Meta introduces Telegram-style “streaming channels”to its Instagram app. This feature should expand quickly and appear in Facebook and Messenger.
Meta has set its sights on yet another feature of the rival messaging app: this time, Telegram. Mark Zuckerberg showed off Broadcast Channels, Instagram’s new in-app one-way chat feature. The American giant is testing this novelty with a small number of creators and plans to launch it eventually on Facebook and Messenger.
Meta introduces Telegram-style “streaming channels”to its Instagram app
Broadcast channels allow creators to deliver whatever they want directly to their subscribers’ inboxes, just like Telegram offers. Those who join channels can respond to messages and give their opinion in polls, but cannot directly participate in the conversation. For example, Mark Zuckerberg shared on “Canal Meta”that he intends to use the space to “share news and other updates about all of the products and technologies developed at Meta.”In addition to texts, creators can share audio clips, photos, and other types of content.
For now, it seems only Mark Zuckerberg and a dozen other authors have access to this feature. This first group includes snowboarder Chloe Kim, jiu-jitsu fighter Mackenzie Dern, and meme account Tank Sinatra. The company explains that those interested in the feature can sign up for a waitlist.
This feature should expand quickly and appear in Facebook and Messenger.
While Meta describes these channels as “testing,”the company seems to be very interested in the feature. Additional options, such as the ability to add a different creator to a conversation or have Q&A sessions, are already in development. Menlo Park also plans to begin testing these Facebook and Messenger distribution channels “in the coming months.”