Instagram Is Removing DM Encryption on May 8—Here’s What You Need to Do

Bad news for anyone sliding into the DM’s—Instagram will no longer support encrypted messaging.

BY VICTORIA SALVES, EDITORIAL FELLOW

Illustration: Inc; Photo: Getty Images

It may have escaped notice for many, but Instagram has employed end-to-end encryption for its messaging since 2023. It won’t for much longer.

Meta has confirmed that on May 8, end-to-end encryption will be discontinued in Instagram DMs. Meta spokesperson Dina El-Kassaby Luce said “very few people” actually used the E2EE feature, adding that “anyone who wants to keep messaging with end-to-end encryption can easily do that on WhatsApp.”

Instagram has both informed those impacted users and posted an update on its support page, encouraging users to download their E2EE messages or media now.

What Is End-to-End Encryption?

Put simply, end-to-end encrypted messaging is a secure communication method that blocks third parties (including Meta) from reading or surveilling your messages. Unlike a VPN, which encrypts data between your device and a server, E2EE protects data on its journey from sender, all the way through to recipient. 

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In an age of AI surveillance and the loosening of civilian data protection policies, E2EE has arguably been the best way to ensure privacy and security—even law enforcement technically can’t break it. 

Why Stop End-to-End Encryption?

Instagram first rolled out the end-to-end encrypted feature back in 2023. Unlike Whatsapp that enables the feature by default, Instagram requires manual activation by users. Aside from the low adoption and the hassle switch on E2EE, the feature was also only available for individual or small group chats. 

But, some suggest there is a darker reason for Meta’s decision, one that could create a larger ripple effect amongst tech and social platforms. 

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