UK Investigates Meta Over Instagram's Disappearing Photos

Ofcom, the UK's communications watchdog, has opened a formal investigation into Meta over Instagram's new disappearing-photo feature called Instants. Launched in May, Instants lets users send photos and videos through Direct that vanish after being viewed. Ofcom wants to know if Meta properly assessed the risks—especially to children—before rolling it out, as required by the Online Safety Act 2023. Meta insists it did a risk analysis and briefed Ofcom multiple times, and says Instants blocks screenshots, has no public feed, and includes teen protections.

The investigation matters because disappearing content can be harder to report, preserve, or investigate if something goes wrong. Ofcom's enforcement director said safety must be built in, not bolted on. If Ofcom finds Meta failed to meet its assessment duties, Meta could be ordered to change its practices or face a fine of up to £18 million or 10% of its worldwide revenue—whichever is larger. That's a huge sum, even for a company as big as Meta.

For everyday Instagram users, this isn't a finding that Instants is unsafe. Instead, it's about whether Meta followed the legal process before launching. The case could set a precedent: other platforms may now have to document how they evaluated risks before releasing new features. That could mean safer products for you and your family, but also slower rollouts of new features as companies become more cautious.

Meta is already challenging parts of Ofcom's enforcement approach in court, so this fight is part of a bigger battle over how much power UK regulators have over global tech giants. The outcome will likely influence how social media companies design and launch features worldwide, not just in the UK.