Instagram Adds Replies to Broadcast Channels – Here’s What’s New
Alright, so Instagram’s switching things up with Broadcast Channels. It’s not just a one-way street for updates anymore—now, creators can enable replies in their channels, which means subscribers get to jump in with their own comments.
But, here’s the catch: those replies don’t show up in the main channel feed.
So what’s really happening here? Well, the main Broadcast Channel still stays focused on updates from the channel admin, keeping that clean, single stream of info flowing. It’s perfect for brands and influencers to drop updates directly into your IG DMs, where most of the interaction is going down these days.
But with this new feature, fans can now discuss specific posts within the channel itself. Replies are only visible when you tap on a specific message in a Broadcast Channel thread, so it’s kind of like a topical chat area, without turning into a chaotic group chat. The main broadcast feed stays dedicated to the admin’s posts.
It might sound a little confusing at first, but really, it makes sense. This way, fans can connect and talk about specific updates right there in the channel—no need to run off to another forum or group chat to discuss the latest announcement.
Instagram’s been leaning heavily into DMs lately, where engagement is booming, compared to the main feed. And that’s why they’re adding features like this—letting people chat in the format where they’re already spending the most time.
The main IG feed these days? About 50% of it is now AI-recommended content, similar to TikTok, rather than just posts from people you follow. So Instagram’s doing a bit of a balancing act, giving us the TikTok-style feed while also trying to preserve that real social connection within DMs.
It’s why they keep rolling out stuff like Notes and Stories comments—just more ways to spark conversations, all within the app.
So, there you have it—Instagram’s new Broadcast Channel reply feature gives your audience another way to interact while keeping things organized. Seems like a smart move!
Hey there I’m Kylie Simao, owner of a boutique social media marketing agency dedicated to helping new, local and small businesses who want to promote themselves online using social media.