Moving away from LinkedIn to a future-proof alternative (step by step)

Yes, I’m moving away from LinkedIn. Why? The benefits no longer outweigh the costs for me. We are moving into different times and it became clear to me that investing time into the platform does not make sense. In this article I explain why, the plan, and the alternatives. Will you join me on this ride?

How it began

I started using LinkedIn on 20th of October, 2007. Or at least, that’s what the platform says. Where to find this? Click on Settings, Data Privacy, Manage my activity, and go to the last page. An interesting thing with LinkedIn is that everything is buried below at least 3-4 clicks. Anyways, I guess that we can say that with 18 years my profile is an adult now. Time to let it go do its own thing ;-)

We had a good time

LinkedIn served me for a good while, especially when working for bigger companies. The number of contacts grew quickly and now and then I saw interesting updates from my network. That feeling is gone for a while now. It’s no problem, I thought, while slowly decreasing the usage of the platform.

Hmm, not my choice

This feeling changed when I noticed several times that some privacy related settings were set to ‘on’. On LinkedIn this typically means that you allow something to happen with your data, like sharing it with third parties. That’s clearly something that I don’t want. Over the years I gave those settings a good look, to ensure they are set in the way I want them. But now and then, I saw they were not. So these settings where clearly introduced without asking me what I prefer. That was for me the trigger to reevaluate the platform and its values.

More reasons to leave LinkedIn

During the years the value of the platform faded away, followed by the defaults that were not in favor of my privacy.

• Focus on engagement instead of quality or a clear timeline
• Settings that reset each time, like choice for timeline display
• The increasing amount of messages that better belong on Facebook (COVID, puzzles and riddles)
• Overwhelming amount of messages and updates
• Low visibility and engagement if you post “average” things
• Lack of true networking, like in person
• Recruiter spam, even with clear message that I’m not available
• Unknown people connecting without introduction text
• Advertisements and related worries about privacy
• Puzzle games on a professonal platform
• Promoting a CEO of another Big Tech company with no clear connection to me

Enough for me to take some action now!

So delete your account and be done with it?

Some people like to do things cold turkey and go all-in. With LinkedIn that is as simple as ask them to delete your account, and you are done. That might work for you, but I have some reservations.

One of the reasons that I don’t want to delete right away, is that specific profile URL that I once claimed. It’s part of my online presence and cultivated for a long time. More importantly, it is also scattered over the internet on some places. I still don’t know exactly where it is mentioned (including by me) over the years. I want to make sure that those links get cleaned out, so they don’t result in a 404.

Another reason is that I don’t want someone else to claim my profile URL. Especially with the first reason in mind, I don’t want to potentially have it link to a different person. After all, one could claim the profile URL on purpose, but it could also be happening by accident. In The Netherlands there is at least one other person by the name Michael Boelen, so he could come up with the same shortened alias that I thought of many years ago. Sorry buddy, this one stays mine for now.

The alternative is to put the account into hibernation. LinkedIn itself has also an option with the same name, but my goal is to keep the account active. This way people who still discover it, can see that I moved instead of getting an error.

How to start then?

So I don’t want to throw away my account, but I also don’t want to give LinkedIn any valuable information to keep using. So I’m collecting the steps that allow me to retrieve my data, purge the profile information, and just leave enough there to communicate my message.

This is my journey of leaving LinkedIn, in a way that I feel comfortable with. Will you join me?

Step by step guide

To properly fade out from LinkedIn, I collected some initial steps. While clicking through the interface, more and more items are discovered. These are the steps so far that I followed and some still working on:

• Stop using the LinkedIn app
• Start with a data export
• Profile
  • Set an alternative name
  • Background image
  • Profile photo
  • Adjust profile description
• Migrate resume to personal website
• Inform your network
  • Announcements
  • Creating a template
  • Reaching out personally
  • Create a few last posts
• Companies and Groups
  • Limit memberships
  • Preparing group deletion
  • Deleting the group
  • Preparing the exit for company pages
• Cleaning the data
  • Remove links with companies and groups
  • Erasing the history
    • Removing activity
      • Posts
      • Reactions
  • Deleting the skills
• Post-LinkedIn actions
  • Search for old links
  • Create a new business card

Stop using the LinkedIn app

I never installed the LinkedIn app myself. First of all I never needed it on the go, but also because apps are harder to contain. If I had installed the app, this would be my very first step to do.

