SEO

LinkedIn starts filtering connection, follower counts

Has your list of followers on LinkedIn changed? If so, it’s because LinkedIn said it is now removing “hibernated” and “restricted” accounts from the connection and follower counts of all members and will continue to regularly do so heading forward.

New Help documentation. LinkedIn has added new Restricted and hibernated account filtering Help documentation. It explains:

“In order to better support LinkedIn members and contributors with more reliable engagement and reach insights, restricted and hibernated accounts will no longer be included in the total number of followers and connections listed on a member’s profile.”

The LinkedIn notification. Here’s what the change in followers notice looks like, as shared by @ItsSachinShah:

Linkedin Change In Followers

The impact. It depends. Some accounts may see more of an impact on their counts. LinkedIn noted some factors are:

  • How long an account has been active.
  • How many connections and followers a member has.
  • Places where members have worked or studied.

Account type explainer. So what exactly are these two types of accounts LinkedIn is filtering?

  • Hibernated accounts: A member has deactivated an account for a certain period of time.
  • Restricted accounts: A member has violated either LinkedIn’s Professional Community Policies or its User Agreement.

What happens if restricted or hibernated accounts become active. “They will be re-included in the follower and connection counts they were previously a part of. For members that reach the 30,000 connection limit, if accounts become unrestricted they will not be re-added to their audience lists unless they remove current connections,” LinkedIn explained.

Why we care. Ultimately, connection and follower counts are a vanity metric. But filtering out inactive accounts could potentially help LinkedIn users who have already reached their 30,000 connection limit, allowing them to connect with active users and potentially earn more engagement and visibility.

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About the author

Danny Goodwin

Danny Goodwin has been Managing Editor of Search Engine Land & Search Marketing Expo – SMX since 2022. He joined Search Engine Land in 2022 as Senior Editor. In addition to reporting on the latest search marketing news, he manages Search Engine Land’s SME (Subject Matter Expert) program. He also helps program U.S. SMX events.

Goodwin has been editing and writing about the latest developments and trends in search and digital marketing since 2007. He previously was Executive Editor of Search Engine Journal (from 2017 to 2022), managing editor of Momentology (from 2014-2016) and editor of Search Engine Watch (from 2007 to 2014). He has spoken at many major search conferences and virtual events, and has been sourced for his expertise by a wide range of publications and podcasts.

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