Facebook Meta’s parent company on Thursday gave first-time Instagram users access to a new feature for “broadcast channel’. Followers who sign up for the channel then receive updates that the creator sends specifically to the channel. They can also receive notifications and updates appear in the inbox between their chat messages.

Influencers can share text messages, photos, videos, voice messages, and polls in broadcast channels, among other things. According to Meta, more features will be added in the coming months. For example, creators will soon be able to start shared channels with others.

Less dependent on algorithms

Popular Instagram users can become less dependent on the Meta algorithm that determines what users see in their news feed. When an influencer starts a broadcast channel, their existing followers receive a one-time notification, after which they can register. You can also register via the button on your profile, via a special link or via a new sticker in Instagram Stories.

Then on to Facebook

This new feature is only available to a small group of influencers in the US for now. Meta plans to roll it out to more users and in more countries in the future. These channel types will also be tested on Facebook and Messenger soon. WhatsApp doesn’t mention Meta in the plan.

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg said in a “Meta Channel” announcement that he would use the feature to “share news and updates about all of the products and technology we build on Meta.” Users wishing to use broadcast channels can subscribe to a waiting list so they get first access.

Telegram channel

Rival Telegram has long had the option of starting channels that only other users can join and in which they cannot participate. Telegram also shows ads on these ‘one-to-many’ channels.