Facebook and Instagram users across several countries are facing problems accessing the social media platforms, with reports of disruptions increasing sharply on Friday. Thousands of users have complained that the apps are either not loading properly or are failing to refresh feeds, leaving many unable to use the services as normal.
The issue appears to have started around 7 pm IST, with outage-tracking website Downdetector recording a sudden spike in complaints. User reports suggest that the disruption is not limited to a specific region, as people from multiple countries have reported similar problems at roughly the same time. In India, users from several cities also said they were experiencing difficulties while using the Meta-owned platforms.
Many affected users turned to X and other social media platforms to check whether others were facing similar problems. While some said Instagram and Facebook feeds were not loading at all, others reported that the apps were unable to refresh content. A number of users also claimed they were facing login-related issues or were unable to access certain features.
Interestingly, the problem does not appear to be affecting everyone in the same way. Some users said the websites were still accessible, while the mobile apps were struggling to load new content or refresh timelines. This has led many to believe that the issue is linked to Meta’s backend systems rather than individual internet connections or devices.
The outage also appears to have affected Facebook Messenger for some users, adding to the disruption across Meta's ecosystem of apps.
At the time of writing, Meta has not issued an official statement explaining what caused the outage. The company has also not shared any information about when services are expected to return to normal.
Downdetector data showed more than 100,000 reports related to Facebook alone, indicating the scale of the disruption. Similar complaints were also seen for Instagram, although the exact number continued to change as more users reported issues.
For users wondering whether the problem is with their phone or internet connection, current reports suggest the disruption is likely happening on Meta's side. While basic troubleshooting steps such as restarting the app, switching networks, or checking for updates may help in some situations, they are unlikely to resolve a widespread server-side outage.
At the moment, the affected users may have little option but to wait for Meta to identify the issue and restore services. More details are expected once the company provides an update or normal functionality begins returning across Facebook, Instagram, and Messenger.
Source: India Today