How to go live on Instagram and broadcast video in real time to your followers

• You can go live on Instagram by scrolling to the "Live" tab on the "New Post" page.
• When you're live, all your followers will be notified and can view your live video in real time.
• You can also go live together with a friend, or request to join a friend's live video.
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Instagram launched its live video feature in late 2016. Since then, the social media company has built up the function by adding other features like questions and the option to add friends to the live video, too.

Going live on Instagram can be a fun way to let your followers see events happening in real time, like a concert or special event.

Here's how to go live, go live with a friend, or request to join another user's live video.

How to go live on Instagram

1. Open the Instagram app on your iPhone or Android.

2. Tap the plus sign "+" icon in the top-right corner of the homepage. Alternatively, you can swipe left to get to the same screen.

3. After tapping the plus sign or swiping left, you'll be taken to a New Post page. In the menu bar at the bottom of the page, swipe all the way to the right to select Live.

4. A camera screen will open up. On the left side, tap the icon of four lines to add a title to your live video. You can also tap the icon of a circle with a heart in it to make your video a fundraiser.

5. When you're ready to go live, tap the circle icon at the bottom of the screen and you'll be live. Active followers will be notified that you're now live. As followers begin to watch your live video, you will see their usernames appear at the bottom.

6. To end a live video, tap the "X" in the top-right corner and select End Now in the pop-up. Once the live video has ended, Instagram will show you how many people viewed your video and give you the option to share the video for the next 24 hours so those who missed it can see it via your Instagram Stories. Or, you can choose to Delete video.

How to go live on Instagram with a guest

1. Open the Instagram app on your iPhone or Android.

2. Tap the plus sign "+" icon in the top-right corner of the homepage. Alternatively, you can swipe left to get to the same screen.

3. After tapping the plus sign or swiping left, you'll be taken to a New Post page. In the menu bar at the bottom of the page, swipe all the way to the right to select Live.

4. A camera screen will open up. On the left side, tap the icon of four lines to add a title to your live video. You can also tap the icon of a circle with a heart in it to make your video a fundraiser.

5. When you're ready to go live, tap the circle icon at the bottom of the screen and you'll be live.

6. Once you're live, tap the icon of a video camera at the bottom of the screen. From here, you can type in the username of someone to go live with, or search for them in the list of viewers. Select a user to invite them to join your live video.

7. You can only go live with someone who is already watching your live video. But, you can invite someone to join your live video who isn't already watching - to do so, type in their username, tap the circle button next to their name, and select Send Request.

8. Once they've accepted your request, their video should appear alongside yours in a split screen. To remove your friend from the Live video, tap the "X" at the top-right of their screen.

9. To end your live video, tap the "X" in the upper right-hand corner and choose End Now in the pop-up. Once the live video has ended, Instagram will show you how many people viewed your video and give you the option to share the video for the next 24 hours so those who missed it can see it via your Instagram Stories. Or, you can choose to Delete video.

How to request to be in another user's live video on Instagram

1. Open another user's live video and tap Request to join.

2. Then, tap Send request to request to be in their live video.

3. You will then receive a notification letting you know if your request has been accepted or denied.

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