JAKARTA - Instagram began rolling out the Channel feature globally to users, after being tested last February. This feature is similar to WhatsApp's recently released feature.
"Today we are expanding the Instagram broadcast channel globally, giving millions of content creators a new way to engage directly with their followers on a large scale," Instagram said in its official blog quoted Friday, June 16.
Broadcast channels are one-to-many public messaging tools that creator content can use to invite all its followers and share text, video, and photo updates.
Creators can also use voice records to share the latest updates and behind-the-scenes moments, even creating polls to collect feedback from fans.
However, only creators can send messages on broadcast channels, while followers can react to content and vote in polls.
Once creators get access to the broadcast channel and send the first message from the Instagram inbox (DM), their followers will receive a notification to join the channel.
"Anyone can find broadcast channels and view their content, but only followers can join the channel and receive notifications whenever there's an update," explained Instagram.
Followers can exit or mute broadcast channels at any time, control their notifications by opening creator profiles, tapping the bell icon, and selecting broadcast channels.
They will be presented with the option to change notifications, like all or none. However, it will be defaulted to some. Apart from invitation notifications, followers will not get any other notifications about broadcast channels unless they add the channel to their DM.
After the channel is added to DM, another message thread will appear with an active notification and functioning like any other chat.
Here's How To Join The Broadcast Channel:
1. Access to broadcast channel via creator Stories stickers, or links embedded into their Instagram profiles.
2. Tap Join the broadcast channel. People who have not followed the creator will be asked to do so.
3. After joining the channel, followers can react to content and vote in polls, but cannot send messages.
4. They can also share links to their favorite creator broadcast channels so that their friends can follow and join.
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