Meta plans to remove end-to-end encryption (E2EE) from Instagram direct messages (DMs) by May 8, 2026.
“Very few people were opting for end-to-end encryption in DMs, so we will be removing this option from Instagram in the coming months,” Meta says. 
"Anyone who wants to continue exchanging messages with end-to-end encryption can do so easily on WhatsApp."
The American company first began testing E2EE for direct messages on Instagram in 2021, as part of CEO Mark Zuckerberg's vision for a privacy-focused social media platform.
The feature is currently only available in select regions and is not enabled by default. Weeks after the start of the Russo-Ukrainian war in February 2022, the company made encrypted instant messaging available to all adult users in both countries.
Last week, TikTok said it would not use E2EE, arguing that it makes users less safe because it prevents police and security teams from being able to read direct messages if needed.
Although the press releases will range from very select to rare, I said I'd pass...because sometimes the editors hide.
