LinkedIn has reduced the size of link preview images for organic posts, while maintaining larger preview images for sponsored content.

The change aims to encourage more native posting on LinkedIn and could prompt more users and brands to pay for sponsored posts to retain larger link previews.

The change incentivizes advertisers to pay to promote posts to get more visibility with larger link previews.

As part of a “feed simplification” update announced months ago, LinkedIn is making preview images significantly smaller for organic posts with third-party links. Sponsored posts will still display larger preview images ranging from 360 x 640 pixels up to 2430 x 4320 pixels. The smaller organic previews are intended to “help members stay on LinkedIn and engage with unique commentary.

When an organic post becomes a Sponsored Content ad, the small thumbnail preview image shown in the organic post is converted to an image with a minimum of 360 x 640 pixels and a maximum of 2430 x 4320 pixels,” according to LinkedIn.

Some criticize the move as penalizing professionals who don’t have time for constant original posting and rely on sharing third-party content.

Brands and individuals looking for maximum engagement from shared links on LinkedIn may increasingly need to pay for sponsored posts.