Instagram users can no longer put deep links in profiles asking to be ‘followed’ or ‘added’ on other social media apps such as Snapchat and Telegram, although services such as YouTube and Twitter are not affected.

A spokesman for Instagram told TechCrunch: “We’ve removed the ability to include ‘add me’ links on Instagram profile pages. This was a rare use-case, and not the way our platform was intended to be used. Other types of links are still allowed.”

The change was first noticed by Telegram, which said on Twitter: “Another @Facebook tentacle closes on users’ ability to share a link to their Telegram profile. #hypocrisy.”

The other “Facebook tentacle” being referred to is WhatsApp, which in December blocked the ability to click or copy Telegram links.

According to the TechCrunch report, this could be “selective discrimination” by Instagram, or a move to target only those deep links “that specifically enables a one-click on-boarding to another social service”.

Instagram’s terms of use says interactions with third party apps “may” be permitted.

Telegram hit 100 million active users last month, while Instagram has around 400 million and WhatsApp recently reached the 1 billion milestone.

Telegram founder Pavel Durov thinks Instagram’s move is because of “our 100 million active users or the rise of Telegram Channels”.

“From their side, they might’ve noticed more and more Instagram users setting links to their Telegram accounts and channels in the website section of Instagram,” he added.