Instagram Restricts Live Streaming to Accounts With 1,000+ Followers
Instagram has quietly rolled out a new policy that prevents public accounts with fewer than 1,000 followers from going live. Over the past few days, users have reported seeing an in-app notice stating that their accounts no longer meet the eligibility requirements for live broadcasts. The message reads, We changed the requirements to use this feature, and only public accounts with 1,000 followers or more will be able to create live videos.
Meta, Instagrams parent company, confirmed the change to Engadget, explaining that the new rule aims to improve the overall experience for creators who host live streams. The company did not provide further details on why smaller accounts would negatively impact the feature.
Initially, the restriction appeared to apply only to public accounts, but Meta later clarified that private accounts will also be affected as the update rolls out more widely. This suggests Instagram may be phasing out the ability to livestream for small groups, including the Close Friends feature introduced earlier this year, which allowed users to broadcast to up to three people.
The move has sparked mixed reactions, with some creators arguing that the change unfairly limits smaller accounts from engaging with their audience in real time. Others speculate that Instagram is tightening live access to reduce spam or low-quality content.
Meta has not indicated whether exceptions will be made for certain types of accounts or if additional features will be introduced to compensate for the restriction. For now, creators with fewer than 1,000 followers will need to explore alternative ways to connect with their audience until they meet the new threshold.
