Instagram Will Try To Penalize ‘Unoriginal’ Posts
Meta is tweaking Instagram’s recommendation algorithm to, it hopes, improve the “original content” of photo and carousel posts on Instagram. The company changed Instagram’s algorithm in 2024 to penalize accounts that recycle Reels posts from other accounts, but did not extend the same protections to photo and carousel posts at the time. (Not that I’ve particularly noticed a difference in churn on my Reels, personally.) Reshare accounts without “hard” changes might find their reach limited. The question is: where is the limit when it comes to hardware modification?
Additionally, you may have noticed some changes as Engadget moves to its new home at Static Media. Expect to hear more about everything soon, including some tweaks to this newsletter — we’ll be back in your inboxes very soon. Thank you for your continued support and readers and have a nice weekend!
—Mat Smith
The biggest stories you may have missed
Samsung’s smart glasses may appear soon
Android titles has shared renders of what it says is “Jingu”, Samsung’s upcoming smart glasses. Apparently, Samsung’s first pair of smart glasses won’t feature a screen, but that will likely come with another pair in 2027. The specs will run on the Android XR wearable platform and will likely feature significant Google’s Gemini integration. Samsung has a major Unpacked event planned for July, so we can get official details then. The glasses could cost between $380 and $500, even though privacy concerns have never been higher on people’s minds.
Keep reading.
The new Resident Evil movie looks (really) scary
Directed by Zach Cregger, fresh off his Oscar-winning film Weaponswe have our first teaser for a new (non-Paul WS Anderson) Resident Evil movie. It shows a medical courier fighting for his life on a rural farm, much like Resident Evil 7: biohazard. This is a standalone story set in the Resident Evil universe, with no Milla Jovovich in sight. Maybe she’ll be a bully.
Keep reading.
The minimalist Light Phone III will receive minimalist apps
Light has announced a development program for the Light Phone III, allowing users to create tools for the minimalist device. In addition to providing an SDK, Light will also provide a tool sharing and distribution platform. “The idea is to provide an open source, non-commercial platform of user-created tools that extend the utility of the device – without compromising Light’s mission of creating technology that doesn’t require your constant attention.”
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