By 
Why has my LinkedIn account been restricted?
No, that is not a question that I personally asked recently, but one asked by someone in my network. This is someone who is not a spammer, not even involved in marketing, and generally keeps a low profile on the social networking site. This person is also not a LinkedIn LION and only has a few hundred connections. Why was their account restricted? For being too active! And if you are not careful, your account may be suspended as well! Here’s how:
The official response given by LinkedIn on why my friend’s account was suddenly suspended was:
“We have recently noticed a large number of page searches and profile views through your LinkedIn account. We are aware that you may be using an automated or manual process to systematically view LinkedIn web pages.
The information within LinkedIn is provided by our users for usage on the site only. In order to protect user privacy, our User Agreement prohibits using:
1. Automated or manual means to view an excessively high number of profiles or mini-profiles.
2. Automated means to run searches to collect or store data obtained from our site.”
The funny thing is that my friend was not doing any of the above: They were merely taking advantage of the new LinkedIn feature to tag your connections by looking at the different options that existed and making sure that all connections had the proper tags on them. Sure, it generated a lot of clicks, but it obviously was not even closely related to the activity that this person was accused to have been doing.
Why do I bring this up?
- Anybody who is too “active” and generated a lot of clicks may have their account suspended with no warning. If you want to do some research on the social networking site, do it over a few day period to spread out the clicks. As you can see from the case study above, the number of clicks you generate are being monitored and not what specific activity you are doing, so anyone could be considered guilty of this.
- You also want to avoid a suspension of your account for another important reason: it took customer service nearly two weeks to get back to my friend with their initial response. That’s right, for two weeks my friend was in limbo and couldn’t access their account. Can you live without access to your account for two weeks? I’d go crazy! And the potential opportunity loss for business is an issue that your company may have to face if you are getting business leads from LinkedIn.
- This is a case where LinkedIn was being paranoid and automatically slapping the wrist of an innocent user. Who knows what could happen to you? Make sure you get into the habit of backing up your LinkedIn connections for these types of worst case scenarios.
This blog post is an example of an amazing Catch 22: LinkedIn wants us to be active on their site by introducing a lot of new features to us, but when we are too active we get penalized and have to deal with slow response times. I hope you’ll agree in hoping that LinkedIn can:
- Create a better way of monitoring usage on their site so as not to penalize innocent people
- Give a warning before suspending someone’s account
- Be a little nicer in their communication instead of accusing someone that they are guilty and forcing you to prove your innocence (LinkedIn is an American company, right?)
- Be a little bit quicker in their response when an account has been suspended. Two weeks is absurd. Understanding that it requires money to hire customer support professionals and that priority is placed on paid accounts, at least trying to respond to suspended accounts within 72 hours would be ideal.
And there are apparently other reasons why your account may be suspended. As I was writing this blog post, one of my blog readers sent me this message:
Neal, I am not sure how you were able to reach customer service at Linkedin. I have sent no less than 3 emails to customer service from my primary email address in the last 72 hours because they have restricted my account based on the number of people who have viewed my profile in the last week. This all occurred because I created a new group that has generated alot of interest and is adding members everyday at a high rate. The one phone number found…for customer service just leads to voice mail. So to my group members it appears that I have just abandoned the group and to others who have sent me email it looks as though I am not responding.
What is going on here?
Is LinkedIn becoming the New Big Brother? Let’s hope not!
Do you have other personal experiences of being suspended on LinkedIn or know of others who have had their accounts restricted? Please share your information for all of us to learn by. Thank you.
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LinkedIn Account Restricted? You May Have Been Too Active on LinkedIn!
[...] not even involved in marketing, and generally keeps a low profile on the social networking [...] Read More on “LinkedIn Account Restricted? You May Have Been Too Active on LinkedIn!”Related ArticlesHow Often Should You Update Your Social Media Status?Should I Send Automated Direct [...]
Famous Alice
Thanks Neal for the heads up!
nealschaffer
You're very welcome Alice! Stay safe!!!
