Instagram has rolled out a significant update to its Live feature, now requiring users to have a public account with a minimum of 1,000 followers to initiate a live broadcast. This new policy marks a considerable shift from the platform’s previous approach, which permitted any user to go live regardless of their follower count or account privacy settings.
The adjustment is expected to impact a diverse segment of the Instagram community. Aspiring content creators and smaller influencers who are still building their audience will find themselves unable to utilize Instagram Live for real-time engagement and community interaction. Similarly, everyday users who enjoyed spontaneous live chats with friends will also face these new restrictions.
Users attempting to broadcast live without meeting the updated criteria will encounter a notification stating, “We changed requirements to use this feature. Only public accounts with 1,000 followers or more will be able to create live videos.”
The announcement has quickly drawn criticism across social media platforms, with many users expressing frustration and calling for Instagram to reconsider and reverse the decision.
This policy change brings Instagram’s live streaming feature closer in line with other major platforms. TikTok, for instance, also enforces a 1,000-follower minimum for users to go live. In contrast, YouTube offers a more accessible live broadcasting option, requiring channels to have a minimum of just 50 subscribers.
While Meta, Instagram’s parent company, has not provided an exhaustive explanation for this specific change, it stated that the move aims to “improve the overall Live consumption experience.” This suggests an effort to enhance the quality and relevance of live streams on the platform. By limiting live access to users with an established audience, Instagram may seek to reduce the number of lower-quality broadcasts, potentially leading to a more engaging viewing experience for its audience. Additionally, this shift could serve as a cost-saving measure for Meta, as hosting live streams can be resource-intensive, and focusing on broadcasts with a larger, verified audience might optimize operational expenses.
As Instagram continues to evolve, this new follower requirement highlights a strategic pivot towards potentially curating a more professional and audience-centric live streaming environment.