Complaint / Review
XING AG, Xing, Xing.com
Dishonest advertising of people search results

Xing is a social networking site similar to Facebook or LinkedIn.

In an effort to sign up new members, they promise that members can be discovered from within the site or from outside search engines. Members looking for jobs or friends or schoolmates are probably happy to hear that.

Unfortunately, it isn't true. No member will ever be found except by other members.

I searched for three people that I know are Xing members. I found all three as names in a list. For example 5 Jenny Strangenames were listed and some businesses and organizations that had that name. So I clicked on a Jenny to get her profile and find out if she is the one I know, but nothing happened. I clicked on the others and nothing happened.

Well, the truth comes out. That Jenny might have been my friend or some stranger. The only way I could find out was to join Xing (and fill out a lot of personal information about myself). Now if Jenny's last name was smith or jones or lopez, I would have 'found' hundreds of them - but what purpose would it serve if I can't verify that one of them is the one I seek?

And so the truth is that people cannot find you if you are a Xing member. Only members can find you. That accounts for probably less than 1% of internet users that can find you.

I asked Xing about this and got this reply regarding searches:
"This function is to show non members the possiblity that a person with the specific name might be or is on our platform. To see the profiles of the members you will need to become a member yourself."

So if you join Xing with the hope of being discovered by your childhood sweetheart or your next employer or your Hollywood agent, forget about it. 99% of internet users will never find you there even if they search.

Xing is not alone in this lie. It is difficult to find members on other social sites as well, but most don't lie about it.

I suppose a great deal of money is at stake as these social networks fight for dominance. A few lies might make all the difference. Your acceptance of only the most honest providers will discourage this practice.