Facebook channels, formerly called broadcast channels, are a public one-way messaging tool that lets a Page or a profile in professional mode send announcements and exclusive content to followers in a chat format on Facebook and Messenger. They're currently available to Pages and professional mode profiles with more than 10,000 followers, and members can read, react and vote in polls but can't send messages.
Think of a channel as a broadcast feed that lives in your followers' chats rather than in their news feed. Below is who can use one, what members see, the privacy points Meta spells out and the early access setting that ties channels to your Page posts.
Who can create a Facebook channel
| Account | Can create a channel? |
|---|---|
| Facebook Page with more than 10,000 followers | Yes |
| Profile with professional mode on and more than 10,000 followers | Yes |
| Page or profile with fewer followers | Not at the moment |
| Personal profile without professional mode | No |
Only someone with full or partial control of the Page, or the owner of the professional mode profile, can send content in a channel. If you're unsure what level of access your team has, my guide to Facebook group roles covers who can do what in a group, which is the closest comparison for a team running a channel.
What members can and can't do
| Members can | Members can't |
|---|---|
| Read every message in the channel | Send messages to the channel |
| React to messages | Expect a private, encrypted chat |
| Vote in polls | Stop new members seeing older messages |
| Share the channel, turn off notifications, report it or leave | Remove their past activity by leaving |
Anyone on Facebook or Messenger can find a channel through search, preview it from a link or notification, and join. Someone who joins later still sees all the previous content in the channel.
The privacy points Meta spells out
- Not private, not end-to-end encrypted. Channels are built for public conversations and can be found, seen and joined by people outside them.
- Activity stays. Your previous activity remains visible to others in the channel after you leave or even delete your Facebook account. After deletion, your name and profile picture no longer show next to it.
- It's in your data download. Content you send and receive with other channel members is included when you download a copy of your information.
- Extra review. Meta says channels go through additional review processes, using AI, machine learning and human reviewers to spot content against its Community Standards.
Channels vs community chats vs private chats
- Channels are connected to a Page or professional mode profile, only managers send, and anyone can find them through search. They aren't end-to-end encrypted.
- Community chats are chats connected to a Facebook group, and Meta treats them as a separate product from channels.
- Private chats are the ones you use with family and friends. Meta stresses that channels are different from these.
If you want two-way conversation with your audience rather than announcements, a group-based space suits you better. I've covered how to create a Messenger community for that.
How to turn on early access for channel members
Early access lets members of your largest channel see a Page post for a set time before anyone else, and shares it to the channel automatically with your message.
- Create a post for your Page, then tap Next.
- Tap Who can see your post.
- Under Choose Audience, find Turn on early access for channel members and switch it on.
- Tap 24 hours early access to choose how long members get the post before it's public.
- Add an optional message in the Add a message box. It's shared to your largest channel with a link to the post.
- Tap Done, then Post.
When the early access period ends, the post becomes public for everyone.
Managing your channel
- Moderate content, remove members or delete the channel as a Page manager.
- Post branded content to followers, which Meta lists as allowed in channels.
- Use polls to get quick answers, since members can vote but not reply.
If you plan to go live for your followers, our guide to finding your stream key shows where the key sits and how to set up the stream.
My verdict
If you're over the 10,000-follower line, a channel is worth trying for launches, live reminders and anything time-sensitive, because it lands in a chat rather than competing in the feed. Early access is the smartest use: give members a head start on a post and they have a reason to stay. Treat everything you send as public and permanent, because that's how Meta's own privacy notes describe it. Not seeing the option on a profile? Check you're using professional mode first, and if you've switched it off, see how professional mode is turned on and off.
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Related guides live in the Facebook Help: 80 Guides to Pages, Groups, Ads, Stories and Fixes.
Frequently asked questions
What are Facebook channels?
Channels, formerly called broadcast channels, are a public one-way messaging tool that lets a Page or professional mode profile send announcements and exclusive content to followers in a chat format on Facebook and Messenger.
How many followers do I need for a Facebook channel?
Meta says channels are currently available to Pages and professional mode profiles with more than 10,000 followers.
Can channel members send messages?
No. Members can read and react to messages and vote in polls, but they can't send messages.
Are Facebook channels private?
No. Meta says channels aren't private or end-to-end encrypted. Anyone on Facebook or Messenger can find, preview and join them, and new members see previous content.
What is early access for channel members?
It's a Page post setting that lets members of your largest channel see a post for a set time, such as 24 hours, before it becomes public, and shares it to the channel with your message.