Exporting LinkedIn data

The first step is to export the LinkedIn data, as it may take a while. Better get that task queued up, right?

Where: Me > Settings & Privacy > Data privacy > How LinkedIn uses your data > Get a copy of your data > Request archive

After requesting the data export, I received one within one hour. The other one with 24 hours after the request. The challenge: the links in the email did not work. So I went back to the page to request a copy, but then there was a download button.

With the zip archive extracted, it shows the following files for me:

• Ads Clicked.csv
• Ad_Targeting.csv
• Articles
• Causes You Care About.csv
• Certifications.csv
• Comments.csv
• Company Follows.csv
• Connections.csv
• Courses.csv
• Education.csv
• Email Addresses.csv
• Endorsement_Given_Info.csv
• Endorsement_Received_Info.csv
• Events.csv
• guide_messages.csv
• Hashtag_Follows.csv
• Honors.csv
• ImportedContacts.csv
• Inferences_about_you.csv
• InstantReposts.csv
• Invitations.csv
• LAN Ads Engagement.csv
• Languages.csv
• learning_coach_messages.csv
• LearningCoachMessages.csv
• Learning.csv
• learning_role_play_messages.csv
• Logins.csv
• Member_Follows.csv
• messages.csv
• Organizations.csv
• PhoneNumbers.csv
• Positions.csv
• Profile.csv
• Profile Summary.csv
• Projects.csv
• Publications.csv
• Reactions.csv
• Receipts.csv
• Recommendations_Given.csv
• Recommendations_Received.csv
• Registration.csv
• Rich_Media.csv
• Saved_Items.csv
• SavedJobAlerts.csv
• SearchQueries.csv
• Security Challenges.csv
• Shares.csv
• Skills.csv
• Verifications
• Volunteering.csv
• Votes.csv
• Whatsapp Phone Numbers.csv

There are definitely a few files that I want to investigate later on. Let’s move on for now.

Profile

The first steps are to start changing the profile. I want my network to see what I’m planning to do and give them time to respond and adopt. Also, I want those interested to switch to my alternative of LinkedIn, which we will cover later.

Setting an alternative name

LinkedIn allows you to use an additional name. Well, I don’t have one. So that is a nice opportunity to introduce one to the world. My official additional name is now -moving away from LI-. This clearly signals people that I’m no longer using the platform and made a decision to move away. You would expect that new invitations would stop, but I can tell that it did not.

Where: Me > Settings & Privacy > [Name, location, and industry > Set additional name Time: 5 minutes

Changing the background

Next step was adding my background picture to point out my new address. I downloaded my background image, opened up Gimp and added the text. Save the file and switch out the picture.

Where: on main profile page, click on pencil icon in corner > Edit cover image > Change photo Time: 5 minutes

Limit who can see the profile photo

My profile photo (head) is next to be adjusted. By clicking on the photo you can tell LinkedIn who can see it. Adjusted that to 1st-degree connections only, so it is restricted. This way the profile photo remains visible for my network, while I’m informing them later that I move the platform.

Adjust profile description

This is also a good time to adjust your profile description. Make clear what the best place is for other to find you.

Migrate the resume part

LinkedIn provides a decent resume, including listing your work, certificates, societies. I prefer POSSE (Publish on your Own Site, Syndicate Elsewhere). So migrating the resume to a personal website makes the most sense. This gives me full control over the content and styling.

I start with a simple copy-paste of the content, and while at it, remove one entry each time from the profile. This may trigger people to see my profile, and already get informed about the upcoming migration. For now, I start with a simple page. The goal is to get into action and start migrating, not fiddling around with styling. So let’s add first description text, then followed by the full-time work and part-time work activities. After that, the old employers I worked for.

Idea for later: add some fancy styling (planned in 2038).

Inform your network

Next step is informing your network that you will be leaving.

Phase 1: announcing

Phase 1 is by announcing the message with the help of creating a new post. This is especially important to do first, before we start disconnecting the network piece by piece.

