The act of a user signaling acknowledgement or recognition during an Instagram Live broadcast serves as a basic form of interaction. For example, a viewer might use the wave gesture emoji in the comments section of a live stream to gain the broadcaster’s attention or to simply indicate their presence.
This type of interaction fosters a sense of community and direct engagement between content creators and their audience. Historically, live broadcasts lacked the nuanced feedback mechanisms found in other media. The ability to visibly acknowledge viewers enhances the real-time experience, encouraging active participation and loyalty.