Instagram now requires users to maintain public accounts with at least 1,000 followers to broadcast live content, the company confirmed to TechCrunch. This policy change restricts a previously unrestricted feature.
Until the update, Instagram permitted all users to initiate live streams regardless of follower count or account privacy settings. The shift impacts smaller creators below the follower threshold and casual users who utilized live streaming for informal interactions with friends.
Accounts failing to meet both criteria—public status and 1,000 followers—receive an ineligibility notice when attempting to go live. The notification states: “We changed requirements to use this feature. Only public accounts with 1,000 followers or more will be able to create live videos.”
Users have publicly expressed dissatisfaction with the change across social media platforms, with some demanding its reversal. Instagram’s updated approach mirrors TikTok’s live-streaming policy, which also mandates 1,000 followers. YouTube maintains a lower barrier, requiring 50 subscribers for live streaming.
Instagram attributed the decision to improving the Live viewing experience without elaborating further. Restricting access to established creators may reduce lower-quality broadcasts. Parent company Meta could achieve cost savings through the policy, as hosting live streams incurs significant expenses—particularly for broadcasts attracting minimal viewership.
