News & Reviews:   direct message

Instagram is preparing to remove end-to-end encryption (E2EE) from its direct messaging system, marking a notable shift in how private conversations are handled on the platform. The change will take effect on 8 May 2026, after which encrypted chats will no longer be supported inside Instagram. While it may sound counterintuitive, Meta says the feature was not widely used, which played a major role in the decision to discontinue it.

According to sources, Clubhouse had rolled out a new feature which is "Backchannel". This feature allows the users to communicate by direct messaging without going through third-party apps such as Whatsapp or Telegram.