LinkedIn 360Brew Intelligence Dashboard

Last Updated: February 17, 2026

Coverage Period: January - February 2026

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Key Metrics

-60%
External Link Penalty
6.6%
Carousel Engagement Rate
150B
360Brew Parameters
🟢 Confirmed

360Brew Status

90%
Platform Rollout Complete
-47%
Median Post Reach

Deployment: Summer 2024 → Full rollout Fall 2025

🟢 Confirmed

Content Performance

-30%
Single Image vs Text Posts
+36%
Video Views YoY
🟢 Confirmed

360Brew Watch

Semantic Understanding

360Brew uses natural language processing to understand content meaning, not just keywords. Topics are inferred from text itself rather than hashtags.

🟢 Confirmed Source: Project Neon

Depth Score Implementation

New ranking signal measuring actual engagement time vs surface clicks. Posts with 61+ seconds dwell time show 15.6% engagement vs 1.2% for <3 seconds.

🟢 Confirmed Source: Digital Applied

AI Content Detection

360Brew identifies AI-generated content with 94% accuracy. AI-detected posts see 30% reach drop and 55% less engagement.

🟢 Confirmed Source: PostEverywhere

Profile-Content Ecosystem

Algorithm now evaluates posts in context of complete profile presence, creating "contextual content ecosystem" for authority scoring.

🟢 Confirmed Source: Bright Brand

LinkedIn Algorithm Signals

🔥 BOOSTED: Document Carousels

PDF carousels achieve 6.6% engagement rate vs 4.85% for single images. Generate 2-3x more dwell time than other formats.

High Priority Source: GrowLeads

🔥 BOOSTED: Native Video <30s

Videos under 30 seconds achieve 200% higher completion rates. Algorithm rewards content users finish, not skip.

Format Winner Source: GrowLeads

🔥 BOOSTED: Thought Leadership Comments

Multi-sentence comments from industry experts carry 5-7x more weight than generic reactions. Comment depth matters more than volume.

Quality Signal Source: MeetEdgar

⚠️ PENALIZED: External Links

Posts with external links see 60% reach reduction. "Link in comments" strategy also penalized as of early 2026.

Major Penalty Source: River Editor

⚠️ PENALIZED: Engagement Bait

"Comment YES if you agree" and reaction polling actively detected and suppressed. Focus on genuine discussion starters.

Spam Filter Source: Digital Applied

⚠️ PENALIZED: Engagement Pods

Reciprocal engagement patterns detected and shadowbanned. Algorithm identifies unnatural engagement clusters.

Account Risk Source: LinkBoost

📊 NEUTRAL: Hashtags

Hashtags play smaller role in 2026 distribution. Content relevance inferred from post text and engagement behavior.

Declining Importance Source: SourceGeek

Content Format Performance

Winner: PDF Carousels

6.6%
Average Engagement Rate

303% higher engagement than single images. Swiping increases dwell time significantly.

1080x1080px optimal 8-15 slides sweet spot

Strong Performer: Text Posts

4.0%
Engagement Rate

Most reliable format for reach. 1000-1500 characters optimal for dwell time.

Mobile optimized

Declining: Single Images

-30%
vs Text Performance

Single images now underperform text-only content, reversing 2024-2025 trend.

Format decline

Video Performance

+36%
Views YoY Growth

Under 30 seconds: 200% higher completion. Native upload essential - no YouTube links.

4:5 ratio preferred Captions required

Creator Monetization & Program Updates

BrandLink Expansion

LinkedIn's creator monetization program expanded to allow video ads alongside premium creator content. Creators get revenue cut (percentage undisclosed).

🟢 Confirmed Source: HeyOrca

Creator Accelerator Program

$25M investment continuing with expansion to India, Brazil, UK. Focus on Technology & Innovation creators for second US cohort.

🟢 Confirmed Source: LinkedIn Creators

Creator Mode Sunset

Creator Mode option removed, but associated features remain accessible in profile options. Focus shift to content quality over creator status.

🟢 Confirmed Source: HeyOrca

Newsletter Intelligence

Sponsored Newsletters Launch

LinkedIn now offers sponsored newsletters for brand awareness and lead generation. Company-authored newsletters can be boosted, member newsletters coming soon.

🟢 Confirmed Source: Social Media Today

Enhanced Analytics

New metrics: email sends, email open rates. Triple notification system (email, push, in-app) ensures delivery to subscribers.

🟢 Confirmed Source: Social Media Today

Performance Trends

47% engagement increase YoY, 184,000+ active newsletters. Segmented newsletters significantly outperform mass distribution by 2026.

🟢 Confirmed Source: ConnectSafely

🎯 Opportunity Radar

1. PDF Carousel Dominance Window

Carousels delivering 6.6% engagement rates while competitors focus on video. Create educational frameworks, step-by-step processes, and data visualizations in 8-15 slide format. Optimal dimensions: 1080x1080px.

High Impact Low Competition

2. Native LinkedIn Content Strategy

60% external link penalty creates massive opportunity for native-first creators. Build complete value delivery on-platform, use DMs and profile optimization for conversions instead of constant traffic pushing.

Platform Alignment Algorithm Friendly

3. Dwell Time Optimization

Posts with 61+ second dwell time see 15.6% vs 1.2% engagement rates. Focus on scannable long-form content, compelling hooks, and strategic formatting to maximize reading time.

Quality Signal Measurable ROI

Source Log

Primary Sources (February 2026)

Confidence Levels:
🟢 Confirmed: Multiple source verification, official LinkedIn statements
🟡 Rumored: Single source, industry insider reports
🔴 Unverified: Speculation, anecdotal evidence only