I started with the following post:

Didn’t post in a while. One of the reasons is that I still work on writing articles and creating software, among volunteering work. The primary reason though is that I prefer Mastodon to stay in touch with others. No ads, no trackers, no silly privacy settings that the platform switches on and off.

Want to follow my work?

• Dutch: https://mastodon.nl/@mboelen
• English: https://mastodon.social/@mboelen

This tells people that I’m still alive and what I’m up to. Also, I’m promoting Mastodon to the bigger audience.

Fun fact: after my first post, one person proposed to meet to have a drink (it was long overdue).

Phase 2: personal touch

Phase 2 is reaching out to your most important connections. Let them personally know that you will be gone and how they can still reach you. Hopefully these people already have some of your details. Better safe than sorry. Also a good opportunity for others to also quit.

Obviously we want to reduce the amount of time that we are spending on the platform. So create your custom template that you use to send out a message. Don’t start spamming it, as it may possibly trigger a mechanism of LinkedIn. Just share the message first with for you the most important people.

This is my template:

Hi,

I’m reaching out to share that I will be leaving LinkedIn. The platform offers me limited value, but more importantly, it keeps being intrusive when it comes to privacy. For example, recently I saw it enabled several features again that shares data with third parties. Definitely not something I would enable, so it’s time to leave another piece of Big Tech.

Leaving this platform does not mean to be gone instantly. I will slowly reduce my number of connections and I will remain available via Mastodon (@mboelen), my personal website (michaelboelen.com), email (redacted), and blogs.

-Michael

p.s. did you already check your privacy settings to see if they are adjusted without your consent? Settings&Privacy –> Data Privacy –> Social, economic, and workplace research

A few last posts

By slowly moving away, you also get the time to do a few last posts. Share a bit here and there about a solution like Mastodon. Some people might not have heard about it, so why not introduce it as a possible alternative.

Didn’t post in a while. One of the reasons is that I still work on writing articles and creating software, among volunteering work. The primary reason though is that I prefer Mastodon to stay in touch with others. No ads, no trackers, no silly privacy settings that the platform switches on and off.

Want to follow my work?

• Dutch: https://mastodon.nl/@mboelen
• English: https://mastodon.social/@mboelen

Deleting contacts, one by one

Next step is to decrease the network size. This is the part that definitely takes the most work. For some people you know it right away: connected long time ago, never spoke again, delete. I have 2000+ connections, so I’m sure many will fall in this category.

You probably also have many contacts that you didn’t speak in a while, which you might even regret. It shows that LinkedIn is definitely not social media, right? On the positive note, this is a good opportunity to send a personal message. Use a template or send them a personal note. Or better, maybe schedule a meeting with them right away? Don’t stick on the platform, but make the appointment via an alternative method, like email or message.

Tips:

• You can export a profile, in case you want to store a little bit of information about a person. I suggest these two options combined for more information:
  • Click on More (on the profile) and use Save as PDF.
  • Right click, save as HTML.
• Give people some time to respond back. One option is to pick a fixed day in the week. Send those that you want to delete a message about disconnecting, then next week do the deletion itself.

Companies and Groups

Company account

Are you an administrator of a company entity, then it’s time to decide what needs to happen with it. Will it be purged or should someone else take control over it?

Member of a group

If you are a member of a group, then you can decide if you want to inform the group that you are leaving LinkedIn. For most groups you probably don’t want to do this, but if you were active in a particular group, and people might start to miss you, then it is probably the right thing. My preference is not to share it within a group, to avoid starting unnecessary conversations or discussions.

Group administrator

Like being the administrator of a company entity, you could be an administrator of a group. If there are multiple administrators already, just inform the other(s) that you will be leaving LinkedIn. Then leave the group.

If you are the only administrator, then it is time to decide if the group needs to continue or not. I have created a group a long time ago, but almost no one is posting in it. That’s a simple decision: delete the group. I will however first announce it though.

