Broadcast channels have become a popular way for creators to engage directly with their community on Instagram. Creators and their fans exchange over 1.5 billion messages on channels every month! But up until recently, fans could only participate by liking and reacting to messages.

That’s why we’re excited to introduce the latest updates to channels to help you better understand your most loyal audience and collaborate with them on a deeper level. After all, conversations are more meaningful when everyone can actually participate. Here’s what’s new:

• Replies: Give your fans a way to engage with your messages and each other.
• Prompts: Kickstart conversations in your channel with Q&As and daily check-ins.
• Insights and best practices: Understand what’s working and get helpful tips to meet your goals.

Replies let you hear directly from your fans

Replies give you the chance to have real back-and-forth conversations on your channel. Fans can respond to messages and each other, while keeping the focus on your content.

All replies are neatly nested within your messages, which keeps topics organized and makes it easier for fans to find their place in your channel. And just like comments, you can delete or report any reply.

Here’s how to turn on replies:

1. Tap your channel name at the top of your channel
2. Select Channel controls
3. Enable Allow members to reply to messages

Prompts kickstart conversations

Getting the conversation rolling can be tough, but you don’t have to start from scratch anymore. Prompts create buzz in your channel by giving your fans something to respond to, and in turn, a chance to connect with each other.

Break the ice by choosing from suggested topics or create a custom prompt that fits your channel’s vibe. Fans can respond with text or photos for up to 24 hours, and like their favorite responses.

Pro tip: Keeping tabs on likes is a great way to see what’s popular.

How to create a prompt:

1. Go into your channel
2. Tap +
3. Select Prompt

Whether you're asking fans to share their restaurant recommendations or just a small moment from the day, prompts keep your channel feeling collaborative. And when you reply to a prompt response, your message is also shared in the main channel, giving everyone a reason to check back in.

Insights and best practices help you grow

Along with new ways to engage with your fans on channels, we're rolling out metrics like total number of interactions, story shares, and poll votes to help you track how your content performs and understand what’s resonating.

We’ll also help you get the most out of your channel with personalized guidance and best practices. Set a goal for your channel, and we’ll give you specific actions to help you achieve it. For example, did you know you can reach all your fans at once across Instagram and Facebook? Just update your settings to automatically share your channel messages to both places.

Here’s how to access insights and best practices:

1. Tap your channel name at the top of your channel
2. Select Channel performance
3. To view detailed insights, tap See all

Replies, prompts, and channel insights have rolled out globally today. To learn more about channels including eligibility and features, visit our Help Center.