Instagram will implement end-to-end encryption in 2023; understand

Meta, the parent company of Instagram and Facebook, is planning to add a new security feature to its social media platforms.

A end-to-end encryption, known for its ability to secure online communications, is on its way to Facebook Messenger and Instagram.

If you are one of those who cannot go a day without sending a message to friends, relatives or co-workers through these platforms, this news is for you! Meta is working to make your conversations even safer.

The end-to-end encryption feature is expected to be launched on Facebook Messenger by the end of 2023. And guess what? Instagram will not be left behind! The platform should receive the update shortly after Messenger.

What this means for users

Well, depending on when encryption comes to Messenger, it's quite possible that you'll be able to enjoy this extra protection on Instagram later this year.

Meanwhile, Meta is expanding encryption testing on Messenger. More users will have the chance to experience this protection in their conversations.

And, don't worry, the company guarantees that the implementation will be done randomly and will not affect your experience on the platform.

Many challenges had to be overcome

In a twist worthy of a technology drama, Meta revealed that the implementation of end-to-end encryption tip for Instagram and Facebook Messenger, which has been working on since 2021, faced some obstacles technical.

Originally, the encrypted protection was scheduled to be released in 2022, but like any good plot, there was a twist – the deadline was extended to 2023.

Although everyone is waiting, Meta promises that the wait will be worth it. In an August 2023 document, Sherman, a key character in this saga, revealed that encryption tests were more challenging than expected.

The first hurdle? The complexity of engineering work. Preparing servers to transmit encrypted messages is no easy task, apparently.

And the second challenge? Meta had to go back to the drawing board and rebuild the security tools and application features so that they could work with end-to-end encryption.

Company blog details the changes in more detail

In a recent post on its official blog, Meta took a peek behind the curtain to reveal some of the technical challenges it faced in implementing end-to-end encryption.

Before, Meta servers were like an impartial arbiter, ensuring everyone in the conversation was on the same page. But, with end-to-end encryption, this arbitrator function disappears – only those in the conversation have access to the content.

And there's more! Meta had to get a little creative and develop a way for users to access their message history using a PIN. This is like having a personal safe for your messages, only you're the only one who has the combination!

As for user experience, get ready for some changes. Your device will now have to take over some tasks that were previously done by servers. This includes things like fetching YouTube link previews. It's like your device has to learn some new tricks!