This past Thursday, Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) announced that it would close down its LinkedIn network in China, as the nation continues its mission of censoring the Internet. LinkedIn was the last American social network platform to still stand in China.
Social media platforms such as Facebook (NASDAQ: FB) and Twitter (NYSE: TWTR) have been censored in China for over ten years, alongside Google (NASDAQ: GOOGL).
The reason that Microsoft has made the decision to discontinue LinkedIn is from a "significantly more challenging operating environment and greater compliance requirements in China." Microsoft, in LinkedIn's place, will come out with a Chinese job search website that does not have the exact social media features that LinkedIn does.
The new Chinese job application, referred to as "InJobs," will be put into place in order to discover solid employees or job candidates, as well as to "create economic opportunity," according to LinkedIn. "While we strongly support freedom of expression, we recognized when we launched that we would need to adhere to the requirements of the Chinese government in order to operate in China," LinkedIn informed users regarding this matter.
These particular censorships comply with the "soft power" that the Chinese government possesses, which will include the adherence to local laws and traditions that the Chinese government may find to be unsuitable. A LinkedIn spokesperson told Business Insider that LinkedIn holds respect for the laws that are applicable to the Chinese government, and that it would like to go along with the Chinese rules and laws that apply to this situation. LinkedIn also revealed that the Chinese profiles would still be available online in other countries, but would simply be restricted in the country of China.
Since LinkedIn is shutting down in China due to stronger restrictions that the government is putting into place, many individuals will not be able to appreciate or enjoy the service as they once did. Thankfully, there will be a new Chinese job application put into its place, referred to as "InJobs," which will hopefully help to restore the features of the service that has now been lost.