Scunthorpe fudge maker loses 100,000 followers after Instagram ban

Claire Brennan, owner of Want That Fudge in Scunthorpe, expressed her devastation after the suspension of her Instagram account, which had over 93,000 followers and was crucial for promoting her family-run business. The account, active for a decade, was a significant source of sales for customers across the UK. Despite her efforts to appeal the suspension, including creating a backup account that was also removed, she has received no support from Meta, the parent company of Instagram. The suspension has compounded the challenges faced by the business, which had to temporarily close in August due to vandalism at their premises. Brennan described the situation as a series of unfortunate events, emphasizing the emotional toll of losing a platform that represented a substantial part of their company history. She highlighted the frustration of not understanding the reasons behind the account's suspension, stating that they had not violated any rules. Brennan's attempts to communicate with Meta have been met with silence, leaving her feeling helpless. She believes that if she could speak to a representative, they would recognize the mistake. Despite these setbacks, she remains determined to keep the business afloat, noting that they still have their physical shop and can fulfill orders nationwide. The incident raises concerns about the impact of social media policies on small businesses, particularly those that rely heavily on platforms like Instagram for visibility and sales. The lack of communication from Meta further exacerbates the challenges faced by small business owners in navigating these issues.