All About Making Broadcast Channels on Instagram and Eligibility

Download Article

What broadcast channels are, how to make one, and why you should

Co-authored by Travis Boylls Reviewed by Candace Gasper

Last Updated: April 15, 2025 Fact Checked

Download Article

What are broadcast channels?

|

How do you create a broadcast channel?

|

How do you invite members to join?

|

Why use broadcast channels?

If you are looking for a new and more direct way to reach your followers on Instagram, starting a broadcast channel may be the solution you've been searching for. Broadcast channels allow creators to send text, images, videos, voice messages, and polls to followers who join to the channel. This wikiHow article teaches you everything you need to know about broadcast channels.

Quick Steps

Open your DM inbox on Instagram.
Tap the pencil and paper icon in the upper-right corner.
Tap Create broadcast channel and tap Get Started.
Enter a name for the channel.
Select an audience for the channel.
Toggle if you want the channel to show up on your profile on or off.
Tap Create broadcast channel.

Section 1 of 4:

What are broadcast channels?

Download Article

Broadcast channels allow you to message your followers directly. Broadcast channels can be found in your direct messages inbox in the Instagram app. Content creators can send messages to all their followers who have joined the channel at once.^{[1]
X
Research source}
- Content creators can use broadcast channels to send text messages, images, videos, voice messages, and polls.
- Followers who have joined the channel cannot reply to messages. However, they can react with an emoji or respond to polls.
- Broadcast channels are public and can be found by anyone. However, only followers can join.
- You can create as many broadcast channels as you want.
- Broadcast channels were announced in February of 2023. They have been rolling them out to more and more accounts ever since. Most accounts have broadcast channels, but they are still not available to everyone.
- Currently, broadcast channels have been rolled out to accounts that have 10,000 or more followers.
- To find channels that you subscribe to, open your direct message inbox on Instagram. Then tap the Channels tab at the top of the page.

Section 2 of 4:

How do you create a broadcast channel?

Download Article

To do so, tap the icon that resembles either a speech bubble with a lightning bolt in the middle, or a paper airplane. It's in the upper-right corner of the Instagram app on your mobile device.
It's the icon that resembles a pencil and paper. It's in the upper-right corner. This is the button you tap to create a new message.
3
Tap Create broadcast channel. It should be at the top of the list of options.
- If you don't see this option, broadcast channels may not be available to you just yet. Instagram is still in the process of rolling this feature out to all accounts. If you have fewer than 10,000 followers, broadcast channels may not be available to you.
It's the blue button at the bottom of the page.
Enter any name you want in the bar below "Channel name."
By default, your channel will be open to your followers to subscribe to. You can also select certain followers, and select when your channel will end.
To do so, click the toggle switch next to "Show channel on profile" to toggle this on or off.
It's the blue button at the bottom of the page. This will create your broadcast channel.

Section 3 of 4:

How do you invite members to join?

Download Article

There are four ways to invite followers to join your broadcast channel. They are as follows:
- Send your first message: When you send your first message from your broadcast channel, all of your Instagram followers will receive a notification inviting them to join your broadcast channel:
- Send an invite link: To share an invite link, go into your broadcast channel and tap and hold the name of your channel at the top. Then tap Invite Link and tap the toggle switch to turn it on. Tap Invite link again, and tap Copy to copy the invite link. Send the link to anyone you want to invite. Alternatively, you can tap Send in Instagram to send it as a direct message on Instagram.^{[2]
  X
  Research source}
- Share broadcast channel as a story: To share your broadcast channel as a story, open the broadcast channel and tap and hold the name of the channel at the top. Then select Share to Story. Select a background and finish creating your story. Then tap Your Story at the bottom of the page.^{[3]
  X
  Research source}
- Share a message to your story: You can also invite others to join your channel by posting a message to your story. To do so, tap and hold the message you want to post on your broadcast channel. Then tap Share to Story.

Section 4 of 4:

Why use broadcast channels?

Download Article

Broadcast channels allow you to reach your followers directly. You can send messages to your followers without worrying about the message getting lost in the algorithm or posting a story that your followers may or may not check. Plus you can select certain followers rather than messaging all of your followers.
- Broadcast channels are like sending all your followers a DM, except they can't reply back. Therefore, you don't have to worry about your inbox getting cluttered with replies.
- According to Instagram CEO Adam Mosseri, broadcast channels are a way for creators to reach their followers in a way that is in line with how people are using Instagram these days. Today, more people share photos and text over DM than they do in stories or on their feed. Broadcast channels are a way to embrace the trend.^{[4]
  X
  Research source}