Instagram has revamped its video features with a Periscope-style live broadcast option.
Following in the footsteps of Facebook, which owns Instagram, YouTube and Twitter’s live-streaming app Periscope, Instagram has released a new feature that allows its users to broadcast live at any time.
Anyone watching can comment and react by posting emoji that pop up on the live video screen.
When using Instagram Live, users will be able to broadcast live streams to their followers, but followers will only be able to watch while the stream is happening in real-time, this means no replays and nothing saved on the user’s profile afterwards.
When users begin live streaming, their followers will receive a notification that it’s happening and will then be able to watch and post comments on the stream in real-time.
Comments can be turned off and there will be options to block and report any harassers.
To make sure users don’t miss the best and most popular live streams from people they’re not following, Instagram will display them as they’re happening in an Explore page which is curated according to viewing figures, geography, and language.
The features will begin rolling out today and over the next few weeks all iOS and Android users should be able to begin using them.