Why is it so hard to share links on LinkedIn?

Despite its name, LinkedIn’s algorithm is designed to devalue external links, forcing users to employ convoluted strategies to avoid downranking. Social media marketer Mark P. Jung explains how LinkedIn’s policies, especially post-Microsoft acquisition, have made previous linking hacks obsolete. Jung describes a multi-step process for embedding links into posts, which includes initially avoiding links and later editing posts to include shortlinks. Smith criticizes LinkedIn’s approach, comparing it to zero-rating practices in telecoms, which limit external content to favor platform-native content. This results in lengthy, unnatural posts and restricts reach to those who follow LinkedIn’s complex rules. Smith argues that LinkedIn’s strategy of limiting links undermines the open web and suggests regulatory intervention may be necessary to address these barriers to digital commerce and user engagement.