The UK communications regulator Ofcom has launched a formal investigation into Meta over its Instagram Instants feature. The regulator is examining whether Meta conducted a suitable and sufficient risk assessment before introducing the feature in May 2026.
The investigation will focus on risks linked to illegal content and potential harm to children. Ofcom said platforms must assess safety risks before making significant changes to their services.
George Lusty, Ofcom’s director of enforcement, said safety considerations need to be incorporated during product development rather than addressed after a feature reaches users.
Instagram Instants allows users to share photos that disappear after they are viewed. The feature was introduced by Meta in May as a way for people to share moments more privately.
Its temporary nature is central to the service. However, Ofcom is examining whether Meta sufficiently considered how the feature could be used to facilitate illegal activity or expose children to harmful experiences.
The probe does not establish that Meta has breached UK law. Ofcom will assess the company’s compliance as part of its investigation.
The investigation comes under the UK’s Online Safety Act. The legislation requires regulated user-to-user platforms to conduct a suitable and sufficient illegal-content risk assessment. Companies must also carry out another assessment before making a significant change to a service’s design or operation.
Ofcom’s guidance states that risk assessments should reflect the characteristics of a service, its users and the potential risks associated with illegal content. Platforms must keep these assessments updated as their services evolve.
The law also requires services to assess risks to children, including the possibility of children encountering harmful content through platform features and algorithms.
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