{"id":9055,"date":"2021-12-01T08:00:50","date_gmt":"2021-12-01T08:00:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/focus.cbbc.org\/?p=9055"},"modified":"2025-04-23T09:48:26","modified_gmt":"2025-04-23T09:48:26","slug":"what-can-companies-use-instead-of-linkedin-in-china","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/focus.cbbc.org\/what-can-companies-use-instead-of-linkedin-in-china\/","title":{"rendered":"What can companies use instead of LinkedIn in China?"},"content":{"rendered":"

With Microsoft\u2019s LinkedIn pulling out of China, companies are turning to local platforms like MaiMai, Boss Zhipin and even WeChat to network with colleagues and conduct recruitment, writes Juliette Pitt<\/h2>\n

In October 2021, LinkedIn announced that its main platform would be closing in China, citing a challenging operating environment. In China, LinkedIn will be replaced with a new jobs-only app called InJobs. InJobs will maintain LinkedIn\u2019s job search features, but will remove all social networking functions, such as creating posts and sharing articles.<\/p>\n

\"launchpad<\/a><\/p>\n

The move to create a separate app solely for China users comes as no surprise in light of Beijing\u2019s recent crackdown on the tech industry<\/a>. In many ways, LinkedIn\u2019s new China strategy mimics the path taken by ByteDance, which created two separate apps, TikTok (for global users) and Douyin (for Chinese users). The introduction of multiple new rules for data security<\/a>, privacy protection and compliance requirements in China has made it difficult for LinkedIn to continue to operate in the current market environment. For example, in March 2021, the platform temporarily paused new user registrations to ensure compliance with local legislation.<\/p>\n

While LinkedIn has insisted that it is still committed to helping recruiters in the Chinese market through InJobs, foreign companies would be wise to start paying more attention to Chinese recruitment and networking platforms in order to continue to effectively communicate with Chinese professionals and connect cultures and people. \u201cThe Chinese adoption of western social media has always been fraught with complex challenges. The LinkedIn professional\/social model has also been difficult to compete with globally and we\u2019ve seen the likes of Facebook, Google and Alibaba attempt similar models with very mixed levels of success. With all of the professional networking features that LinkedIn offers there is likely to be a gap in the market in China,\u201d James Buchan, managing director of digital agency Zudu<\/a>, tells FOCUS.<\/span><\/p>\n