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Comment by albahk | Hacker News Reader

When Linkedin released this modal feature - i.e. if you don't agree to release more information to everyone, then we will restrict your usage rights - I placed Linkedin alongside Facebook into the basket of sites where I will actively try to reduce my usage until I can phase them out completely.

I know Linkedin is free, but I have invested a lot of time plowing their fields and cultivating business contacts (from which you make revenue) and now this?

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Not sure I understand why this is such a big problem. Information symmetry seems like a worthy design goal, and if it bothers you that much, there's an easy workaround:

Create a second account for stealth/stalking. Voila - problem solved. Or am I missing something?

I'm really annoyed because there is no middle ground: I have to be completely de-anonymised to get the analytics. Even partial anonymity of the profile gets you absolutely no analytics.

Will I quit LinkedIn? No way at this point; I have way too much invested in it. But as LinkedIn provides no incentive for me to be even partially anonymous as opposed to total anonymity now, I'm conciously making my profile completely anonymous.

You mean it's ok that you can see others but they can't see you?

Not quite. Why not show analytics of others at the same level of anonymity you set? The three levels of anonymity are completely open, the "vague" headline, and completely anonymous. The analytics can be of a similar level. The more open you are the more you learn about viewers of your profile.

The old way was to show (by default) the vague headline of your profile's viewers. The system I describe above is not a big jump from that.

What I find annoying is that for me to get any form of analytics, I have to be completely open. In buzzword compliant words: it is the incongruence between the 3 levels of anonymity and the binary availability of analytics.

I'm always amazed at the way people will always find a way to be outraged at change.

LinkedIn makes it so if you want to see who's viewing you, you have to agree to be viewable, removing a potential information asymmetry and this is somehow a horrible offense?

I like the change, and I'm glad of it. I like that you can't elect to be hypocritical about profile viewing information. I'll continue ramping up my LinkedIn usage, especially as it seems to only get more valuable for me over time (unlike FB, which has never provided me with any measurable utility.)

I would not go so far as to say I am outraged. Using any site, paid or free is an individual value judgement. Many people may be happy to have competitors, potential new recruits, bosses and employees know you viewed their profile - for me, and how I used Linkedin, its not something I am willing to accept. My choice to leave. Your choice to stay. No outrage here, just a comment.

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