Instagram Expands Broadcast Channels Globally
Meta has announced the global rollout of Instagram’s Broadcast Channels feature, which was initially available to select creators and users. Instagram’s Channels is a feature that allows creators to share one-to-many messages with their followers. Mark Zuckerberg, Meta’s CEO, made the announcement on his own channel and spotlighted a few channels including the International Cricket Council (ICC), director Karen X. Cheng, influencer Michael Le, and artists Daniel Arsham.
The Broadcast Channels feature was initially launched in February, with support for collaborators introduced in May. Users can discover suggested channels in the Direct Message (DM) section, which are recommended based on their interests, interactions with creators, and activity on Instagram. The platform also provides the ability to search for broadcast channels in the DM section.
Meta is currently testing several enhancements for the Channels feature, including question prompts for followers and a dedicated channels tab in the inbox. Tools for creators are also being tested, such as the ability to set a channel expiration date and time, add a moderator to help manage members, and share a link or preview to Stories.
In related news, Meta also launched the Channels feature on WhatsApp earlier this month. The purpose of WhatsApp Channels, initially introduced with select partners in Colombia and Singapore, is to provide a platform for local and global authorities and agencies to connect with people.
