Instagram has introduced a major restriction to its livestreaming feature: users now need at least 1,000 followers and a public profile to go live. The update was confirmed by Instagram to TechCrunch.
Previously, anyone on the app—regardless of follower count or account privacy—could start a live video. Now, users who don’t meet the new criteria will see a message saying they’re no longer eligible, as spotted by a user back in late July.
The message reads: “We changed requirements to use this feature. Only public accounts with 1,000 followers or more will be able to create live videos.”
The move mirrors TikTok’s rules, which also require 1,000 followers to livestream. YouTube, by contrast, only asks for 50 subscribers.
Instagram hasn’t offered a clear explanation for the change, but TechCrunch reports the company hinted at improving the overall viewing experience. Some speculate it’s also a cost-saving measure—hosting livestreams can be expensive, and Meta may be aiming to cut back on low-viewership broadcasts.
But Facebook Live is still available and lets anyone stream live with no follower count required. Other platforms such as X also let people stream live at any time, no matter how many followers you have.
The changes means smaller creators on Instagram starting out won’t be able to go live until they hit the 1,000 follower club. The move also prevents spammers from going live on Instagram unless they meet the follower requirement.
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