Expanding beyond its initial text-only format, Substack has introduced a **live streaming feature** for all users, coinciding with millions of TikTok enthusiasts anticipating a possible ban on their beloved video app. The new functionality, detailed in a [recent blog post](https://on.substack.com/p/live-video-is-available-to-all-publishers), represents a notable advancement for the platform that has historically concentrated on newsletters and written materials.

Originally, live streaming was reserved for Substack’s premier contributors, or “publishers,” as part of a [beta program](https://mashable.com/article/substack-live-video-streaming). Now, the feature is open to any creator who has at least 10 free subscribers. Once a live stream concludes, Substack will supply publishers with an audio recording of the session along with AI-generated clips for audience sharing.

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**SEE ALSO:**
[TikTok may face a complete shutdown in the U.S. this Sunday](https://mashable.com/article/tiktok-ban-total-us-shutdown)

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Substack, which has over [35 million active subscriptions](https://substack.com/about), has been broadening its services in response to various controversies. The platform encountered criticism for hosting alt-right and neo-Nazi blogs, igniting a [content moderation crisis](https://mashable.com/article/why-are-people-leaving-substack-content-moderation-controversy) that drove some subscribers away. Earlier, Substack also had a dispute with X (formerly Twitter) CEO Elon Musk, who claimed that the platform breached API terms by purportedly scraping Twitter data. In response, Musk temporarily banned Substack links on X. Shortly thereafter, Substack introduced “Notes,” a scrolling feed that invited comparisons to the social media platform involved in the conflict.

Throughout the previous year, Substack has launched multiple new features to upgrade its platform. These encompass a [direct messaging tool](https://mashable.com/article/substack-dms) facilitating connections between writers and subscribers, and a [paywall option](https://mashable.com/article/substack-chat-updates) that limits specific discussions to paid followers. Subsequently, the platform unveiled (https://mashable.com/article/substack-creators-video-chat), enabling creators to send pre-recorded videos to their audience. Last autumn, Substack started testing live streaming, which is now available to all qualified users.

As the [countdown to a potential TikTok ban](https://mashable.com/article/tiktok-ban-countdown-latest-updates) approaches, many users are seeking alternative platforms for video content. Social media companies, eager to attract TikTok’s vast audience, are increasingly incorporating video features into their platforms. Substack’s recent initiative positions it as a contender in this arena, providing creators with fresh avenues to engage their audiences through live and interactive content.