Mark Zuckerberg Announces New Instagram Broadcast Feature Called ‘Channels’ – The CEO of Meta, Mark Zuckerberg, has revealed that the company is introducing a new chat feature on Instagram called “Channels”, which allows creators to share public messages with their followers in a one-to-many format. The feature supports various media types such as text, images, polls, and reactions. To announce the feature, Zuckerberg launched his own broadcast channel, which he intends to use for providing Meta updates in the future.
Instagram is conducting trials of its new broadcast channels feature with a group of creators in the United States, and has plans to roll out the feature more widely in the months ahead. This feature enables creators to keep their followers informed and offer glimpses into behind-the-scenes activities. Instagram has clarified that only creators are authorized to post in broadcast channels, and that their followers can only respond to content and participate in polls.
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Instagram is preparing to introduce further capabilities to its broadcast channels in the near future. These additional features may include the option to invite another creator to join the channel to discuss forthcoming collaborations, and to collect questions for an AMA via question prompts. This latest feature provides creators with a fresh approach to sharing updates with their followers on the app. In the past, creators typically utilized stories to inform their followers of news and updates, but this new functionality provides them with a more direct means of connecting with their audience.
Additionally, the feature allows creators to receive feedback on specific matters and promote their content. Although Meta will be launching channels on Instagram initially, the company intends to introduce this feature to Messenger and Facebook in the near future, as per Zuckerberg’s statement. Once creators gain access to channels, they can initiate one from their Instagram inbox. After sending their first message, their followers will receive a one-time notification to join the channel.
During a live broadcast, creators can also utilize the “join channel” sticker in Stories to encourage their followers to participate. In the near future, creators will also be able to pin their channel to their profile. All social network users can explore broadcast channels and access their content. However, only those who join the channel will be notified when the creator shares updates. Followers can leave or mute broadcast channels at any point, and they have control over their notification preferences from creators.
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