LinkedIn is the world’s largest professional network with over 800 million members. As a platform built around professional profiles and industry discussions, LinkedIn aims to foster an environment for meaningful conversations and relationships between working professionals. To maintain this level of discourse, LinkedIn has established content guidelines that all members must follow when posting or engaging with content on the platform.
Why does LinkedIn have content guidelines?
LinkedIn’s content guidelines are in place to:
- Promote respectful, productive discourse between professionals
- Maintain the professional nature of the platform
- Prevent the spread of misinformation that could be damaging to careers or industries
- Uphold the integrity and security of the network
Following these guidelines allows members to get the most value out of LinkedIn as an elite professional network. It also protects the interests of companies utilizing LinkedIn for employer branding and recruitment.
What types of content are prohibited?
LinkedIn prohibits certain types of content to maintain a professional environment.
1. Offensive or Inappropriate Content
Any content that contains or promotes:
- Hate speech, bullying, or harassment
- Violence or physical harm
- Discrimination based on age, race, gender, etc.
- Illegal, sexually explicit, or pornographic material
2. Dishonest Content
Content that is dishonest, untrue, or misleading including:
- False or inaccurate information
- Conspiracy theories or hoaxes
- Clickbait headlines
- Scams, pyramid schemes, or other attempts to defraud users
3.Spam
Posts or messages created solely for promotional purposes, including:
- Repeated, identical posts
- Unsolicited commercial messages
- Mass invites without personalized messages
- Malicious links or software
4. Violations of Law
Content that enables illegal activity such as:
- Threats of harm or violence
- Terrorism or extremism
- Impersonating others
- Breaches of intellectual property
- Other violations of local or international law
What are LinkedIn’s guidelines around self-promotion?
LinkedIn recognizes that some self-promotion is necessary for members to build their professional brand. However, excessive self-promotion is considered spam. Guidelines around self-promotion include:
- Keep posts relevant to your industry and the LinkedIn audience
- Engage with other members through likes, comments, shares, etc. Don’t just broadcast
- Avoid repeatedly sharing the same content
- Don’t pre-populate connection requests with spam or marketing messages
As a rule of thumb, less than 20% of your shares on LinkedIn should directly promote your business, products or services.
What are the guidelines around advertising on LinkedIn?
LinkedIn allows paid advertising in the form of sponsored content and influencer posts. These paid partnerships must abide by the following guidelines:
- Always disclose paid partnerships using clear labels like “Sponsored” or “Ad”
- Don’t use misleading images or headlines
- Ensure claims about products/services are truthful and can be substantiated
- Abide by local laws and regulations around advertising
Are there restrictions around using LinkedIn for political advocacy?
Political conversations are permitted on LinkedIn, but must adhere to the platform’s Professional Community Policies. Guidelines around political discourse include:
- Be respectful of other members and avoid personal attacks
- Clearly distinguish facts from opinion
- Cite credible sources when stating facts
- Don’t spread misinformation or conspiracy theories
- Keep partisan advocacy to a reasonable level
LinkedIn also advises against using the platform for campaigning purposes such as fundraising or sharing campaign materials. And be aware that targeted political ads are not permitted.
How does LinkedIn enforce its content guidelines?
LinkedIn uses automated algorithms and user flagging to identify policy-violating content. When content is flagged as inappropriate, LinkedIn may:
- Remove the content from visibility
- Disable commenting privileges
- Restrict access to advanced profile features
- Suspend or permanently ban member accounts
Members can report concerning posts or profiles directly to LinkedIn by using the platform’s reporting feature.
| Violation Type | LinkedIn Action |
|---|---|
| Hate speech, graphic violence | Content removal, account suspension |
| Harassment, impersonation | Content removal, restrictions on account |
| Misinformation, spam | Content removal, limits on visibility |
| Minor infractions | Content removal, warning issued |
How can you avoid violating LinkedIn’s content policies?
The best way to stay compliant with LinkedIn’s guidelines is to practice good judgement:
- Be authentic – represent yourself and your expertise accurately
- Be thoughtful – add value to conversations without spamming or self-promotion
- Be respectful – no personal attacks, insults or discrimination
- Be informed – fact-check information and avoid spreading misinformation
- Be transparent – disclose paid partnerships and don’t use clickbait
Also take time to review LinkedIn’s guidelines thoroughly and reach out if you need clarification. With over 800 million users, content standards are necessary for maintaining LinkedIn’s reputation as the internet’s premier professional networking platform.
Conclusion
LinkedIn’s content guidelines are designed to foster meaningful connections and discussions between working professionals. By prohibiting offensive, dishonest, and illegal content, LinkedIn aims to protect its members while maintaining a productive environment.
While some self-promotion is allowed, overt spam and marketing messages go against LinkedIn’s policies. Political discourse is permitted, but should adhere to standards of respect and factuality.
Violating these guidelines can lead to content removal or restrictions placed on accounts. But adhering to principles of authenticity, thoughtfulness, respect, and transparency will help members successfully navigate LinkedIn’s content policies.