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

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Why This Matters

The removal of end-to-end encrypted DMs on Instagram highlights a shift in focus towards other Meta platforms like WhatsApp for secure messaging. This change impacts user privacy options and reflects the platform's prioritization of features based on user engagement. For consumers, it underscores the importance of choosing the right app for secure communication, while the industry watches how privacy features evolve across social media platforms.

Key Takeaways

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Instagram will no longer support end-to-end encrypted messages starting May 8th. In a statement to The Verge, Meta spokesperson Dina El-Kassaby Luce says the platform is discontinuing the feature because “very few people” were using E2EE in their DMs.

Instagram has begun notifying impacted users about the change inside its app, and has also posted an update to its support page, suggesting that users download E2EE chats and images before it discontinues the feature, as spotted earlier by PiunikaWeb. “Anyone who wants to keep messaging with end-to-end encryption can easily do that on WhatsApp,” El-Kassaby Luce adds.