Stricter Instagram Live Policies Favor Popular Influencers, Affecting Smaller Accounts
Instagram has implemented a new restriction on its Live feature, requiring users to have at least 1,000 followers on a public account in order to broadcast live content. This change may pose a challenge for emerging creators and casual users seeking to utilize the platform for personal interactions with friends.
However, it is worth noting that this feature has primarily been utilized by prominent celebrities and politicians for engaging with their fan bases or reaching out to younger audiences. Meta has yet to provide an explanation for this restriction; nonetheless, the policy update was disclosed on a support page. Users attempting to go live without meeting the criteria will be met with an error message stating, “Your account is no longer eligible for Live.”
This latest restriction on Instagram Live follows a previous measure implemented in April, which prohibited users under the age of 16 from going live due to safety concerns. Prior to this change, teens could access the feature with parental approval; however, the new requirement for a public account effectively bars Teen Accounts as these are private by default.
Reception to Instagram’s updated Live limits has been varied among social media users, with some expressing indifference while others have expressed frustration or disapproval. Notably, Instagram’s new Live requirements now align with TikTok, which also mandates 1,000 followers for live streaming. In contrast, YouTube only requires 50 followers for similar capabilities.
