I am currently experiencing every content creator’s worst nightmare. Last Thursday night, I was doomscrolling in bed when I received a notification that I was locked out of my Facebook and Instagram accounts. The messages were mixed, ranging from an issue verifying my age to saying that I had violated community guidelines. It became very apparent that I had been hacked.
I tried the appeal process, but Meta’s automated system found that I was still in violation. So much so that my Instagram account had been completely disabled. Weirdly, my Tea for Me Please Facebook page is still active. My husband only has partial access because he never accepted the invitation I sent to add him, but I can receive and send on Messenger.
I was somehow able to regain access to my personal Instagram account. I then had to pay for verification to start a case with Meta. Three cases later, I was able to regain my personal Facebook account, but I cannot post anything for 72 hours. My @teaformeplease Instagram account is still listed as permanently disabled.
I’m still in a state of shock and disbelief. Instagram was my primary point of contact with the tea community for the last 10+ years. It’s very disorienting to lose that. It was also a major source of income for my business, as most brands want content created there. I’m grieving what I built, but trying to look at it as a chance for a fresh start.
Where TO fOLLOW mE gOING fORWARD
I’m still fighting with Meta to get my account back, but in the meantime, I’ve created a new Instagram page so that I can still stay in touch. You can follow me at @nicolewilsontea in the meantime.
If anyone has a point of contact at Meta who might be able to help, please let me know!
Update: I was finally able to regain access to my Instagram account after several weeks of torture. I am still not sure exactly what worked. There was an open case with Meta. I had a lawyer send a certified letter of demand. Most recently, I also messaged an old tea friend who works at Meta, and he was able to put in a trouble ticket for me.
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