Meta Brings Telegram-Like Feature to Instagram

Meta is rolling out a Telegram-like feature on Instagram that allows creators to broadcast messages to followers subscribed to their channel.  

CEO Mark Zuckerberg introduced the “Instagram Broadcast Channel” last Thursday using the new in-app feature. Like Telegram, only channel creators are allowed to post in their channels, while followers can only emoji react to their posts and participate in polls.  

The CEO announced that his channel, called “Meta Channel 📢” will be used to share “news and updates on all the products and tech we’re building at Meta,” giving followers a first look into the future of the Meta social media apps.  

Users who have access can create their own Instagram Broadcast Channel by heading to their Instagram inbox and sending their first message to their followers, to which followers will receive a one-time notification to join the channel.  

Those who don’t join a channel can still view the content, but will not be notified whenever there are new updates. Followers will also have the option to leave or mute a channel at any desired time.  

“As soon as the broadcast channel is live, creators can also encourage their followers to join by using the “join channel” sticker in Stories or by pinning the channel link to their profile (coming soon),” wrote the company post.  

Eventually, Zuckerberg also plans to use the latest app development to allow creators to collab, hold AMAs, and more.   

Instagram Broadcast Channel is available only to mobile users and a handful of creators in the U.S., like snowboarder Chloe Kim, content creator Faze Rug, video game streamer Valkyrae, and more.  

“We’re also bringing Channels to Messenger and Facebook in the coming months,” wrote Zuckerberg in his Meta Channel announcement. 

To get early access to the feature, creators can sign up for the waitlist in their device with limited slots provided.