Louise
Restricted based on the number of people who viewed your profile also? Now I have heard everything – like you have any control over that! It should be *good* if a lot of people are viewing your profile. Do you think Barack Obama gets his profile suspended for having too many people look at it? Ridiculous!
nealschaffer
It does sound like things are getting out of hand at LinkedIn, doesn't it?
Jasonnpc
There's nothing sociable about LI's actions?! I thought we are encouraged to be sociable?
nealschaffer
Good point Jason! LinkedIn – “The Anti-Social Networking Site” just doesn't sound right, does it?
Jorgen Sundberg
I was never suspended but I did run out of invitations and had to email customer services and beg for more. It takes a week or two but you get the new invites in the end.
nealschaffer
Oh yes, running out of invitations and the IDK issue are “old school” restrictions…what I blogged about are relatively new…and alarming!
Karen Cox
It seems like a contradiction in objectives. We're incouraged to connect with more people (more is better) because we can access more resources and skills and connect others to them as well. At the same time we seem to be penalized for doing just that.
nealschaffer
It IS bizarre, isn't it?
DanaLeavy
Wow, I had no idea about that – thanks for the heads up. Personally, I do a lot of business and networking on LinkedIN, so I can't imagine having my account suspended for a couple of days. The whole concept of how they run their security concept is a little ridiculous.
nealschaffer
Yes, Dana, I agree 100% with you! Not only is the security concept a little ridiculous, but to accuse the innocent of crimes is, shall I say, unfriendly?
Rick
Thanks for the info… but now you have me sitting on the edge of my seat after each click of the mouse!
This reminds me of an old advertisement for Tootsie Roll Pops… “how many licks does it take to get to the center of a Tootsie Roll Pop?”
Has there been any response from LinkedIn?
nealschaffer
Hey Rick, you are a funny guy! Nope, there has been no official word from LinkedIn, but they don't usually comment on these things. They have their own ways of doing things…although I really think they could benefit by doing some good old outreach to its users and explaining their side of the story. I am sure there are good reasons they have for doing what they do … unfortunately, from the average user perspective, they are difficult to comprehend.
KPO
Nice post! I haven’t been restricted on LinkedIn but have spoke with a few of the LinkedIn staff members about this. There doesn’t seem to be a hard and fast rule about how many restrictions it takes before a person is permanently banned from inviting others. It appears (and this is assumption based on what was said and more importantly the dance around what wasn’t said) but it appears that a great deal depends on how quickly one gets restricted after having a previous restriction lifted, as well as how many restrictions they get. -Charles
nealschaffer
Hey Charles, yes, I have had the same experience. As I wrote in my LinkedIn book, consider LinkedIn invites a precious resource and never assume that LinkedIn will continue to grant you more and more!
Koprowicz
I was just blocked this morning…frustrating. I did some clicking around on Friday afternoon since it was a bit slow at work. I guess that did it?
nealschaffer
Wow! LinkedIn is blocking people left and right! Apparently that must have been what did it…I would ping Customer Service…and also send them a tweet as well as post on their Facebook Wall. Good luck! And do let us know what happened!
ATL
My accoutn was just suspended this morning! I recently began using LinkedIn more actively. I have had the account for approx 2 years, and would probably only view my page once per month. Within the past month, I have been utilizing it more (almost daily) as I have found it to be a valuable networking tool. However, today I am suspended and have no idea why! I have never even sent an invitation to anyone I don't know…my entire network is comprised of people I know personally, either through work or college/grad school! It will be itneresting to see how their customer service responnds to my questions. If I am falsely accused of anything, as the above blog discusses, I will be taking this issue further!!!!!!
nealschaffer
Please do report back to us on what happens! I am starting to hear from a lot of people that their accounts are being suspended, so this may be something that LinkedIn has just started to do…let's hope it's the beginning of a quick end…
Troy D. White
Glad I read this: I've got 4k contacts, and was going to spend a day tagging all of them. Looks like I'll batch them into 25 at a time, over a number of months.
