Smaller Creators and Private Accounts No Longer Eligible — Here’s What You Need to Know
📢 Instagram Restricts Live Streaming Access
Instagram has rolled out a major update that changes who can go Live on the platform. Now, only users with public accounts and a minimum of 1,000 followers will be able to use the Instagram Live feature.
The update has already begun rolling out and is being flagged to ineligible users via a system prompt.
⚠️ What the New Prompt Says
“Your account is no longer eligible for Live. We changed the requirements to use this feature. Only public accounts with 1,000 followers or more will be able to create live videos.”
Previously, users of all follower counts—regardless of whether their profiles were public or private—could stream live on Instagram.
🔍 Why the Change?
Though Instagram (owned by Meta) hasn’t issued a detailed explanation, experts believe the decision is:
- 🛡️ To improve user safety and content moderation
- 📶 To reduce server load and bandwidth consumption
- 🎯 To promote higher-quality content and reduce casual or non-commercial streaming
The move aligns with TikTok’s policy, which also restricts Live access to users with over 1,000 followers.
📉 Backlash From the Community
The update has sparked a wave of criticism, especially from:
- Small content creators
- Private users who used Live for personal sharing
- Users in niche communities
Here’s what people are saying:
- “Instagram is only focusing on monetization now.”
- “Smaller creators are being sidelined.”
- “This will push people to buy fake followers.”
One user even said:
“No more sharing life with friends. It’s all about advertising now.”
🔎 What This Means for You
If you try to go Live and don’t meet the new criteria, you’ll see an error message, and the Live button will be disabled.
New Requirements to Go Live on Instagram:
| Criteria | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Account Type | Must be public |
| Follower Count | Minimum 1,000 followers |
| Feature Availability | Otherwise, Live is disabled |
📲 What You Can Do:
- Grow your following organically through Reels, Stories, and carousel posts.
- Switch to a public account if you’re currently private.
- Avoid fake follower services — they can hurt your reach and credibility.
🧠 Final Note
Instagram’s shift toward prioritizing bigger accounts for Live reflects a growing trend across platforms to monetize reach and cut operational costs. While this may improve content quality, it leaves smaller users searching for alternative ways to stay connected and express themselves.
