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$1,000 USD BOUNTY - Fix ManyChat "New Follower" Automation Issue

  • January 10, 2026
  • 7 replies
  • 223 views
Samspijkermanbiz

Paying $1K to whoever can solve this problem.

The Issue: Can't use ManyChat automation for new Instagram followers. ManyChat support confirmed my account is ineligible for the "Say hi to new followers" feature due to Meta's beta limitations.

What ManyChat Support Said: "Meta has set some limitations that are preventing certain Instagram accounts from accessing it, and it looks like your account is one of the ineligible ones for now. We aren't able to pinpoint exactly what causes the restriction or say if or when it will be lifted in the future. This limitation isn't caused by your actions in Manychat - it's just part of the current beta process."

What I Need: A working solution to automate responses to new Instagram followers, whether through ManyChat or an alternative method.

Payment: $1,000 USD to whoever provides a verified working fix.

Drop your solution below or DM me.

January 23, 2026

This is a Meta-side limitation, not something ManyChat or you can fix. Meta restricts the "Follow to DM" feature to certain accounts during their beta rollout, there's no clear criteria for which accounts get access.

Short version: your best bet is either waiting for Meta to expand access, or using comment triggers as an alternative way to start conversations with new followers (have them comment on a post to trigger the DM).

    7 replies

    cata_rendon
    Forum|alt.badge.img+4
    • cata_rendon
    • Manychat Community Moderator
    • January 10, 2026

    Hi ​@Samspijkermanbiz , I am sorry to hear you account has a limitation for this feature. I guess the best you can do is to contact Meta support team directly,  If you have ad spend history, try to access Meta Business Support chat inside Business Manager  and Submit the case.

     

    Hope this helps, probably you should try this first before paying someone...I think reaching Meta directly would be a good to go for you.

     

    Cheer!

    Cata Rendon

    https://www.dominariai.com | www.linkedin.com/in/catalina-rendon-gamboa
    Erin Quinn
    • Erin Quinn
    • Up-and-Comer
    • January 13, 2026

    Hi!

    I’m having the same issue when I try to use the “Say hi to new followers,” feature in ManyChat. 

     

    It says this :

    Follow to DM isn’t available for your Instagram account. This feature is currently in beta.

    Access is controlled by Meta and can vary by account. This limitation isn’t caused by your actions in Manychat and doesn’t mean something is broken. There’s nothing you need to change.

    Can anyone provide me with assistance or advice on how to be able to utilize this feature? 

    Thank you!

    Erin Quinn

    Erin Quinn
    • Erin Quinn
    • Up-and-Comer
    • January 15, 2026

    Thank you. How can you help? I’m not going to pay money for any services, I’m just starting out! But I would greatly appreciate any help or advice you could give!

     

    All my best,

    Erin

    carnar
    • carnar
    • Up-and-Comer
    • January 22, 2026

    ​@cata_rendon Is there a way to check if an account is ready to run the new follower automation? I provide this service to my clients and want to know if their accounts meet the requirements.

    SumGeniusAI
    • SumGeniusAI
    • Up-and-Comer
    • January 23, 2026

    This is a Meta-side limitation, not something ManyChat or you can fix. Meta restricts the "Follow to DM" feature to certain accounts during their beta rollout, there's no clear criteria for which accounts get access.

    Short version: your best bet is either waiting for Meta to expand access, or using comment triggers as an alternative way to start conversations with new followers (have them comment on a post to trigger the DM).

    carnar
    • carnar
    • Up-and-Comer
    • January 23, 2026

    ​@cata_rendon ManyChat detects that the account isn't ready to run Follow to DM automation, as it notifies me in a message.

     

    Is there another way I can verify this? I can't keep creating a separate account for each client only to be told that the account isn't eligible for Follow to DM automation. I'd appreciate your feedback.

    SumGeniusAI
    • SumGeniusAI
    • Up-and-Comer
    • January 23, 2026

    Unfortunately there's no pre-connection check that exists. Meta doesn't expose eligibility data through any public endpoint, ManyChat can only detect it after they've already connected and queried the account's available webhook subscriptions. That's the limitation.

    Since you're managing multiple client accounts, honestly comment triggers might be the more practical path. It works on every account, no eligibility lottery, and you can set up a pinned welcome post that prompts new followers to comment a keyword to start the conversation. Not as automatic as Follow to DM, but it's reliable and you won't waste time on accounts that end up ineligible.

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