Instagram is a popular social media platform where users can share photos and videos and interact with others through likes, comments, and direct messages.

It allows individuals and businesses to showcase their creativity and brand through visually appealing content and connect with their followers and target audience.

Users can also explore content through hashtags and the explore page and stay up-to-date with friends, family, and interests by following their accounts. Instagram also offers features such as Instagram Stories, Reels, and IGTV for more immersive and engaging content.

What is Channels- the new feature on Instagram?

Mark Zuckerberg, the CEO of Meta, recently announced the launch of a new feature on Instagram called "Channels." This feature allows creators to share public, one-to-many messages that engage directly with their followers.

The feature supports various formats, such as text, images, polls, and reactions. Channels will be tested with select creators in the U.S. and will be expanded in the coming months.

This new feature provides creators with a direct and engaging way to update their followers. Previously, creators would post a story to share news and updates, but now they can use broadcast channels to interact with their fans. The feature also enables creators to get feedback on their content and promote it.

How To Use Channels?

Creators can use broadcast channels to update their followers and provide behind-the-scenes glimpses. Only creators can post on the broadcast channels, but followers can react to the content and participate in polls.

Instagram plans to add more features to broadcast channels, such as inviting other creators to discuss upcoming collaborations and collecting questions for an AMA via question prompts.

Meta has announced that although they are launching channels on Instagram, they plan to expand the feature to Messenger and Facebook in the coming months.

Once a creator gains access to channels, they can begin one from their Instagram inbox, and their followers will receive a one-time notification for joining the channel after they send their first message.

Creators can also use the "join channel" sticker in Stories to encourage followers to join when the channel is live. Shortly, creators will be able to pin their channel to their profile.

Although all users on the social network can view the content in broadcast channels, only followers who join the channel will receive notifications when the creator posts updates. Followers can leave or mute broadcast channels at any time and can control their notifications from creators.

Adherence To Community Guidelines

Broadcast channels must follow Instagram's community guidelines. People can report both the broadcast channel and specific content shared in the channel, which may be removed if it goes against Meta policies.

Broadcast channels are designed for public and discoverable chat experiences, so they are treated differently from private messaging on Instagram. Meta has tools and reviewers to help identify, review, or remove the content in broadcast channels that may violate its guidelines.

Conclusion

Introducing Channels on Instagram provides a new way for creators to directly engage with their followers and promote their content. With its various features, such as polls, reactions, and question prompts, Channels can provide a more interactive and immersive experience for followers.

As the feature expands to other platforms like Messenger and Facebook, it will be interesting to see how creators and followers utilise it to connect and share content.

However, it's important to remember that Channels, like all features on Instagram, must follow the platform's community guidelines to ensure a safe and positive experience for all users.