response each time I try to reply to the ban email message. “ We've deemed the activity in your account is in violation of the LinkedIn User Agreement and Professional Community Policies. Your appeal has been denied and your account has been restricted permanently. Please see our User Agreement and Professional…

I get you, and you are not alone in this challenge. I do know several people who have lost their accounts and they report the same. In fact, I was also suspended erroneously a long time ago and resolved it via online chat, somewhere here

https://www.linkedin.com/help/linkedin/answer/a554153

Re: Ask HN: LinkedIn mysteriously banned me permanently; where to go next?

#55

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Plot twist: OP is actually an LLM paired with an internet-connected python state machine, and has now discovered how to post on HN as a possible remedy. (Sorry it seemed too timely not to make the joke!) Hope you'll be able to resolve this, or find another way; I do agree that LinkedIn is a monopoly here and you should have recourse as an individual. Scary how Kafka-esque our techno future has become.

That can happen cause it some point some LLM folks are scraping HN. But then, aren’t the majority of LLM owners the same that own the social media products, especially the centralized ones. It is indeed scary where we are heading. Side question, what does OP stand for?

> what does OP stand for?

"Original Poster" - the person who originally posted the story; in this case, you.

Re: Ask HN: LinkedIn mysteriously banned me permanently; where to go next?

#56

It's not useful for commentators to dismiss OP's concerns about losing their LinkedIn account. Just because it has never been helpful to you, doesn't mean it isn't helpful or important to others. And it is true that recruiters heavily use LinkedIn to source or validate candidates, especially ones who operate in client facing roles. We should focus on trying to help this guy find resolution or alternatives. Onto Linke…

I think yc applications require a linkedin url now! (I read this a short while ago on Reddit, so cannot confirm nor deny)

Re: Ask HN: LinkedIn mysteriously banned me permanently; where to go next?

#57
post #41

> Recruiters expect me to have a LinkedIn link on my resume or portfolio I've never seen this before. Either way, in every city there is only a finite number of recruitment agencies each of whom will have their own internal CRM of candidates. So just go on their website, find someone who works there and ask to be put on it along with your skills etc Also just build relationships with recruiters. It's always a smart t…

As an employer, I find it suspect if someone doesn't have a LinkedIn profile. Equally (or perhaps more) suspect is a LinkedIn profile which isn't up-to-date, as that can often go hand-in-hand with someone moonlighting. None of these are things which I'd consider definitive, but as part of a set of factors, certainly bring into consideration.

As a judger of employers, I find it suspect that an employer cannot conceive of the notion of someone not wanting to give a big tech company detailed personal information voluntarily for the BigCo to do whatever the hell they want with it.

If all employers thought the same way this would be akin to junior candidates having to do so at gunpoint, since they would be unsure whether their relatively thin work experience would be enough to balance out being flagged as a potential fraudster, and where the alternative would be not being able to enter the workforce.

Re: Ask HN: LinkedIn mysteriously banned me permanently; where to go next?

#58

I really don't understand what the purpose of having a linked in account is really except getting biographical information about people and seeing who's searching you on the internet, unless you are a job seeker.

OP is a self-stated job seeker. Your comment is moot.

Re: Ask HN: LinkedIn mysteriously banned me permanently; where to go next?

#59

Instead of considering this a misfortune, think of it as a stroke of great luck. The very best employers & jobs have no connection to LI, and you'll now be forced to go for those.

Thank you. I needed that.

Depending on which country you're in, there're likely one or more recruiting agencies and/or "neo-recruiting-platforms" active in your market. Not being represented on LinkedIn should not be a problem with a decent one. Look around and try out a few.

Re: Ask HN: LinkedIn mysteriously banned me permanently; where to go next?

#60
https://www.polywork.com/ maybe another place to market yourself

I've had a couple of temporary bans over the last few months. No warning or email. No idea what I did. Asking support on Twitter was the most helpful at getting things sorted https://twitter.com/LinkedInHelp

You have seen the r/LinkedIn mega thread? https://www.reddit.com/r/linkedin/comments/15cx1zg/mega_thre...

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