LinkedIn is every professional’s best friend. The professional social media site connects you with potential employers, allows you to network and stay up-to-date on what is happening in your industry. But sometimes, things can go wrong. You do something that violates the LinkedIn terms of service, or someone reports a picture from your profile as inappropriate. These can cause your account to be restricted for a bit of time.
You might be reading this blog post because you have received an email from LinkedIn that says your account has been restricted, or maybe you just want to avoid getting into trouble in the future. Do not panic; we are here to help.
Learn more about what happens when your LinkedIn account is restricted by reading the rest of this blog post!
Contents
How did this happen?
There are many reasons why LinkedIn may have restricted your account, but you can actually avoid getting restricted most of the time if you follow LinkedIn’s terms and conditions. Here are some common reasons why people might get their accounts restricted.
1. Spamming (sending unsolicited messages to many members)
Avoid spamming by only sending messages to people you know and inviting them to connect with you.
2. Posting too many updates
Try to limit your posts to one per day at the most, and make sure they are valuable and relevant information.
3. Connecting with too many people in a short period
Do not connect with too many people or try to send InMails out in a short period of time, as LinkedIn may think you are trying to spam them.
4. Having another member report your account
If someone reports you, it will be sent to LinkedIn’s Trust & Safety team, who will investigate it. If they find that you are in violation of the terms and conditions, your account may be restricted!
5. Stalking (repeatedly contacting someone who has not responded favorably)
If you have been sending messages out to someone who is not responding, stop! This can be seen as harassment and will often get your account restricted.
6. Fraudulent activity (using fake profiles or selling services that are not allowed on LinkedIn)
LinkedIn takes fraud very seriously and will often restrict accounts that are engaged in fraudulent activities. If you have been accused of fraud, please reach out to LinkedIn’s support team for help.
7. Violating the terms and conditions in some other way
If you have been restricted, it is crucial to figure out why so that you can avoid being sent back to LinkedIn jail in the future. It is also essential to keep your cool. After all, LinkedIn restrictions don’t last long–they usually last just a few days, depending on the severity of the violation.
Will I still be able to use my LinkedIn account?
If your account has been restricted, worry not, for it is not yet the end of the world. Restricted accounts cannot do everything they want on LinkedIn, but there are still ways to make the most of your account.
- You can still search for and view profiles (though you won’t be able to connect with people).
- If someone views your profile while it is restricted, you will receive an email notification about their visit.
- You can still send InMails to people who are not on your first level of connections.
- Restricted members can edit their profiles, but they will be unable to change their headline or location.
- You can still post updates, though they will be reviewed by LinkedIn first.
LinkedIn is constantly updating its terms and conditions, so make sure to check back often to stay up to date.
Now that we have tackled the reasons behind being sent to LinkedIn jail let us focus on what to do when you actually get restricted. The first thing that you need to do is assess the situation and try to find out why your account was restricted in the first place. You can then take measures to rectify the issue so that you can have your LinkedIn privileges reinstated.
What are your options?
Here are the things you can do if your account gets restricted:
Request a personal waiver for LinkedIn Restricted Membership
You can do this by clicking “Help” in the top right corner of your homepage, then selecting “Pending Requests,” and choosing to submit an application for membership reinstatement. If you are requesting a personal waiver, make sure that you provide specific reasons why it is important that you have a LinkedIn account.
Appeal the restriction
Suppose you believe that your account was restricted in error. In that case, you can appeal the decision by clicking “Help” in the top right corner of your homepage, then selecting “Pending Requests,” and choosing to submit an appeal for membership reinstatement. The people at LinkedIn will be more than happy to assist you in getting your account reinstated. However, if you were indeed in violation of LinkedIn’s terms of service, then there is not much that you can do except comply with the restrictions and wait for your account to be reinstated.
Change your behavior on LinkedIn
This is the best way to avoid getting your account restricted in the first place. Follow LinkedIn’s terms and conditions, be respectful to other members, and don’t spam people with unsolicited messages.
Contact LinkedIn Support. If you have tried all of the above options and your account is still restricted, you can contact LinkedIn support for assistance by clicking “Help” in the top right corner of your homepage, then selecting “Contact Us.”
If you get restricted for whatever reason, it is important to stay calm and not panic. We know that having your account be restricted can be a huge pain in the neck. However, bear in mind that LinkedIn is just trying to protect its users from potential harm, so do not take the restriction too personally. Just follow the steps outlined above, and you will be back to utilizing LinkedIn’s full potential in no time!