In the past, platforms like Telegram led the messaging sphere with one-way communication features. In February, Meta took a leaf out of that book, introducing “broadcast channels” on Instagram. This feature allowed creators to seamlessly update their followers without making a post on their primary feed. Meta has recently expanded the availability of this tool, and it’s now making its way to Facebook and Messenger.
- Feature Dynamics: Only the Page administrators have the leverage to send messages. Yet, participants can engage, react, and even participate in polls. Once initiated, Facebook notifies followers, asking if they’d like to join. And as evidenced by screenshots from Mark Zuckerberg, these channels will be neatly integrated into Messenger under a “Channels” tab.
- How it Works for Users: Once a page owner dispatches an update, users will be notified. But, they always have the choice to mute these alerts. Even if they declined the initial invitation, they could later opt to join through the page’s profile, mirroring the Instagram setup.
- Availability: While Meta is enthusiastic about this rollout, the broadcast channel feature isn’t ubiquitous just yet. Pages where the feature hasn’t been unveiled can hop onto a waitlist.
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Changes Amid Israel-Hamas War
Meta, understanding its significant role as a global communication platform, is modifying certain features in light of the Israel-Hamas conflict.
- Protecting Users: To shield users in the affected region from undesirable comments, Meta has altered the default comment settings on Facebook. New public Facebook posts will now only display comments from the user’s friends or established followers. This diverges from the usual setup where public posts are open for all to comment.
- Profile-Locking Tool: Meta, aiming to offer more privacy to users, is deploying its profile “lock” mechanism for Facebook users in the affected area. This tool keeps parts of a user’s profile private and restricts non-friends from viewing full-sized profile images.
- Moderation Hiccups: Some users felt they were “shadowbanned” on Instagram when posting about the conditions in Gaza. Addressing this, Meta’s spokesperson mentioned the discovery and resolution of a bug affecting the visibility of Stories. This issue, Meta emphasized, was global and not targeted based on the content’s subject matter.
A Glance Back
Questions about Meta’s reaction to Middle Eastern conflicts aren’t new. In 2021, during the Gaza Strip upheaval, Meta was criticized for alleged biased moderation practices, resulting in the suppression of Palestinian voices.