ATL
Here's an update on my account that had been suspended earlier in the day:
I sent an email to customer service, and received an email back fairly quickly saying that my password “had been disabled for security reasons” (no further explanation was given)and that I had to re-set it. I followed the instructions that were sent to me, re-set my password, and tried to sign in, only to receive the same message again that stated that my account has been suspended.
What is going on here???
nealschaffer
Yes, Troy, based on the suspensions of LinkedIn accounts that people have been adding to their comments here, that would be very prudent!
nealschaffer
Thanks for the update…that is truly bizarre. Please do continue to keep us posted so that others can learn from your unfortunate experience. Good luck with everything….and I sincerely hope it ends up OK for you in the end.
Simon Hawkin
I am in the same situation. Only I first received an email from LinkedIn asking to reset the password, and only then I was told the account was suspended. No reply from Customer Service for two days. I will wait until after the weekend, then call them.
nealschaffer
Simon, that is terrible! Very sorry to hear that…and bizarre that they would first ask you to reset your password only to suspend your account! Once again, please keep us in touch on how things go…I am hoping that Customer Service will respond more quickly than for my original subject of this blog post!
ATL
Hi Simon,
I still haven't heard back from LinkedIn customer service and it has been 3 days. My account is still “suspended”, yet I am still getting emails stating that people have accepted my LinkedIn request and/or requests to connect. Not sure what is going on here! Please let me know if you get anywhere through calling them!
Thanks!
Simon Hawkin
They actually did reply a few hours after I posted my comment. They said there was a glitch which (the way I understood it) caused my account to go to the suspended mode after the password reset. They fixed the problem for me now. I am not sure if the glitch affects more than just my account.
nealschaffer
Thanks for getting back to us Simon…it sounds like a bizarre situation…and it doesn't seem to be the same situation that ATL has. Anyways, glad to hear things are back to normal for you.
Jon.
Shame I didn't know about the number of clicks as well as I was going through cleaning my contact list and making sure they have been categorized correctly last night and BANG account suspended.
Not sure I agree with the number of IDK either as the heavier user you are the more likely you will get suspended.
So the clock has started to see how quick LinkedIn Customer Service comes back to me, 12hrs so far.
Have to say I feel lost with out it and need to respond to some message I had in my inbox
nealschaffer
Jon, I am so sorry to hear about your experience. Ever since I blogged about my friend, this has become one of my most popular posts showing that there are many others in the same boat as you. Hopefully LinkedIn is reading these comments and fine-tuning their system so that truly innocent users like yourself are not penalized. Please do get back to us on how long it takes LinkedIn Customer Service to get back to you!
ATL
Just an update on my account situation:
LinkedIn customer service FINALLY got back to me…approx 2 weeks after my initial email. Not only was that frustrating, but I was given absolutely no explanation as to why my account was suspended. I simply received an email that stated that my account was back in working order. I have sent customer service another email asking for an explanation, but have not received a response. I don’t think I will.
ATL
Just an update on my account situation:
LinkedIn customer service FINALLY got back to me…approx 2 weeks after my initial email. Not only was that frustrating, but I was given absolutely no explanation as to why my account was suspended. I simply received an email that stated that my account was back in working order. I have sent customer service another email asking for an explanation, but have not received a response. I don’t think I will.
nealschaffer
Two weeks? That’s horrible, especially when so many professionals rely on LinkedIn. Thanks for reporting back as it gives those who have their accounts restricted by LinkedIn some expectation as to how long it may take for Customer Service to get back to them…and do get back to us if you ever get an explanation as to why this happened to you in the first place!
nealschaffer
Two weeks? That’s horrible, especially when so many professionals rely on LinkedIn. Thanks for reporting back as it gives those who have their accounts restricted by LinkedIn some expectation as to how long it may take for Customer Service to get back to them…and do get back to us if you ever get an explanation as to why this happened to you in the first place!
