Back in 2017, in my first year of university, one of our seniors strongly suggested that we create a LinkedIn account, explaining how useful it could be for our future careers, particularly in our major, which is Software Engineering. So, like many others, I just followed their advice and signed up.
At the time, of course, I didn’t have much to showcase except the name of my university and some general information. Over time, I managed to expand my resume and add some work experience, awards, and even a few volunteer activities, which gained me a couple of hundred connections, that I Kinda know in real life or at least through mutual colleagues or shared circles.
So, nothing special. I didn't use LinkedIn as a professional social network in the way some people do; I just used it out of necessity and as my online resume board. I’d drop by every couple of months, make a few updates and adjustments. I’m not saying it wasn’t helpful. It gives me a project here and a professional opportunity over there.
But soon, this normal account and my very presence on the platform somehow got flagged. I lost access to my account without a clear explanation and was unable to create a new one in any way possible. But before I get into how that happened, I first want to explain why I never fully clicked with LinkedIn in the first place.
The Overwhelming Game of Appearances
Over time, I started noticing LinkedIn content. Wherever I looked, I saw Long lists of achievements, enviable internships, and impressive skill sets filled my feed. It can seem like everyone else has figured out their professional way. The platform began to feel less like a space for genuine updates and more like a stage for projecting. Behind the scenes, many LinkedIn users rely on bots, automated messages for connection, or artificial engagement to boost their profiles. In addition, Recent research by Originality.ai reported that more than half (54%) of long content on LinkedIn is AI-generated.
For me, it often feels like everyone is competing in some sort of competition to appear more successful, connected, or overall more “influential” than they actually are. What is even more disheartening for me is how people began to judge you based on these numbers. More connections seem to signal that you are more Capable and more worthy of employment. This whole competition for an average person like me feels exhausting and overwhelming. It feels like running on a treadmill to nowhere. It’s the reason I haven’t been able to bring myself to post anything on my account because I always felt like it wouldn’t be LinkedIn-worthy enough to share.
My LinkedIn Account got restricted without any clear reason
Despite all of this, I kept my account out of necessity for over 8 years. Like it or not, LinkedIn has become a required part of professional life in the tech industry. At this point, I quit my job and was planning to apply for a better position outside of the country, so the necessity became even higher for me. Inevitably, I started polishing my profile and applying.
But one day, without any warning, I was suddenly logged out and wasn’t able to log in to my account. Just to mention, I had never used any automated tools, engaged in suspicious activities, or broken any rules or professional etiquette in any way. Everything on my account was authentic.
When I tried to log in, the platform asked me to complete security checks multiple times and informed me that my account had been temporarily restricted. The platform requests my ID to verify my identity and regain access to the account, which has created a new problem for me.
My ID is Illegible
I think handing over sensitive documents like IDs or passports to a platform that already relies on exposing your data publicly seems riskier than beneficial. Anyway I took the risk and try to verify duo my ID but That’s when I hit a wall, I found out that LinkedIn simply doesn’t accept my Iranian documents. You fellows with powerful passports may never understand the struggle we have, but it was part of this journey for me.
LinkedIn doesn’t accept my Iranian Identity. So there aren't much option to do. I tried everything. I submitted every form they offered. I reached out on Reddit, Twitter, anywhere I thought I could reach an actual human support, But nothing moved forward.
There’s No Way Back In
After a couple of months of going in circles, I lost my courage and tried something else: creating a brand‑new one. Maybe, I thought, if I just start fresh, it’ll work. It didn’t.
Every time I created a new account, it was restricted or banned within a few hours. I tried different devices, new email addresses, even slightly different versions of my name. Nothing worked. No real explanation. No real chance to simply exist on the platform.
I started digging around and found long Reddit threads full of people with similar stories. The pattern was the same: once LinkedIn decides you’re a “problem,” it’s almost impossible to come back and the platform doesn’t seem to care.
So here I am, locked out of a platform I used for eight years. Not because I cheated, spammed, or did anything wrong, but because my identity documents don’t fit into their broken system and there’s no meaningful way to challenge that decision. At this point, I don’t have any plans to come back.