What you need to know
- LinkedIn Stories was introduced in 2020.
- It's now being eliminated.
- It will be gone by the end of September 2021.
LinkedIn seems to have realized it misread its audience with the introduction of the Stories feature last year, hence why it's nixing the feature this September, a year after launch.
Liz Li, the senior director of product at LinkedIn, took to the professional social media site to write a blog discussing the end of Stories, essentially outlining why LinkedIn feels it failed while also asking for feedback on future endeavors. Here's one passage from the post, wherein Li details what separates the LinkedIn crowd from the Snapchatters and Insta-fans of the world:
You wish videos could live on your profile, not disappear. In developing Stories, we assumed people wouldn't want informal videos attached to their profile, and that ephemerality would reduce barriers that people feel about posting. Turns out, you want to create lasting videos that tell your professional story in a more personal way and that showcase both your personality and expertise.
The rest of the post is similar in nature. Whatever LinkedIn tries next, then, is unlikely to imitate other social media apps quite as closely, given that they cater to different audiences than the core following that keeps LinkedIn going.
As to what the "next" storytelling product or feature will be, that's where feedback comes in. Li's post emphasizes the need for LinkedIn members to make their voices heard, so if you want to get your two cents in, now's the time. The post is already filled with comments suggesting everything from Stories overhauls to entirely new features ideas, so adding your favorite idea into the mix can't hurt.
