Skip to main content

LinkedIn courts major media publishers to rival Facebook Instant Articles

LinkedIn Logo
LinkedIn is reportedly in talks with a number of major media outlets as it looks to introduce a new publishing feature similar to Facebook Instant Articles.

Although it is unclear what shape or form LinkedIn’s publishing tool will take, the emphasis will be on speed, specifically in regard to page loading times.

Related Videos

Even though LinkedIn is a member of the Google open source initiative that enables Accelerated Mobile Pages (AMP) for optimized smartphone page-loading times, the planned feature will be separate from that, reports BuzzFeed News.

Quick-loading articles are viewed as essential to any site looking to create its own news reader, whether using mobile publishing tools akin to Facebook Instant Articles, or in the form of a standalone news app (the type launched by Apple and Google).

Publishers remain a very important part of our content ecosystem and we are in regular conversations with them about new ways to work together,” LinkedIn told us via email. “Our goal is to ensure we get the right content in front of the right member at the right time to deliver the best member experience possible.”

Until now, LinkedIn has focused on business news and blog posts penned by its Influencers (high-ranking professionals) and general user base. The enterprise and career-centric news is optimized using Pulse, a mobile and Web reader acquired by LinkedIn in 2013. Although the tone and form of these articles fit its brand, LinkedIn is now facing stiff competition on the news front from industry rivals.

Aside from Facebook, Twitter has increasingly focused on curating news in order to attract users via its Moments feed, rolled out last year. Then there’s the aforementioned news apps, which also include competing mobile products from media companies such as BuzzFeed, and Quartz. Additionally, LinkedIn’s monopoly on business and industry news has been challenged by the rise of blogging platform Medium, which is home to tech industry professionals and startups.

If competition is a concern, however, its certainly not showing when it comes to LinkedIn’s earnings. Unlike Twitter, for example, the company recently showed strong user growth in the Asia-Pacific region. In particular, LinkedIn’s growth in China (where its app is used by 20 million people) means it holds a distinct advantage over it rivals, which are banned in the country. Most recently, China’s strict censorship laws targeted Medium, which now too is inaccessible in the country.

However, LinkedIn’s publishing push may end up being a double-edged sword precisely for that reason. China’s great firewall is increasingly targeting western media companies, which are likely the candidates LinkedIn is looking to attract to its site. In the long run, the social network will have to be very careful of the type of content that makes it on to its site if it wishes to retain its overseas advantage.

Editors' Recommendations

Hive Social is my favorite Twitter alternative, but that’s not saying much
iPhone 14 Pro in hand showing off profile page on Hive Social app

Ever since Elon Musk bought Twitter, it seems that the once-favorite social media site has just been going down in flames. It’s a sad sight to see — fake news and misinformation running rampant from paid “verified” accounts, restoration of formerly banned accounts (they were banned for good reason), and so much other stuff that I just can’t keep up anymore. With all of these changes, there’s been a rise in alternatives to Twitter, like the incredibly popular Mastodon.

I prefer something simpler, like the new Hive Social that has recently made waves. Think of Twitter and Instagram, and what you would end up with if you combined the two. There’s also a little dash of Myspace in there, as you can even add some music to your profile page. I’ve been poking around on Hive Social since I joined a week ago, and while I’ve been enjoying my time there, I also noticed a few things along the way.
Hive reminds me of the early days of Twitter
OnePlus 10T Andy Boxall/Digital Trends

Read more
What is Twitter Blue and is it worth it?
Twitter Blue menu option on a white screen background which is on a black background.

If you spend time on Twitter, you've probably heard the phrase "Twitter Blue" at some point and wondered what exactly it is. We're not talking about the signature shade of blue featured in its logo -- we're talking about the premium version of Twitter.

That's right. There's a paid tier for Twitter that many people don't even know exists that launched in July of 2021. And then relaunched again under Elon Musk's ownership in November 2022. Don't worry -- we'll explain everything below.
What is Twitter Blue?

Read more
What is Mastodon? Here’s why everyone’s talking about this Twitter alternative
Series of four mobile screenshots showing Mastodon's sign-up process.

By now you've no doubt heard about Mastodon. It's a social media platform that's been bandied about as an alternative to Twitter, particularly among users who aren't comfortable with the direction Twitter is going in now that Elon Musk is at the helm.

In fact, since Musk first announced that he was planning on buying the popular microblogging platform, Mastodon has garnered quite a bit of attention and experienced significant growth. But though you've likely heard about Mastodon, you may not be familiar with how it works or haven't decided whether or not it would be a good fit for you if you ever choose to leave Twitter and need an alternative social media platform. Don't worry. We've got you covered. In this guide, we'll get you up to speed on everything you need to know about social media's buzziest new platform.
What is Mastodon?

Read more