Skip to main content
← DISPATCHES
[WORLD]

Briefing: Instagram is getting rid of end-to-end encrypted DMs that ‘very few’ people used

Strategic angle: Instagram will discontinue support for end-to-end encrypted messages starting May 8th due to low usage.

Editorial Staff · 2026-03-13 · 1 MIN READ

Instagram has announced that it will discontinue support for end-to-end encrypted (E2EE) direct messages as of May 8th. This decision comes after a review of user engagement metrics.

The platform's management indicated that very few users were utilizing the E2EE feature, prompting the removal.

A spokesperson from Meta confirmed the discontinuation, emphasizing the need to streamline functionalities based on actual usage patterns.