Social media giants Facebook, Instagram, and Messenger experience a global outage, leaving users frustrated and disconnected.
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| Confusion and Frustration as Social Media Goes Dark. Image: Pixabay |
In a major disruption to social media connectivity, Facebook, its subsidiary Instagram, and the messaging platform Messenger have experienced a global outage, leaving users around the world, including those in the USA, unable to access their accounts.
Reports of login issues and automatic logouts began surfacing on Tuesday, March 5th, after 9:00 PM Eastern Standard Time (EST). Users have been unable to access their accounts on both the platforms' websites and mobile applications.
According to Down Detector, a website that tracks online outages, over 300,000 users have reported problems with Facebook, indicating the widespread nature of the issue. The outage has also been reported by international media outlets, with the British newspaper Daily Mail confirming the global reach of the disruption.
The cause of the outage remains unknown, and Facebook has yet to officially comment on the issue. This lack of communication has further frustrated users already facing difficulties accessing their accounts and staying connected with friends, family, and businesses.
"I tried logging in to Facebook earlier tonight, but it just kept telling me my password was wrong," said Mc Jones, a user from New York City. "I tried resetting it, but nothing worked. It's really frustrating, especially since I use Facebook to stay in touch with my family overseas."
Another user and tech expert Chirag Gaba said, "The global outage impacting Facebook, Instagram, and Messenger highlights a major disruption ('Meta Mayhem'). While the cause remains unclear ('Insta Server Crash'), the lack of immediate communication ('ZUCK Missing in Action!') is frustrating for users. We need more transparency from the platform ('Lizard boy is silent')."
The outage highlights the increasing dependence of individuals and businesses on social media platforms for communication, news, and even commerce. This incident serves as a reminder of the potential consequences of disruptions to these platforms, which can significantly impact daily routines and disrupt vital connections.
As the situation unfolds, users are advised to be patient and wait for an official statement from Facebook regarding the cause of the outage and the estimated time for restoration of service.
"We understand the frustration this outage may be causing for our users, and we are working diligently to resolve the issue as quickly as possible," a Facebook spokesperson said in a statement released later in the evening. "We will provide updates as soon as we have more information."