Instagram announced today a new rule that users must have at least 1,000 followers and a public account to start a Live broadcast.
This change restricts a previously open feature to all users regardless of their follower count or privacy settings.
Many small creators and casual users who used live streaming to connect intimately with friends have been affected by this update.
New rules tighten access to Instagram Live
Previously, anyone on Instagram could go live, whether they had 10 followers or 10,000, or whether their account was private or public.
Now, when users with fewer than 1,000 followers or private accounts attempt to start a live stream, they receive a notice explaining: “We changed requirements to use this feature. Only public accounts with 1,000 followers or more will be able to create live videos.”
This limits live broadcasts to users with established audiences, potentially reducing lower-quality or low-viewership streams.
Meta, Instagram’s parent company, has not provided an official reason but hinted that the change aims to improve the live viewing experience.
Hosting live streams requires substantial resources, and limiting access to creators with a sizable following could also help Meta manage costs more efficiently.
This move aligns Instagram’s live feature with platforms like TikTok, which already requires 1,000 followers to go live. By contrast, YouTube requires only 50 subscribers for live streaming, showing a less strict threshold.
Reaction from users and Industry comparison
The update drew mixed reactions from users. Some creators with fewer than 1,000 followers expressed frustration on social media, as the new rule blocks smaller creators from leveraging live streaming for growth and engagement.
Meanwhile, industry watchers note that Instagram’s policy now follows a growing trend of platforms enforcing minimum follower counts for live streaming to ensure the quality and relevance of content.
This new policy affects creators trying to build an audience and users who enjoyed casual, private live conversations with close followers.
The shift marks a move towards content moderation and platform resource optimisation as Instagram evolves in a competitive social media environment.