Meta is updating its Broadcast Channels feature on Instagram in an effort to make it easier for creators to collaborate with their followers, the company announced on Wednesday.
Up until now, viewers could not respond to a creator’s post in a Broadcast Channel, and were limited to emoji reactions. Now, the company is giving creators the option to allow users to reply to their posts and respond to other users’ responses. Plus, creators now have the ability to share prompts to start a conversation in their Channel.
When Meta launched Broadcast Channels on Instagram last year, the company presented it as a way for creators to share public, one-to-many messages with their followers. Broadcast Channels were seen as a one-way communication method for creators to share quick announcements, without overcrowding the space with user replies. These changes alter that original vision for the feature.
With these new changes, Broadcast Channels may look more like the comments section of an Instagram post. However, Meta notes that all replies are grouped under a message in order to keep things organized.
It’s worth noting that creators can choose to leave replies turned off. If they want to turn on replies, they can tap on their channel name and then select “Channel controls” and then tap the “Allow members to reply to messages” option.
As for the new prompts, creators can give their followers something to respond to. For instance, they can ask their followers to share their recommendations for a restaurant in a specific city, or ask them what they’re grateful for that day.
Users have up to 24 hours to respond to a creator’s prompt with either a photo or text. They can also like other users’ responses.
In addition to the two new changes, Meta is giving creators access to new metrics to help them understand how their Broadcast Channel content is performing. Meta will also suggest ways to boost your channel with personalized guidance.
If a creator notes that they want to increase their engagement, the app might prompt them to message more often or send a behind-the-scenes photo.