Renata H
Simon – you’re lucky. I received the suspicious activity and account suspended email July 27, reset my password on July 29th, was told account was suspended, put in a CS ticket to get access back, describing the whole situation on July 29th, and have been getting all the emails since. None from customer service and now it’s August 12th. I put in another ticket, referencing the first one, including a copy of the email acknowledging it, so keeping my fingers crossed. This is getting Seriously Ridiculous!
nealschaffer
That is Seriously Ridiculous!!! Can’t believe what I’m hearing and the problems that you all, very average LinkedIn users, are having! Why on earth should you be penalized for doing nothing wrong? A-B-S-U-R-D
Sent from my iPhone, so please forgive typos .. « Personal Network Blog
[...] that every click was followed by a request to upgrade to LinkedIn’s Premium Account. See this story about LinkedIn accounts being suspended for overuse – I’ll lay off being so connected for the next few [...]
Roddd
I’m Suspended too for 2 days(for now) without any explanation.
I only got this email from the cs(I had a nature pic on my profile- not a human face):
Your profile photo has been removed.
The photo has been removed for the following reason:
The picture is in violation of the LinkedIn Photo Policy.
LinkedIn provides the opportunity for users to upload a photograph to assist other members in recognizing that person. As a professional networking site, there are guidelines to determine which types of photos are appropriate. We consider a photo appropriate as long as it does not contain content that is copyrighted or unauthorized for public distribution and does not contain offensive content. Additionally, if your photo is not an image of yourself or does not contain an actual photograph, it is considered inappropriate. Your photo has been flagged for inappropriate elements and has been removed from your profile.
You are certainly welcome to upload a different photo of yourself to remedy this situation. If you have further questions, please feel free to contact us at customer_service@linkedin.com.
Thanks for using LinkedIn!
– The LinkedIn Team
”
nealschaffer
Thank you for sharing your information with us and I am sincerely sorry that you have to go through this. The “Flag this photo” feature can be used against innocent people, which it sounds like it has in your case. The funny thing is that there is no place to “Flag this profile” when you see an obvious fake profile. Go figure…
BCALAK
Use LinkedIn infrequently < once a week. Am signed in, try to accept a connection invitation and it wants my e-mail & password even though I'm signed in. When I insert them the screen pops up again with the password blank (an eternal circle). I think LinkedIn's sytem is badly screwed up
nealschaffer
That’s bad news…sorry to hear about the issue. You are the first that I have heard having this problem…I hope that it is not a sign of things to come…
Jyothy Rajan
WTH! My account access has been suspended as well ………. for what …viewing too many profile???? If not for viewing profiles; y the hell would I even have an account in LinkedIn? This is ridiculous!!!!!!!!
nealschaffer
That is ludicrous…hopefully they will reinstate you soon…good luck.
frankmade
I got locked out two days ago and have a hunch it has to do with (a abandoned) attempt to log in LinkedIn with my iPhone. Maybe ‘they’ thought it was a hack……
And now i’m waiting and I need LinkedIn for jobs….
nealschaffer
Sorry to hear about that Frank…it really is incredible the different ways in which people are being restricted on LinkedIn. I do hope your situation works itself out.
Katinka Soto Lucy
I recently has my account on LI suspended and finally got an email back from Customer Service that the reason is they suspect I own multiple accounts on LI. They want me to reply back to Customer Service and tell them where I am accessing LI and also send over a copy of a government issue ID. It sounds very suspicious. Has anyone received this sort of request?
nealschaffer
Never heard of it – I would send LI Customer Service a separate ticket and ask them if they would ever ask for a government issue ID. I don’t think they would.
SCAREd-of-linkedin
Yes, LinkedIn is demanding government IDs from users. Amazing that LinkedIn’s privacy team is violating the privacy of its users.
Neal Schaffer | Social Media
Wow – I’ve never heard of a social networking website demanding that…
On Internet, you are at mercy of private organizations | Paras Chopra's Blog
[...] we take from granted can be taken away from you. No explanations provided. Be it GMail, Facebook, LinkedIn or [...]
Alfeo Pareschi
This just happened to me as well.
Same reason.
Generated a lot of profile views and only for using the feature for which Lin has been created: keep people networked. Now, if they reactivate my account, you can be sure I will move to a different Social Network. Plenty of them out there!
nealschaffer
I hear ‘ya Alfeo!
