Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg today announced that the company is launching a new broadcast chat feature on Instagram called “Channels.” The feature allows creators to share one-to-many public posts to engage directly with their followers. Channels support text, images, polls, reactions and more. Zuckerberg announced the feature by launching his own broadcast channel, where he plans to share Meta updates in the future.
Instagram is beginning testing channels with select creators in the US today and plans to expand the feature in the coming months. Creators can use streaming channels to help subscribers stay in the know and see hidden moments. Instagram notes that only creators can post to broadcast channels and that followers only have the ability to react to content and participate in polls.
In the coming months, Instagram plans to add more features to broadcast channels, such as the ability to bring another creator to the channel to discuss upcoming collaborations and collect questions for an AMA via question prompts. .
The new feature gives creators a new way to update their followers in the app. In the past, creators would typically post a story to share news and updates with their followers, but now they have the option of using a more direct way to engage with their fans. The feature also allows creators to get feedback on certain things and promote their content.
Picture credits: instagram
Although Meta is launching channels on Instagram first, the company plans to bring the feature to Messenger and Facebook in the coming months, according to Zuckerberg.
Once a creator has access to channels, they can create one from their Instagram inbox. After sending their first message, their subscribers will receive a one-time notification to join the channel. When the channel is live, creators can also encourage their followers to join by using the “Join Channel” sticker in Stories. Creators will soon be able to pin their channel to their profile.
All users of the social network can discover broadcast channels and view content, but only subscribers who join the channel will receive notifications when the creator posts updates. Subscribers can leave or mute broadcast channels at any time and can also control their creator notifications.
Creators who are part of the initial test include Austin Sprinz (@austin_sprinz)Chloe Kim (@chloekim)David Allen (@ToTouchanEmu)FaZe Mat, (@fazerug)Flau’jae Johnson, (@flaujae)Gilbert Burns (@gilbert_burns)Josh Richards (@joshrichards)Karen Cheng (@karenxcheng)Katie Feeney (@katiefeeneyy)Lonnie III (@LonnieIIV)Mackenzie Dern (@mackenziedern)Mikaela Shiffrin,(@mikaelashiffrin)Sinatra Reservoir (@tank.sinatra) And Valkyre (@valkyrae).
Broadcast channels are subject to Instagram’s Community Guidelines, and users can report both the broadcast channel itself or specific content shared on the channel, which may be removed if it goes against the guidelines. Meta policies. The company says broadcast channels are designed for public, discoverable chat experiences, so they’re treated differently than private messaging on Instagram. Meta notes that it has tools and reviewers to help identify, review, or remove content from broadcast channels that may violate its guidelines.
