Meta on a ban spree as hundreds of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp accounts simultaneously blocked

Update 20/12/24 01:46 pm (IST): Following the wave of unexplained bans on WhatsApp, Facebook, and Instagram, hundreds of users from South America in particular have taken to X seeking a response from Meta. Posts with the hashtag #MetaResponde have been popping up on X for several hours. Unfortunately, Meta is yet to offer up any kind of explanation for the bans.

Original article published on December 19, 2024, follows:

Meta seems to be swinging the ban hammer hard this week. Users across Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp have been reporting sudden account blocks, often with no explanation. Complaints are popping up on Reddit and X, with many baffled by the sheer scale of the bans. A significant number of reports appear to be coming from Brazil, but it’s not clear if the issue is limited to one region.

One Reddit user shared their frustration after being logged out of both Facebook and WhatsApp, claiming they hadn’t done anything suspicious. Another said their WhatsApp account, which they rely on for business, was blocked with no chance to recover it. “I’m desperate right now,” they wrote. Several others chimed in, saying their appeals to Meta were instantly rejected. One user joked bitterly that their accounts had been “zuccked,” a nod to Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg.

The bans aren’t just hitting one platform either. Many people report losing access to all their Meta accounts simultaneously. Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp — all gone in one sweep. Some users have managed to recover their Instagram accounts using appeals or identity verification, but success seems rare. One person even mentioned recovering their main Instagram while losing access to their dog’s account. “Sadly, my dog’s Instagram account got lost,” they stated.

For most, the recovery process seems to have been a nightmare. Some say they can’t even find their accounts through Meta’s recovery tools, as if they’ve been wiped from existence. This isn’t even the first time we’ve noticed something like this. Not long ago, we saw a growing number of WhatsApp users claiming that their accounts were banned for no apparent reason. However, this new wave of reports goes beyond WhatsApp.

As of now, Meta has not issued an official statement about the situation. The lack of communication is only adding to users’ frustration. Many are left speculating whether this is a technical glitch or a deliberate crackdown on suspicious activity. Without any clear answers, affected users are stuck waiting and hoping for a resolution.

We’ll monitor the situation and will update the article if and when there’s any further information. In the meantime, let us know if you too were impacted by this wave of random bans across WhatsApp, Facebook, and Instagram.