Instagram has introduced a new rule: only public accounts with at least 1,000 followers are now eligible to use the Live feature. Users who don’t meet these criteria will see a notice — “Only public accounts with 1,000 followers or more will be able to create live videos” — when trying to stream.
This policy shift aims to reduce streaming infrastructure costs, curb misuse by newly created or malicious accounts, and elevate the overall quality of live broadcasts. It also aligns Instagram with platforms like TikTok, which already enforces a similar live-streaming threshold.
However, the move has drawn pushback from smaller creators and casual users—many of whom relied on Live to connect directly with audiences. Without it, some may be forced to shift to alternatives like direct video calls or ramp up their follower counts first.
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