Vcuddapa
My linkedin account got suspended. I just use the Linedin account to accept the invitations now and then and keep track of contacts messages. May onc ein a week I will login. Not sure why my account is suspended. HOw do I reactivate the same?
Neal Schaffer
That is something that only LinkedIn Customer Service can help you with. Good luck – and let us know if you get reactivated!
Carol_diesel
I teach a class in online jobhunting. I set up LinkedIn profiles for my 11 students for them to fill in during class. Now all of their accounts are restricted, probably because I set up the accounts from the same computer. I guess LinkedIn doesn’t want 11 new members?
Neal Schaffer
I hear ‘ya – but in LinkedIn’s defense, they want each person to create their own profile from their own IP address in order to cut down on fake profiles…
Danielle
I put my personalized linkedin html link in my email signature for work emails because I work in sales and I think a lot of people click on it because they are curious. I’m almost positive that I was put on restriction for this reason. Why would they let us have a personalized link but then not let us use it? Considering I pay for a business subscription this is ridiculous. I want the money back for every day that I was no allowed to use my account on the site during this month. I’m not a spammer or bothering anyone. I also get a lot of random click because I’m a girl and blonde – people that are straight creeping which is not my fault. Give me a break.
Neal Schaffer
Wow – I am speechless. Certainly there is something wrong with the system if you are being penalized!
robdmilengo
We have exactly this problem and it’s incredible how disinterested LinkedIn are in providing any kind of support. One of our accounts has been suspended multiple times and all we get is a, ‘you’ve accessed too many pages’ message. The only message we’ve had from support told us that it’s ‘humanly impossible’ for someone to use the account as much as we have, which is why it was suspended. How do they then explain a suspension after 5 days of complete inactivity?
Seems strange this only started to happen after their giant security breach, we changed all our passwords and removed all third party application access, as a security precaution but we’re still getting this error. Maybe they have a bigger problem than they’re letting on and the hackers are still exploiting their database?
So what exactly are they trying to achieve with this crazy automated suspension? It seems like either lazy or over zealous security protocol which reflects a fundamental disregard and understanding of its users. As a paying customer I also expect to talk to a real person when something goes wrong, on the phone if need be, not recieve canned responses from a support rep who couldn’t care less. LinkedIn needs to stop behaving like a lumbering IBM or Microsoft only interested in profit, and more like the businesses savvy, agile social network that it claims to be.
Neal Schaffer
Thanks for letting us know – and hoping that LinkedIn is listening…
bertbopper
Same problem arises when you login from abroad. Was in Germany for a holiday, made 1 too many attempt in activating the link from the e-mail (yes you have to confirm with a email first from an unknown IP address!!!), and BANG locked out. I sent a pissed of request to activate my account, and I got a message from the member that I was not supposed to talk like that, ticket closed! How arrogant! And the employee was annonymous off course. First time I can login again, I quit my account. Linkedin is not the trusthworthy accesible everywhere Rolodex anymore. I move to Pandora on my own server.
Neal Schaffer
Wow – that is too bad. Such a site of professional reputation, yet to treat you like that is really inexcusable…
Surya
My account was found restricted this morning when i try to log in. I recently began using LinkedIn account actively. Within the past month, I have been utilizing it as I have found it to be a valuable networking tool. However, today I am restricted and have no idea about it. I have never even sent an invitation to anyone whom i don’t know. My entire network is comprised of people I know personally, either through college or work. It will be interesting to see how their customer service respond to my query.
Neal Schaffer
Thanks for letting us know – and do please let us know how LinkedIn Customer Service responds! Thanks!
Joe
glad i am not only one. but still highly annoying! I get tons of requests each week, run 2 groups, have a company page – and sent out maybe one request to connect in the last 3 or 4 months – now all of a sudden I am locked out. have sent two email to customer support, and no replies. this is how they treat their power users?
