Instagram sets 1000 follower minimum for Live Streaming

Instagram has introduced a significant policy change affecting how users access one of its core features—live streaming. As of early August, public accounts with fewer than 1,000 followers are no longer allowed to broadcast live on the platform. This adjustment, confirmed by Meta, marks a notable shift in how the company manages user access to its tools, especially among smaller or newer creators.

In recent days, users began to report that they were unexpectedly blocked from going live on Instagram. A notification now appears within the app when users attempt to initiate a livestream, stating: "We changed the requirements to use this feature. Only public accounts with 1,000 followers or more will be able to create live videos." The update initially created confusion, but Meta has since clarified the change to Engadget, confirming it as a deliberate move rather than a technical issue or glitch.

According to Meta, the decision is aimed at enhancing the overall experience for creators who use Live broadcasts. The company says it's focusing on optimizing the feature’s performance, and presumably filtering usage to accounts with a larger audience is part of that effort. However, Meta has not offered a detailed explanation as to why accounts with fewer than 1,000 followers are excluded, nor has it provided data to support how the new limit directly correlates with improved quality or engagement.

Interestingly, while the change was initially framed as applying solely to public accounts, Meta later clarified that private accounts are also being affected. However, the update is being rolled out gradually, and so far, only public users are seeing the restriction fully enforced. Private accounts, which often have smaller followings by design, are expected to lose access to the Live feature as the new rule expands.

This new threshold could also signal the end of a relatively recent feature: Instagram’s support for small-scale livestreams intended for close circles. In 2024, the platform introduced the ability to go live for up to three selected friends, a move aimed at making livestreaming more personal and less performative. That function appears to be incompatible with the current direction, suggesting that Meta is now prioritizing broader, more public engagement metrics over intimate or casual content sharing.

For creators and influencers, especially those just starting out, the new requirement may feel like a setback. Live video has been a key tool for building community, showcasing behind-the-scenes content, or offering real-time updates. While accounts with larger audiences will continue to benefit from these capabilities, smaller voices may find it harder to grow their presence without equal access to such engagement tools.

From a platform management perspective, this move may help Meta curb misuse or spam often associated with anonymous or low-traffic accounts. Restricting livestream access could potentially reduce the risk of inappropriate content or abuse, which has been a recurring concern on all major social media platforms. Yet, the trade-off may come at the cost of excluding legitimate, smaller creators who use the feature responsibly.

The new policy also reflects a broader trend among tech companies to enforce tighter controls over who gets to access certain tools. Whether in the name of safety, user experience, or platform performance, the criteria for full participation in social platforms are increasingly tied to reach and scale. In that context, Instagram’s follower threshold for livestreams might be the first of several such shifts in how features are distributed across its user base.

As the rollout continues, Instagram users—especially those managing private or growing accounts—will have to adjust to the new norms. Whether the change ultimately improves the platform or alienates parts of its community remains to be seen, but it’s clear that Meta is steering Instagram toward a more curated approach to who gets to broadcast live.