Facebook Marketplace infested with bots and time-wasters

On the evening of December 11, 2024, thousands of users reported issues with Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, following a significant outage that affected Meta's services. The website Downdetector noted over 100,000 complaints for Facebook alone and almost 12,000 for Instagram, indicating the widespread nature of the problem. The disruptions began around 6 PM, with numerous users taking to other social media platforms, particularly X (formerly Twitter), to voice their frustrations and seek updates on the situation. One user even joked about the current outage in a light-hearted manner, suggesting a rivalry between the platforms. This outage is not an isolated incident, as Meta has experienced similar issues in the past. The most notorious outage occurred in October 2021, when services like Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, and WhatsApp were down for nearly six hours. The impact was so severe that it led to a considerable financial loss for Mark Zuckerberg, with estimates suggesting a decline of around $6 billion in his personal fortune. At that time, Zuckerberg publicly apologized, stating his company's commitment to maintaining these crucial channels for communication. As complaints poured in from various regions, especially from the United States, some users expressed their concerns over the accessibility of services that play a critical role in day-to-day communication. Users reported not being able to send or receive messages on WhatsApp, while others found their Instagram feeds completely inaccessible. The trending hashtag #facebookdown encapsulated the collective discontent, highlighting the share of users who felt disconnected due to Meta's failure to provide reliable service. The situation raises important questions about the robustness of Meta's network infrastructure and its readiness to handle unforeseen disruptions. In our increasingly digital society, where many rely heavily on social media for personal and professional communication, consistent service availability is paramount. Meta has faced scrutiny over its outage history, and stakeholders, including investors and users, are likely to demand better reliability. As the company works to resolve the current issues, many will be watching closely to see if any long-term changes are implemented to prevent future incidents.