Reports indicate that users encountered outages while utilizing Meta’s social media platforms on Tuesday morning. Users reported experiencing “failure to load” error pages on both Instagram and Facebook, as per NewsNation affiliate WFLA.
As of 9:26 a.m. CT, Facebook received approximately 315,000 outage reports, with Instagram garnering nearly 56,500, according to Downdetector.
Meta spokesperson Andy Stone acknowledged the issue, stating, “We’re aware people are having trouble accessing our services. We are working on this now,” on X.
NewsNation has reached out to Meta for clarification regarding the cause of the outages.
This story is currently developing, and updates will be provided as they become available. Please refresh for the latest information.
Regrettably for Facebook users, it seems the widely used social media platform is currently facing issues.
The immensely popular social media giant Facebook is presently experiencing downtime, with nearly a quarter of a million users confirming the issue. Facebook, under the ownership of Meta, stands among the most widely used social media platforms globally, sharing the stage with TikTok, Twitter, and Instagram— the latter being a sibling under the same corporate umbrella. As with any online service, Facebook encounters occasional outages, rendering access temporarily impossible.
Fortunately, prolonged outages for the Meta-owned Facebook are exceedingly rare. Most technical glitches on the platform tend to be isolated to specific users and lack widespread impact. However, there are infrequent instances when Facebook undergoes a system-wide disruption, affecting a substantial portion of its user base. This appears to be the current situation on March 5, as reports indicate that Facebook is currently unavailable.
Presently, Facebook is down, and there is no official communication regarding the cause or anticipated resolution time. Facebook has not provided updates on alternative social media channels to acknowledge the problem or outline a timeline for service restoration. Meanwhile, over 200,000 individuals have utilized Down Detector to register reports confirming the unavailability of Facebook.
As of the morning of March 5, Facebook is currently experiencing downtime, and there is uncertainty about when normal functionality will be restored. Even in the event of service recovery, there’s a possibility that Meta, the parent company, may not disclose the specific reasons behind the disruption. This article will be promptly updated once Facebook services are back online
Instagram, Facebook, and Messenger are currently inaccessible due to a service outage.
If you’ve encountered difficulties accessing your Facebook or Instagram accounts today, you’re part of a sizable group encountering similar issues. Meta’s primary social media platforms are currently undergoing a widespread outage, causing frustration among users in search of answers. Here’s the current information available:
According to Downdetector, a platform monitoring global outages, the reported numbers of affected users are substantial. Facebook has received over 90,000 reports, while Instagram trails closely with over 16,000 reports. This disruption stands out as one of the most significant in recent years for Meta, the parent company of both platforms.
The problems surfaced around 9:00 p.m (IST), and as of now, there is no indication of a resolution. Users are consistently encountering error messages and facing difficulties accessing their accounts. The absence of a clear timeline for resolution only adds to the frustration experienced by those affected.
Facebook and Instagram are both down, unable to access my accounts.
Social media users, unable to access Facebook or Instagram, have shifted to alternative platforms like X (formerly Twitter) to voice their frustration. Comments such as “Facebook is Down. Can’t access my account” and “Facebook Down/Instagram Down everything in Meta down” reflect the widespread impact of the outage.
The exact cause of the disruption remains uncertain, leading users and industry experts to speculate about potential technical issues. Symptoms reported by affected users include random logouts, password rejections, and error messages indicating expired logins. This disruption extends beyond Facebook and Instagram, affecting Messenger and Threads as well.
With over 300,000 reports on Down Detector and a flood of complaints on Twitter/X, it’s evident that the outage has significantly impacted Meta’s user base. The sheer volume of reports underscores the severity of the situation.
As Meta’s technical team diligently works to resolve the issue, affected users are left awaiting the restoration of normal service. Updates will be provided as soon as more information becomes available. In the meantime, users are urged to exercise patience and refrain from changing their passwords, as this outage stems from a Meta service disruption rather than a security threat.
Facebook, Threads, and Instagram are now back online following the outage.
Meta’s social media trio, Instagram, Facebook, and Threads, are now back online after experiencing a roughly two-hour outage on Tuesday morning.
Both Facebook and Threads faced significant impact, with neither app loading around 10 a.m. ET when outage reports surfaced on DownDetector.com. Some Instagram users encountered issues with feed refresh, while others maintained access to the app. Many Facebook users struggled to log in during this period.
In response to the technical glitch, Meta spokesperson Andy Stone posted on the social media site X, stating, “Earlier today, a technical issue caused people to have difficulty accessing some of our services. We resolved the issue as quickly as possible for everyone who was impacted, and we apologize for any inconvenience.”
These outages coincided with the Super Tuesday presidential primaries in the U.S., posing challenges for campaigns relying on Facebook and Instagram for voter outreach. Hashtags like “#instagramdown” and “#facebookoutage” trended on X, and Meta’s shares declined over 1%.
Furthermore, Meta reported “major disruptions” across its Meta Admin Center, Facebook and Instagram Shops, and WhatsApp Business API. As of 12 p.m. ET, its Ads Manager, Meta Business Suite, Facebook Login, Graph API, and Marketing API were recovering from disruptions.
Google’s YouTube also acknowledged user problems, including loading issues and errors with YouTube Shorts. Google’s Gmail is facing delays in email delivery, but it’s unclear if these issues are connected to Meta’s outages.
These service disruptions follow a significant 2021 outage when Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp were down for over six hours, attributed to “configuration changes on backbone routers.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What caused the outage of Meta’s social media platforms (Instagram, Facebook, and Threads)?
The outage was attributed to a technical issue that impacted users’ access to the services.
How long were Instagram, Facebook, and Threads down during the outage?
The platforms experienced downtime for approximately two hours on Tuesday morning.
What specific issues were users facing during the outage?
Users reported loading problems with Facebook and Threads, Instagram feeds not refreshing, and difficulty logging into Facebook.
When did Meta resolve the technical issue causing the outage?
The issue was resolved as of 10 a.m. ET on Tuesday, according to reports.
How did Meta communicate about the outage to users?
Meta spokesperson Andy Stone posted on the social media site X, acknowledging the technical issue and apologizing for any inconvenience.
Did the outages impact any other Meta services or products?
Yes, Meta experienced disruptions across various services, including Meta Admin Center, Facebook and Instagram Shops, and WhatsApp Business API.
Were there any consequences for Meta’s stock value during the outage?
Yes, shares of Meta were down more than 1% on the day of the outage.
Did the outages coincide with any significant events?
Yes, the outages occurred on the same day as the Super Tuesday presidential primaries in the U.S., potentially impacting political campaigns’ use of social media.
What were the trending hashtags on X during the outage?
The hashtags “#instagramdown” and “#facebookoutage” were trending on X.
Are there any lingering disruptions or issues with other platforms, like YouTube and Gmail?
Google’s YouTube confirmed some user issues, including loading problems, while Gmail users may experience delays in email delivery, though it’s unclear if these are related to the Meta outages.
Conclusion
Meta’s social media platforms, including Instagram, Facebook, and Threads, experienced a significant two-hour outage on Tuesday morning. Users faced various issues, such as loading problems, inability to log in, and Instagram feed refreshing troubles. The outage, acknowledged by Meta spokesperson Andy Stone, was attributed to a technical issue. The disruption coincided with Super Tuesday, impacting political campaigns relying on these platforms.
Meta’s stock value saw a temporary dip, and additional service disruptions were reported across various Meta products. While the outage has been resolved, it underscores the vulnerability of digital platforms and their widespread impact on users and various industries. The incident prompts considerations for platform resilience and user communication strategies during technical challenges.
