Can LinkedIn Help India Develop Skills of Youth?

Now only idle junkies come on social networking sites to kill their time. They use social networks like LinkedIn as sites for dumping data debris – such as useless photos and lifted quotes.

By Rakesh Raman

Professional networking site LinkedIn is discussing with the Indian government to help India develop skills and create opportunities for the country’s youth.

Jeff Weiner, CEO of LinkedIn, met India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday to discuss the areas of mutual interest. According to Modi, Weiner also admired Modi’s mobile app and its potential to engage with citizens.

During our discussions, @jeffweiner appreciated the NM Mobile App & its potential to engage with citizens. https://t.co/TYuxNO0R6P

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 13, 2016

The meeting holds importance in view of the fact that India is facing a situation of social unrest in the country, as most young people are unemployed. Even educated people are unskilled and jobless in India.

[ Can Your Education Get You the Right Job? ]

In 2015, according to a leading news site Firstpost, India added the fewest organised-sector jobs —in large companies and factories — in seven years across eight important industries.

Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had promised 2 crore (20 million) jobs per year. In 2 years, BJP should have created 4 crore jobs. But it could offer just 1.4 lakh jobs.

The unemployment problem will further exacerbate as India’s exports have been falling for the past over 18 months and the country has already lost more than $60 billion because of this unprecedented decline.

As the Modi government has been facing an array of problems – such as poverty, unemployment, inflation, illiteracy, corruption, and crime – it is looking for face-saving opportunities.

The meeting with LinkedIn’s Weiner was one such attempt. However, LinkedIn will not be able to help India, as the networking site itself is in troubled waters.

[ How to Use LinkedIn Like a Pro: 10 Tips ]

In June, software company Microsoft had decided to acquire LinkedIn which was not able to survive on its own, as most social networking sites have already lost their relevance for serious marketers.

Now only idle junkies come on these sites to kill their time. They use social networks like LinkedIn as sites for dumping data debris – such as useless photos and lifted quotes.

Microsoft plans to change the flavor of LinkedIn from a mere data junkyard to an enterprise utility for its customers. But that is going to be an uphill task because most enterprises don’t possess proper communication skills to effectively use a public messaging platform such as LinkedIn.

[ Read: Microsoft’s Reckless Decision to Acquire LinkedIn ]

Although LinkedIn claims it has nearly 450 million members worldwide, it’s extremely difficult to ascertain the authenticity of these claims. Almost all free social networks like LinkedIn and Facebook exaggerate the number of users on their sites.

Great meeting @LinkedIn CEO @jeffweiner. We talked about skill development & opportunities for Indian youth. pic.twitter.com/NjGyZRE6H6

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 13, 2016

As Modi does not understand tech concepts, he is still hopeful that this online crowd on LinkedIn might help him provide skills and employment to youth in India. But can LinkedIn help Modi? No way.

By Rakesh Raman, the managing editor of RMN Company