from LinkedInTalks

Most account restrictions occur due to indiscriminate invitations, which is what we'll focus this page on.

Stop Yer Cryin'

This is the first restriction. You're forced to use an email address. Not a big problem in the scheme of things. So we're moving on.

Serious Sh*t

You've really hit the big time when you can no longer send invitations.

When five of your LinkedIn invitations are responded to with ‘I Don’t Know’ (IDK) (or Report as Spam) your account is automatically restricted. The restriction prevents the member from sending more invitations or being granted additional invitations. And you typically are NOT notified. ... Aren't they nice?

Is it me?

Well, it MAY be your breath. But in general, no. It affects many people (including me numerous times). The automatic restriction has spanked thousands of LinkedIn members.

The setting and automatic process are overzealous. LinkedIn has considered changing the system, including simply increasing the IDK limit, but has not done so at this time.

Is it fair?

No, it's deceptive in my opinion.

LinkedIn used to have a simple ‘No’ button for recipients to respond to an invitation. They replaced it with ‘I Don’t Know’ (IDK). While IDK is used legitimately, many times it's not for various reasons.

• They know the sender but decline to accept because they don't know the sender well enough, only connect with close friends, only connect with certain people, only connect to few people, aren't currently adding connections, aren't actively using LinkedIn, etc.
• They don't want to archive it because that just means they'll eventually still have to act on it.
• There is no way to simply say they're not interested at this time.

In the end their only choice is IDK. This is deceptive multiple ways.

• LinkedIn's poor design results in some users to using an IDK ... when recipients DO know the sender.
• LinkedIn treats the IDK as a complaint. But it's not and they know it. In fact there is a complaint button - the link to report the invitation as spam.
• In most cases the recipient does NOT intend to harm the sender in any way. If they knew that an IDK could lead the sender being restricted, they likely would not choose it.

The IDK limit is based on total number of IDKs. It is not based on any period and it is not based on the number of invitations sent or percentage of IDKs on invitations sent. As a result it automatically penalizes ActiveNetworkers who know more people and send more invitations.

What can I do about the restriction?

Customer Service rarely informs and notifies customers. If you discover your account is restricted, your only recourse is to respond as if you received a restriction notification (see below). Write Customer Service to tell them you'll comply with LinkedIn policies and only invite people you know.

Wait a few days. If you haven't heard anything, check your account. If the restriction has not been lifted, write Customer Service regularly until it is.

Account restriction notice

From: LinkedIn Customer Service

Subject: Re: your account is restricted ...

[...]

Thank you for contacting LinkedIn customer service. A recent update to

our website now allows users to invite trusted contacts into their

network without knowing the users email address. We believe this feature

benefits our members and prevents the sender from guessing email

addresses or erroneously upgrading their account to contact friends or

past business acquaintances. On the downside, if you send a large amount

of invitations to join your network to individuals you do not know, they

have the option to report invitation spam. Five complaints automatically

forces our system to restrict your account.

We are especially cautious with our new feature, as it doesn?t require

an email address in order to send an invitation making it easier to

misuse. We?re committed to protecting the privacy of all users while

also helping our users make mutually desirable connections with each

other. When we get your agreement to follow these rules we will remove

the restriction on your account.

Below are steps you can take to prevent further restrictions to your

LinkedIn account:

1. Only invite people to connect to you on LinkedIn who already know

you.

2. Reconnect invitations should be sent only to people who know you

personally and who knew you while you were both employed at the same

company or attending the same school.

3. If people you don't know ask to be invited to connect, those are OK

to invite with a personalized invitation. However, note that if you

connect to people you don?t know, there are some who may not protect

your interests.

4. If there are others you want to reach who don?t know you, you should

use LinkedIn InMail, OpenLink, or Introduction requests.

Invitations are free for all members to send and these rules are the

only requirement for sending them. After a second warning such as this

one, we enforce these rules by closing or suspending accounts if the

rules continue to not be followed.

We wholeheartedly appreciate each LinkedIn user and must take each

complaint seriously. With your agreement to no longer send invitations

to individuals you do not know, I will gladly unrestrict your account.

Thanks for your understanding, and thanks for using LinkedIn.

LinkedIn Privacy Team-