Instagram Live vs Clubhouse: New Features Explained

Instagram Live Gains New Features to Compete with Clubhouse

Beyond its Messenger Rooms offering, designed as a direct competitor to Clubhouse, and its web-based Q&A experiments, Facebook is now utilizing Instagram Live to address the growing popularity of the audio-based social platform.

Enhanced Host Flexibility

Instagram has announced the introduction of new functionalities that empower users to mute their microphones and disable their video feeds during Instagram Live broadcasts.

These additions are intended to provide livestream hosts with greater control and reduce the pressure associated with maintaining a specific appearance or audio quality while live.

Mimicking the Clubhouse Experience

However, the core strategy appears to be replicating a key element of Clubhouse’s success: the option for a “video off” experience. This encourages more spontaneous and relaxed conversations.

Removing the visual component can make individuals more inclined to participate in voice chats. Furthermore, audio-only formats allow creators to interact with their audience while simultaneously engaging in other activities.

This multitasking capability has been a significant advantage of Clubhouse, allowing users to contribute to discussions without needing to dedicate their full attention or worry about ambient sounds.

Future Capabilities

Currently, livestream hosts cannot control the video or mute status of other participants. However, Instagram has confirmed that it is actively developing these functionalities for broadcasters, with a rollout expected in the near future.

The new features were initially tested publicly earlier this week during an Instagram Live session featuring Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Instagram Head Adam Mosseri.

Attracting Creators

This isn't the sole update Instagram has implemented recently to attract creators from Clubhouse and similar platforms. In March, the platform launched Live Rooms, enabling up to four individuals to broadcast simultaneously.

These Rooms were designed to appeal to creators interested in hosting live talk shows, expanded Q&A sessions, and other formats commonly found on Clubhouse. Instagram also introduced the ability for fans to purchase badges, providing a monetization option for professional creators.

Facebook's Broader Strategy

Despite these Instagram updates, Facebook is also developing a more direct Clubhouse clone, Live Audio Rooms, for Facebook and Messenger.

However, the company anticipates that testing will not begin until this summer, and initial access will be limited to Groups and public figures, rather than the general user base.

Global Availability

The new features for Instagram Live are being deployed to Instagram’s global user base on both iOS and Android platforms, starting today.