Instagram introduce Broadcast Channels, one-to-many public messaging channels, similar to Telegram Channels.

Fresh off copying Snapchat, TikTok and BeReal, Instagram’s latest victim is Telegram, with their take on the Channels features. Instagram hopes Broadcast Channels will allow creators to directly connect with their followers, while followers can engage with their favourite creators on a deeper level.

Creators can create as many channels as they like. The creator is the only one that can message, by sharing text, photos, videos, GIFs, polls and voice memos. Followers will find channels they’ve joined in their Instagram inbox, alongside DMs. While unable to post, followers can join, read, react and vote in polls.

Broadcast Channels offer creators on Instagram a new way to share casual updates and behind-the-scenes moments with followers, unaffected by algorithms and like-counters. Going forward, Instagram hopes to introduce the ability to allow multiple creators to contribute to one channel and support a live Ask Me Anything. Broadcast Channels are starting on Instagram, before coming to Messenger and Facebook in the coming months.

Instagram are testing Broadcast Channels with a very small number of US creators during testing, before rolling out more broadly. Creators interested in testing the feature can show interest by signing up to the waitlist for early access.

Once you’ve been granted access, you can create channels from the Instagram inbox. You’ll be able to open them to all followers or exclusively to paid subscribers only. Once the first message has been sent, followers will receive a notification to join the channel. If they choose to join the channel, they will continue receiving notifications for each message posted. Followers can leave or mute channels at any time. Creators will be able to promote their Broadcast Channels via “join channel” stickers in Stories, as well as soon pin the channel link to their profile.

Please note, it seems joining channels is also not available to everyone just yet. That being said, if you do have access and want to check out Broadcast Channels, you can find CEO of Meta, Mark Zuckerberg’s “Meta Channel 📢” here, as well as the following creators who have early access:

Head of Instagram, Adam Mosseri announced the new feature last week in a video. Mosseri notes that the way people use Instagram has changed over the last 10 years, saying that sharing photos and videos happens more in DMs than Stories or Feed, before also giving examples of how creators can utilise the feature and inviting viewers to leave feedback in the comments.