By Emma Reynolds 
A picture may be worth a thousand words, but with Instagram’s latest policy update, you may need a thousand followers to broadcast those words live. The social media giant has implemented a new rule: if you run a public account with fewer than 1,000 followers, your ability to go live is now a thing of the past.
This move is not out of the ordinary for Instagram. The platform has been playing with its live feature for a while now. The previous limit was a modest 50 followers, but in the face of increasing live stream numbers during the pandemic, Instagram decided to up the stakes. The question now arises – does this move champion quality over quantity, or is it a barrier to small, budding accounts?
Imagine you are an aspiring artist, keen on broadcasting your work to the world. With less than 1,000 followers, you’ve been utilizing Instagram Live to share your process and connect with an audience. Now, with this new policy, you may find yourself locked out of that vital live platform. Your ability to interact in real-time, answer questions, and build a community could be significantly stunted.
On the flip side, let’s consider the potential advantages of this new policy. Is it possible that Instagram is trying to protect its platform from spam or inappropriate content? Could this be an attempt to maintain a certain quality of content and ensure that those who have the power to go live are genuinely committed to their craft and their audience?
Consider this: perhaps the new policy is not a barrier but a motivator. It could be seen as an encouragement for creators to work harder, build their audience, and reach that 1,000 follower milestone. It could drive creators to produce more engaging content, interact more frequently with their followers, and create a more robust online presence.
In the digital landscape, change is the only constant. Instagram’s new policy may be a hurdle for some, but it could also be an opportunity for growth and improvement. As creators and consumers, our responsibility is to adapt, evolve, and navigate these changes to create a vibrant and engaging digital community. After all, the social media landscape is a reflection of our ability to connect, communicate, and create in an ever-changing world.