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Meta is ending end-to-end encryption for Instagram direct messages, a feature the company says will no longer be available after May 8, 2026. Unlike WhatsApp, Instagram never offered encryption to all users or as a default; only select users in certain regions could opt in on a per-chat basis.
A Meta spokesperson explained that the decision comes due to low adoption. “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,” the spokesperson said. “Anyone who wants to keep messaging with end-to-end encryption can easily do that on WhatsApp.”
Meta’s messaging strategy has shifted multiple times over the years. WhatsApp chats have been encrypted since 2016, and the company began rolling out default encryption for Messenger in 2023. However, Meta has not clarified whether the Instagram decision affects Messenger, which is still in the process of securing personal messages by default.
The company’s approach to encryption has faced criticism from law enforcement and child safety advocates, who argue that it can make it harder to detect predators on social media. Internal documents revealed during a New Mexico trial over child safety show Meta executives debating the balance between user privacy and safety concerns. In trial testimony, CEO Mark Zuckerberg acknowledged that safety issues were a key factor in the slow rollout of encryption for Messenger, though he maintained that most users and security experts see strong encryption as beneficial.
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