Instagram will become less safe. Removes a key feature
Most websites and messengers boast that they have end-to-end encryption, which makes users’ conversations safe. This is also the case with Instagram, although in this situation we should probably say “it was”.
Instagram removes message encryption
Instagram has decided to abandon end-to-end encryption for users’ private messages. For obvious reasons, the website does not boast about it left and right, because it would be met with a wave of criticism. There was no press release. There is no entry on the official blog either. Instead, only a short piece of information appeared in the help tab.
We learn from it that end-to-end encryption will be disabled after May 8, 2026. From now on, private messages sent by platform users will no longer be as secure. In practice, this means that Meta (the owner of Instagram) will, in theory, be able to read our conversations. Will it do so? This is not known, but it will be a possibility.
If this change affects your conversations, you’ll see instructions on how to download the media files or messages you want to keep.
Why this decision? This is not known, but to say that it is controversial is to say nothing. Our conversations will still be encrypted on other Meta platforms, i.e. WhatsApp and Messenger.
