Mark Zuckerberg’s Meta is ‘killing’ one of the biggest Instagram features: Reason and what it means for users

Meta has announced that it is pulling the plug on end-to-end encrypted direct messages on Instagram. This move will remove one of the platform’s most significant privacy protections. According to an update on Meta's support page, the feature will “no longer be supported after May 8, 2026”. End-to-end encryption has been one of Meta's most debated features – praised for privacy but criticised by law enforcement and child safety groups who argue it shields bad actors from detection.Meta’s explanation is straightforward: almost no one was using it. The company said that users who currently have encrypted chats on Instagram will be prompted with instructions on how to download any messages or media they want to keep before the deadline. “End-to-end encrypted messaging on Instagram will no longer be supported after May 8, 2026. If you have chats that are impacted by this change, you will see instructions on how you can download any media or messages you may want to keep. If you're on an older version of Instagram, you may also need to update the app before you can download your affected chats,” the company said in an update on one its support pages.End-to-end encryption ensures that messages and calls can only be read or heard by the people in the conversation. Not hackers, not third parties and not even Meta itself.“End-to-end encrypted messages and calls ensure only you and the people you're communicating with can see or listen to what is sent, and no one else, not even Meta, can do so. Keep in mind, for reporting and optional features, you or someone in the chat may still choose to share messages with Meta,” the company said in a statement.The technology works by assigning each device in an encrypted conversation a unique cryptographic key. When a message is sent, it is locked on the sender's device and can only be unlocked by a device that holds the corresponding key. The same applies to video and audio calls.Meta’s encryption practices have come under reported criticism from law enforcement agencies and some child safety organisations, who argue that encrypted messaging makes it significantly harder to detect and prosecute predators who target children online.