Instagram’s ‘Direct’ standalone app is shutting down

Instagram’s Snapchat-inspired ‘Direct’ standalone application is shutting down.

Direct standalone chat app is shutting down (REUTERS)

Instagram is shutting down its standalone 'Direct' messaging application. Launched in December 2017, Instagram's Direct app is quite similar to Snapchat with its own set of filters and focus on sharing of photos. The app was then considered as Facebook's attempt to split messaging from the main app - similar to what it did with a standalone Messaging app.

Instagram did not disclose why it was shutting down the application. It is worth noting that Direct that was never rolled out globally. It was available in select markets such as Italy, Turkey, Israel and Chile among others. According to SensorTower, the app had little over 1 million downloads including Google Play Store and Apple App Store.

Instagram is already killing its standalone Direct messaging app? @mosseri ? pic.twitter.com/sr0c90PzEc

— Matt Navarra (@MattNavarra) May 15, 2019

"In the coming month, we'll no longer be supporting the Direct app. Your conversations will automatically move over to Instagram, so you don't need to do anything," reads a notification on the Direct app.

Instagram also confirmed to TechCrunch that it was "rolling back the test of the standalone Direct app" and that the company was "focused on continuing to make Instagram Direct the best place for fun conversations with your friends."