British domestic intelligence agency MI5 is opening an official Instagram account to bust popular myths and reveal never-before-seen archive material.

Users will be able to follow the Secret Service via @mi5official in an effort by the organisation to be more transparent about its work.

The platform will be used for online Q&As with serving intelligence officers, as well as promoting career opportunities.

Historical exhibits from MI5’s museum, in the basement of the agency’s London headquarters, will also be shared for the first time.

It comes after new director-general Ken McCallum said in his first media engagement in October that he wanted MI5 to “open up and reach out in new ways”, particularly in communicating with younger audiences.

“Much of what we do needs to remain invisible but what we are doesn’t have to be,” he said.

“In fact, opening up is key to our future success.”

Mr McCallum said the Secret Service would be “drawing deeply on creative flair”, but it is yet to be seen what the organisation has in store for its soon-to-be followers on the platform.

MI5’s move follows British signals intelligence agency GCHQ, which joined the Facebook-owned social network in October 2018.

Some of GCHQ’s posts include an image of a ‘secret agent’ mug and ads for the organisation’s apprenticeship program.

-AAP