Meta has ended support for end-to-end encrypted (E2EE) direct messages on Instagram, saying very few users actually used the feature. The update took effect on 8 May 2026. The change means that Meta now has potential access to users' Instagram DMs for moderation, safety checks or legal requests. The company updated support pages earlier this year without making any prior public announcements. Privacy advocates have criticized Meta’s decision arguing that the encryption settings were never easy to find or made widely available.