Neal Schaffer
Don’t know what to tell you Joe – as you can see from the other comments here, they have many issues which go unresolved…
Surya
Hi Neal,
Sorry to say that It took around 2 weeks to sort out and to activate the account with LinkedIn Customer care after communicating by mail that too after sending my mail they replied after a week saying that “you’ve sent unsolicited mass mailings and/or promotional materials in messages that appear to be phishing, spam, or abusive in nature” and replying to it i.e, after sending confirmation mail by me saying that “i will adhere to the stated policy and make use of LinkedIn account in a fair way binding to the norms of LinkedIn” they have activated my account but for my surprise is i have neither did marketing nor i have that much time to spend on sending mass mails or materials from Linkedin. Any have its finally got activated. Thanks to them but what i observed is that we have to be careful in accepting and sending invitations and we should delete unnecessary pending requests (if any) which i hope from the account accordingly..
Thanks & Best Regards,
Surya
Dejan Djordjevic
Hi Neal,
my Linkedin account is restricted 4 days ago, I wrote four posts support and still did not get an explanation, in the last message I wanted to delete my account if 22nd March does not solve my problem.
Neal Schaffer
Wow – really sorry to hear that Dejan … hoping they will get back to you!
vu
account was restricted 3 days ago just as I logged in to apply for a SEM job that you can only apply for via Linkedin
still no response
@Surya…how long did it take you to get a response??
Yusuf Adil
My Account is restricted I don’t know why
It’s not fair at all 18 hours a day we are working on Linked in & at last what we get restriction ?
Sorry it’s really hurts when you see your account is restricted is this good no I don’t think so
Can you please let me know how do I get my Account back ?
Please help me
Thank’s
Neal Schaffer
Hi Yusuf, I am really sorry to hear about what happened to your account – but as you can see from the other comments here, the only people that can help you are LinkedIn Customer Service. If they don’t respond to your emails, try to tweet at them on Twitter – they’ve responded to me there recently. Good luck to you!
Vishal Pawar
My account is also temporarily restricted , i have sent mail to cust. Service . Do i need to do anything else ?
Neal Schaffer
You might want to try to tweet to them as well Vishal!
BHP
Hi I have just had an Account High Restricted.
I have no idea what has triggered this at all. I previously had restricted postings, but again no – one will tell me why, or how to correct it or stop it. I respond to posts irregularly, and look at peoples profiles, but that’s it. No on line arguments, or even harsh discussions.
Customer service doesn’t respond, my tickets disappear without trace, and now I cant even access my tickets, and this is for a service that I am paying £150 a year for!
This is draconian, with a verdict of guilty without trial, and without the ability to defend yourself. You cannot get to know who is the complainer, or what the event was that triggered it. Any one with a malicious streak, can attack you without you having any defence.
LinkedIn’s systems need significant improvement in this area, or clearer rules, to protect their paying members.
Neal Schaffer
If you’re a paying customer, if I’m not mistaken, you should be getting priority customer support! I really hope you are able to contact them by email or through social media to rectify your account. When you do, please tell us how it went!
Sandra
the funny thing is, I NEVER use my linkedin account, and I don’t think I’ve ever invited anyone to join my network. I have, however, had a few people recently send ME invitations (that I’ve seen through me email). I finally decided to log into my account, only to find that it’s been high restricted! WTF????
Neal Schaffer
Very weird Sandra … I’ve heard of others with the same situation. Sounds like as you were inactive, maybe someone tried to hack into your account and thus they restricted it. A perfect Catch 22 scenario that can only be resolved by getting in touch with LinkedIn Customer Support…
j...
Yes, excellent article. I had my Linkedin account ‘restricted’ 3 days ago without any warning or communication. When I raised a customer support call to Linkedin, the response I received was that ‘It was going to take an unspecified amount of time for them to tell me why I was restricted’. Unbelievable. I have been using Linkedin for business purposes for a number of years with 600+ connections, 50 Groups including 3 of my own. At this point I am seriously questioning whether or not Linkedin represents a dependable service. Thanks for the insights…
Regards…
Neal Schaffer
Wow – really sorry to hear what happened to you. I know that LinkedIn Customer Service recently started a Twitter account so I would definitely try to reach out to them there as well. Best of luck – and do let us know how/when it gets resolved!