Ofcom is investigating Meta after it launched Instagram’s “Instants” feature, which works like a Snapchat-style message post that disappears after being viewed. The regulator says it is examining whether Instagram did not fully assess the risks posed by the feature before launching it.
The probe focuses on whether Meta may have breached requirements under the UK Online Safety Act. Ofcom will look at whether the company conducted adequate checks to understand how the feature could be used to show illegal content and whether it might be accessible to children. Reports note the feature was launched in May.
Different outlets frame the inquiry around the same central question: whether Meta carried out the risk assessment that the law expects before deploying a new product. Coverage also emphasizes the safety and compliance angle rather than any finding of wrongdoing, with Ofcom’s investigation described as ongoing.
