📖 1 min read
Meta plans to remove the option for end-to-end encrypted direct messages on Instagram by May 8, 2026. The company said the feature will be discontinued because only a small number of users opted to enable it.
“Very few people were opting in to end-to-end encrypted messaging in DMs, so we’re removing this option from Instagram in the coming months,” Meta said in a statement.
The company added that users who want encrypted messaging can continue using WhatsApp, which supports end-to-end encryption by default.
Meta first began testing end-to-end encryption for Instagram direct messages in 2021. The feature was part of CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s broader plan to move the company toward more privacy-focused communication tools.
However, the encrypted messaging option was never widely deployed across all regions and was not enabled by default.
In February 2022, shortly after the start of the Russia-Ukraine war, Meta expanded encrypted messaging for Instagram to adult users in both countries.
The company introduced the feature to provide additional privacy protection during the conflict.
The decision comes as major social media companies continue debating the role of encryption in messaging platforms.
Last week, TikTok said it would not introduce end-to-end encryption for direct messages. The company argued that encryption could make it harder for law enforcement and safety teams to review messages when necessary.
Meta has not announced any replacement feature for encrypted Instagram messages beyond directing users to WhatsApp for secure communication.
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