Liputan6.com, Jakarta - Instagram, one of the world's largest social media platforms, will take the significant step of removing its end-to-end encrypted (E2EE) direct messaging (DM) feature after May 8, 2026.
Users have already begun receiving notifications about this change via in-app pop-ups and updates to Instagram's support page.
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This move has come as a surprise to many, given that Instagram's parent company, Meta, has been actively promoting encryption as a key pillar of private communication.
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg even announced a vision in 2019 to shift its messaging platforms toward encrypted private communication, including Instagram, Messenger, and WhatsApp.
With the removal of E2EE, direct messages on Instagram will no longer have the technical guarantee that only the sender and recipient can read their content.
This means Meta will technically be able to access, scan, and store DM content, removing the "locked" status for private conversations that were previously protected by a special key.
Instagram Removes DM Encryption Feature
Support for end-to-end encrypted direct messages on Instagram will officially end after May 8, 2026.
Users whose chats are affected by this change have received instructions via in-app notifications on how to download any media or messages they wish to save.
It's important for users to take this action immediately, especially those using older versions of Instagram.
They may need to update the app before they can download affected chats.
After that date, encrypted messages stored differently than standard DMs will likely become inaccessible if not downloaded beforehand.
Reasons Behind Meta's Decision: Low Adoption and Security Pressure
Meta stated that the primary reason behind removing the E2EE feature on Instagram was low user adoption.
According to a Meta spokesperson, "very few people" choose to use the end-to-end encrypted messaging feature in Instagram DMs.
The E2EE feature on Instagram is optional and not enabled by default, unlike WhatsApp, which has end-to-end encryption by default.
In addition to low adoption, some speculate that this change may be related to growing pressure regarding online safety and concerns about child exploitation, as reported by Gadget Bridge.
Other platforms, such as TikTok, for example, do not offer E2EE for DMs and explain that the decision is the result of various security considerations, including the ability to provide chat data to law enforcement and internal training teams to maintain user safety.
Major Impact on Instagram User Privacy
The removal of E2EE will have a significant impact on Instagram user privacy.
After May 8, 2026, direct messages will no longer have the technical guarantee that only the sender and recipient can read their content.
This means that Meta will technically be able to access, scan, and store DM content, removing a layer of privacy protection that was previously in place.
This decision also marks a reversal from Meta's previous privacy-focused vision, which was previously endorsed by CEO Mark Zuckerberg in 2019.
For users who wanted to maintain end-to-end encrypted messaging, Meta recommended using WhatsApp, where this feature is enabled by default.
The removal of E2EE highlights that privacy in platform-controlled communication systems can be fragile and subject to change along with company policies.