Some thoughts about this move

Don’t conform to Big Tech

For too long I conformed myself to the platform of “professionals”, carefully thinking about what you should or should not post on LinkedIn. After all, it are your professional peers and doing stupid things can influence other decisions. At the same time, not showing who you really are also tells a lot. That’s for a long time I became active on Twitter, where I could express my interests, including those that are related to my professional work. Well, we all know how Twitter turned out. So that’s when I made the switch to Mastodon. I already created an account early, but didn’t really use it. When Musk took over, it was time to leave Twitter and start using Mastodon. Sure, you lose some contacts, but you also gain new ones. Nothing wrong to burst out of your bubble now and then, right?

The alternative to LinkedIn?

So I got asked many times already what the alternative is to LinkedIn. I’m pretty sure Xing is not the answer. That’s moving from one problem to another.

I believe I have an answer now. It’s probably not a suitable replacement for all of us, but for many it could be a great one. The answer? A personal website together with Mastodon.

Personal website

The personal website provides you with an authoritative resource where you can put your resume, your thoughts in a long form, share useful files. It will rank high in search engines and therefore you control what people can see and read about you. You decide what you want to show.

There is a downside though to a personal website: costs. Yes, you will have to invest some money. That goes into a domain name (renewed yearly) and hosting (monthly or yearly). Obviously you have also to create the personal website, so time is another resource that goes into it. But don’t fret it, start simple. Heck, let that be your first post and share that you are learning to create websites. Most people prefer human work above AI slop, so they appreciate the effort.

Looking to reduce costs? Sometimes you can get free hosting for small projects. Another option is to rent a small virtual private server with some friends and share the costs.

Mastodon

Then the next building block is Mastodon, where you can be yourself and share things that matter to you, all in short form. You can make it as professional, geeky, or funny as you want it to be. It allows others to learn you in a different way and interact with you.

Another option: Nolto

A more open alternative to LinkedIn might be Nolto. Connecting with people with your profile stored on a federated solution. Don’t like the server you are on, you then migrate it to another instance, or host on yourself.

So far I have limited experience with this, but it might be worth checking out more.

Be aware of the advertisements

So who really benefits from LinkedIn? It may be you, advertisers, companies, but most likely share holders. LinkedIn has reached Enshittification like many other Big Tech platforms. Advertisements and weak privacy settings give already a good hint on what the platform is about. They won’t be shying away from tracking you both on LinkedIn, in the app, or even outside. In case you didn’t know, Big Tech love people who keep their session active, link services to their service, or better, install the app.

So my suggestions:

• Remove the app from your phone
• Log out of LinkedIn and remove cookies
• Need to log in again? Switch to a private browser session that cleans up after itself upon closing the web browser

Frequently Asked Questions

What is best choice, deleting the account or keeping it?

That’s one you carefully have to decide for yourself. In any case, clean it up first. Can’t decide what to choose? Start with keeping it for a while, set a reminder for 6 months later to reconsider your choice. Repeat if needed.

What if I still want to use the platform now and then?

Using a hybrid approach is fine, like cleaning out as much as you can and change your description. Inform people your preferred way of communication. Disengage from groups as much as possible and clean out your time line.

What is the best alternative for LinkedIn?

The one that you fully control is the best. As a starter a personal website, for example combined with Mastodon. This way you can publish content in different formats, be accessible, easy to discover on the internet, and still network with others.

Another option is Nolto, a federated option to connect with others.

How do I see updates from other peers in my field of expertise?

This strongly depends on your field of expertise. You will have to discover where your peers are, like on a common forum, Mastodon, or chat room.

How do I rebuild my network somewhere else?

If you truly want to connect with peers in your field of expertise, consider running a community yourself. Create a place where people can meet, like a forum, a chatbox, or something like a Signal group.

What can I do have people follow me somewhere else?

Get in contact with those that you care about. Ask them what they prefer or possibly another place where they are already active. Post and promote those places on LinkedIn, so people see that there is a place where things are more active.

I can’t create a website, what now?

Start using Mastodon, connect with people, reach out to them. People tend to help others, so it is possible that someone in your network may be able to help creating that website.

What can I do so others can find or follow me more easily on my new place?

Make one central place where all your most important details are listed. A personal website is the perfect place for this. There you can refer to your Mastodon profile(s).

To make it easier for people to follow you, add/activate RSS on your website, especially if you also blog.