Instagram has introduced a new policy requiring users to have at least 1,000 followers and a public account to access its Live streaming feature. Previously, anyone could start a Live session, regardless of follower count or account privacy settings. The platform confirmed the change this week, citing an effort to enhance the quality and experience of Live content.
Users who fall below the threshold will now see an in-app notification stating, “We changed requirements to use this feature. Only public accounts with 1,000 followers or more will be able to create live videos.” This shift has sparked frustration among smaller creators and casual users who relied on Live for spontaneous interactions, community building, or sharing moments with friends.
Social media platforms like TikTok and YouTube have similar restrictions, with TikTok also mandating a 1,000-follower minimum for Live access. YouTube requires channels to have 50 subscribers. Instagram’s alignment with these standards suggests a broader industry trend toward prioritizing established creators for high-resource features like livestreaming.
While Instagram hasn’t explicitly detailed the reasoning behind the change, experts speculate it serves two purposes: improving content quality by limiting streams to creators with proven audiences and reducing infrastructure costs. Hosting low-viewership Livestreams requires significant server resources, and Meta may be streamlining expenses by focusing on users who draw larger audiences.
The decision has drawn backlash online, with many users calling for a reversal. Critics argue the policy stifles emerging creators’ growth and undermines the platform’s accessibility. However, Instagram emphasizes that the update aims to foster higher engagement and ensure Live remains a dynamic, impactful tool for its community.
