Instagram Broadcast Channels to be available globally

To help creators deepen their connections with their followers, the platform first began testing Instagram broadcast channels in February and is expanding it globally.

Today Instagram has expanded broadcast channels globally, giving millions of creators a new way to directly engage with their followers at scale.

To help creators deepen their connections with their followers, in February the platform began testing broadcast channels on Instagram. Broadcast channels are a public one-to-many messaging tool where creators can invite all of their followers to join and share text, video and photo updates. Creators can also use voice notes to share their latest updates and behind-the-scenes moments, and even create polls to crowdsource fan feedback. Only creators can send messages in broadcast channels, while followers can react to content and vote in polls.

How Do Broadcast Channels Work?

Once a creator gets access to broadcast channels and sends the first message from their Instagram inbox, their followers will receive a one-time notification to join the channel. Anyone can discover the broadcast channel and view the content, but only followers who join the channel will receive notifications whenever there are updates.

Followers can leave or mute broadcast channels at any time and can also control their notifications from creators by going to a creator’s profile, tapping the bell icon and selecting 'broadcast channel'.

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Other than the invitation notification, followers will not get any other notifications about a broadcast channel unless they add the channel to their inbox. Once a channel is added to their inbox, it will appear among other message threads, and notifications will be turned on and function like any other chat.

New and Upcoming Features

Broadcast channels are also getting new updates and upcoming features aimed at making them more fun and interactive:

• Collaborators - It will enable creators to invite other creators (or fans) to participate in their broadcast channel. Whether it’s an expert interview or a casual hangout, fans can now follow conversations between their favourite creators and their special guests. This is now available globally.
• Question prompts and channels tab - This will give creators the ability to gather feedback and responses from followers and a dedicated channels tab in the inbox so people can easily access their joined channels and discover new ones. These are in early testing and not yet available in India.
• New Controls - Lastly, Instagram is exploring new controls to help creators manage and promote their broadcast channels, like setting an expiration date and time on their channel, adding a moderator to help manage members, messages and content and sharing a link or even a preview to Stories to encourage followers to join.