Meta has confirmed that end-to-end encryption will be removed from Instagram’s direct messages, effective May 8, 2026. The announcement came via a subdued update to the company’s help page and a revised 2022 blog post. Few users noticed the change before it was reported publicly.

The encryption feature on Instagram was part of Zuckerberg’s sweeping 2019 promise to bring privacy-first messaging to all Meta platforms. WhatsApp had long had encryption as a default feature, but Instagram’s implementation only arrived in 2023. Even then, it required users to actively opt in, and most chose not to.

Meta has been transparent about its reasoning: the feature simply wasn’t used by enough people. A company spokesperson confirmed that very few users enabled end-to-end encryption on Instagram. Meta says those who want encrypted messaging can continue to use WhatsApp.

The removal has earned approval from child safety organizations and law enforcement agencies that had long argued the feature was harmful. Groups such as the FBI, Interpol, and the Australian federal police had pushed for the change, citing child sexual exploitation as a key concern. The Australian eSafety commissioner also highlighted that encryption must be paired with safety tools to be responsibly deployed.

Tech policy analysts, however, see the change as part of a broader strategic realignment by Meta. By keeping WhatsApp encrypted and removing encryption from Instagram, Meta may be drawing a clearer distinction between its social and messaging products. Critics remain concerned about the commercial pressures that could lead Meta to monetize access to Instagram message content.