Instagram: Now, only accounts with 1,000 followers can go live

Instagram has updated its policy regarding live streaming. From now on, only accounts with 1,000 or more followers will be able to start a live broadcast.

Previously, any user—regardless of their follower count or account privacy settings—could go live on Instagram. This shift marks a significant change and is likely to affect smaller creators and casual users who used live streams for fun or personal connection.

According to media sources, this decision is "a blow to smaller creators who fall short of the 1,000-follower requirement, as well as ordinary users who simply wanted to connect live with friends."

If a user with a private account and fewer than 1,000 followers tries to start a live stream, they will now see a notification:
"We’ve changed the requirements to use this feature. Only public accounts with 1,000 or more followers can go live."

This change makes Instagram’s live streaming policy more aligned with TikTok, where the same follower threshold is in place. In comparison, YouTube allows live streaming for channels with just 50 subscribers.