Instagram is allowing livestreamers to add moderators for the first time

Instagram Live creators can now appoint moderators throughout their streams. Mods will be able to report remarks, remove viewers from the stream, and turn off comments for individual viewers.

During a Live, Instagram users can assign a moderator by touching the three dots in the comment area. They can then choose a moderator from a list of suggested accounts or search for a specific account using the search field.

Given that Live has been operating since 2016, it’s surprising that Instagram has only recently begun supporting moderators for its streams. On other live streaming platforms, such as Twitch and YouTube, where comments may quickly turn nasty, moderation has become a necessary feature. Even Facebook, Instagram’s sister business, allows users to add mods to their streams and has introduced tools to remove trolls — similar to the moderating options Instagram recently launched.

The inclusion of chat moderators should hopefully make the streaming experience for creators a lot more pleasant as Instagram strives to entice more creators to Live with the option to monetize streams.