09 May,2026 07:59 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondent
This marks a major reversal from Meta’s earlier push to make encrypted messaging the default across its platforms. Representational pic
Meta has officially discontinued end-to-end encryption (E2EE) for direct messages on Instagram, disabling the privacy-focused feature globally from Friday, May 8.
Users who had enabled encrypted chats are now receiving in-app notifications urging them to download important media, photos, videos, voice notes, or messages before the data becomes inaccessible in its encrypted form. The company has provided clear instructions inside the app and on its help centre for downloading this data, which is currently available only via a computer through the "Your Activity" section under secure storage.
End-to-end encryption ensured that only the sender and receiver could read the messages - not even Meta could access the content. With the feature now switched off, Instagram will shift to standard encryption (similar to Gmail and most online platforms). This protects messages during transmission but allows Meta to access chat content, including photos, videos, and voice notes, when required for safety, moderation, or legal reasons.
This marks a major reversal from Meta's earlier push to make encrypted messaging the default across its platforms. The company had once called privacy-focused messaging "the future of communication" and had rolled out default E2EE on Facebook Messenger. However, on Instagram, the feature remained optional and saw very low adoption, prompting Meta to discontinue it.
Open Instagram on a computer (web version).
Go to Your Activity â Download End-to-End Encrypted Data.
Follow the prompts to export chats and media stored in secure storage.
Meta has advised users to complete this process soon, as encrypted chats will no longer be supported.
According to reports, only a small percentage of users actively enabled the encrypted chat option. Privacy advocates argue that optional features naturally see low usage because users must manually turn them on for each conversation.
Meanwhile, child protection groups such as the UK's National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) have welcomed the move, saying it will help platforms better detect harmful content, grooming, and child abuse material that was previously hidden by encryption.
The decision comes amid growing pressure on social media companies to strengthen child safety measures. However, privacy experts have expressed disappointment, calling it a step back for user privacy.
Additionally, a study of over 8,000 children aged 10 to 14 found that spending more than 30 minutes daily on platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and Snapchat is linked to a gradual decline in concentration and attention span.
Users are advised to review their important conversations and back them up if needed. Regular Instagram DMs will continue with standard encryption, but they will no longer offer the extra layer of end-to-end privacy that was previously available.
(With IANS inputs)
