Instagram Channels: Get Closer to Creators
Launched in February 2023, Instagram Broadcast Channels were first rolled out in the United States before gradually expanding to other countries, including France. Inspired by Telegram, this feature aims to offer creators new ways to interact with their followers. By allowing direct messages to be broadcast to a wide audience, channels are transforming communication on Instagram, making the exchange more targeted and exclusive.
Broadcast channels on Instagram work like “one-way DMs,” where creators can share messages, photos, videos, voice messages, and polls with their followers, who can only react with emojis or by participating in polls. For users, access to a broadcast channel thus offers access to exclusive content from the creator they follow.
How to join an Instagram channel
Join a channel on the Instagram mobile app
On Instagram, it is very easy to join a broadcast channel. However, be aware that the feature is not accessible from the web version. You will therefore have to go through the mobile application:
- Open the app and go to the profile of the creator whose broadcast channel you want to join.
- In the description, look for the chat bubble icon. Next to it, the channel name, specific to each creator, is highlighted in bold.
- Click on it to view the entire discussion. To join the channel and receive notifications when the creator posts content, tap Join.
You can’t join an Instagram channel: for what reasons?
If you can’t join a channel on Instagram, it could be due to several factors:
- Privacy settings: If the account whose channel you want to join is private, it will only be accessible to its subscribers. You will then have to follow it and wait for your follow request to be accepted.
- The age limit: Accounts may have age restrictions. So, if you are a minor, you may not be able to join certain channels that contain content that is not appropriate for younger users.
- The blockage: You cannot access the broadcast channel of a creator who has blocked you.
Please note: Not all creators have created a channel. If you don’t see any mention of it in the creator’s description, it’s likely that the channel hasn’t been created yet.
