#FacebookLockout
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Overview
#FacebookLockout is a hashtag associated with a Facebook bug in which users would become locked out of their account after reporting a scammer or impersonator. When locked out of the account users reported that they were asked to upload a photo ID but the uploader didn't work properly so many were locked out of their account for nearly a month in October 2019. The hashtag became trending on Twitter due to many of the locked out users trying to find a way to reach Facebook administrators due to their lack of customer service. After several days of trending Facebook fixed the bug allowing users back into their accounts.
Background
On October 11th, 2019, Twitter user @corywcomer[1] used the hashtag to gather stories from other users who were in the same situation by tweeting, "Alright @Twitter, I want to hear YOUR stories. Have you been locked out of @facebook and required to verify your #identity? If so, for how long? It's been 3 days here. #FacebookLockout" (shown below).
Alright
— Cory Comer (@corywcomer) October 11, 2019Twitter</a>, I want to hear YOUR stories. Have you been locked out of <a href="https://twitter.com/facebook?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">facebook and required to verify your #identity? If so, for how long?
It's been 3 days here. #FacebookLockout #marketing #socialmedia #businessfbnewsroom</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/FBBusiness?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">FBBusiness pic.twitter.com/Si5HWKeVru
Notable Developments
On October 11th, 2019, @corywcomer[2] posted a "scoreboard" of the days locked out different users reported (shown below, left). On October 13th, Twitter user @elttesitram[3] tweeted, "PSA: don't report fake accounts on @Facebook. They will lock your account, and their ID verification system doesn't work. I reported a scam account masquerading as a friend, and within 2 hours I was locked out. 24 hours now…" (shown below, right). The tweet gained over 45 likes and 30 retweets in three days.
On October 14th, Twitter user @CrystaReeves[4] tweeted that they reported the verification system to the FTC (shown below, left). Many users reported being let back into their accounts. On October 15th, Mashable released a statement from Facebook which read, “We worked quickly to fix an issue where we unnecessarily asked some people to verify their accounts after they reported account impersonation for someone else. We've removed this request and restored access to the affected accounts." Tat same day, @corywcomer[5] completed his thread of Facebook Lockout related posts with a lessons learned post (shown below, right).
Various Examples
Search Interest
External Reference
[1] Twitter – corywcomer
[2] Twitter – corywcomer
[3] Twitter – elttesitram
[4] Twitter – CrytaReeves
[5] Twitter – corywcomer
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