Linkedin has announced that it is sunsetting its localized version of the app in China. The platform was first launched in China back in February 2014, two years before Microsoft acquired LinkedIn.
Although LinkedIn has found success in helping Chinese users find jobs, the company is having trouble in the social aspects of sharing and staying informed. LinkedIn says that it is facing a significantly more challenging operating environment and greater compliance requirements in China. Given this, the company has made the decision to sunset the current localized version of LinkedIn later this year.
Even though LinkedIn is exiting its main platform from China, it is launching a new platform called InJobs that will serve as a standalone job application portal for China. InJobs will not include a social feed or the ability to share posts or articles. In addition to this, LinkedIn will continue to work with Chinese businesses to help them create more economic opportunities.
This is not the first time China has made it exceedingly difficult for foreign technology firms to operate within the country. Websites like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram are already blocked in China. In January 2015, China issued new cybersecurity regulations that would force tech firms to submit source codes, undergo rigorous inspections, and adopt Chinese encryption algorithms.