In February, Instagram implemented a new feature called “broadcast channels” with which content creators can send broadcast messages to their followers, using text, images, videos, voice notes and even polls. A function that drinks directly from the popular Telegram channels, which allow exactly the same.
The feature was tested among a group of content creators and users selected by Instagram, but now the company has decided to expand access to everyone. The announcement comes just days after WhatsApp, another Meta app, announced a virtually identical feature called Channels.
To test the feature, users need to go to the private messages tab and then to “Suggested channels”, where you can find a multitude of channels to join. instagram claims that the app’s suggestions are based on “your interests, interactions with content creators and activity on instagram”; that is, in the information that the algorithm saves about you. Broadcast channels can also be searched in the private messages tab itself.
In these channels, content creators can broadcast their messages to large audiences. While channel followers will not be able to write in them, as in Telegram, they will be able to react with emoticons to posts, as well as vote in polls that are launched.
Looking ahead, Instagram will launch several features for channel creators, such as the ability to set an expiration date and time, insert questionnaires to get feedback from followers, add moderators to help with community management, and share a preview of a content creator’s Story.
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