Instagram has officially introduced a new threshold for its Live feature: users must now have a public account and at least 1,000 followers to go live, the platform confirmed to TechCrunch. This marks a significant shift from the previous policy, which allowed any user, regardless of follower count or privacy settings, to stream live.
The update is a setback for smaller creators and casual users who used Live for fun or connection. Affected users attempting to go live will now see a message stating their account is no longer eligible, citing the updated requirement: “Only public accounts with 1,000 followers or more will be able to create live videos.”
Related: Instagram Strengthens Privacy Measures For Accounts Featuring Children.
The decision has sparked frustration across social media, with many users calling for the policy to be reversed.
The move aligns Instagram more closely with TikTok, which also restricts Live access to users with 1,000+ followers. YouTube, by contrast, sets a lower bar, just 50 subscribers, for mobile livestreaming.
Instagram hasn’t given a detailed explanation for the change, but it says the goal is to “improve the overall Live consumption experience.” The company may also be eyeing cost reductions, as livestreaming requires significant infrastructure; resources it might prefer to reserve for users with larger audiences.
