Facebook users have accused the platform of purging older accounts to make way for younger users in what they term “recycling.”
One of such users complained on 11 February that such purging is done without prior notice and all information is lost, including pictures, friends list, and other personal data.
Unjustified deplatforming
The aggrieved users who are obviously senior adults complained of unjustified deplatforming on Facebook. This could be on the grounds of “dangerous activity” or some other issue which is usually untrue.
One of the affected users who has a 12-year old account said:
“My account was disabled for dangerous activity! No strikes, no notification, I just received a notification that I had been permanently banned. I have never posted any harmful content, I’m just your average user. I don’t like Facebook, but I need it for Marketplace and community groups. I appealed and they said they would restore it, but it’s still banned and it’s been two weeks.”
The most frustrating part is that they are unable to contact the team, as it is impossible to reach them without an active account.
They alleged that Facebook is deleting old accounts because it already has the user’s data and “they need fresh blood to leech on.”
Unfortunately for Facebook, the younger generation it seems to be targeting is not interested in the platform as there are many more interesting options.
According to the frustrated users, their children in their late teens and early 20s “won’t touch fb with a 10 foot pole.” One of them wrote:
“Most of the GenZ people I know don’t even have fb because none of their friends do – TikTok, snap, YouTube and IG still are a lot more popular which creates some healthy competition for advertisers which were stuck with fb before. I don’t think meta will succeed in bringing young people back to the platform, especially with their recent changes…”
Meta’s changes
Meta recently made some key changes to its social media platforms, including Facebook and Instagram.
One of such changes was the termination of Fact-checkers and replacing them with community notes as is the case with X.
Meanwhile recently, some Facebook users accused the platform of compelling them to follow the accounts of U.S. president Donald Trump and other close people to him.
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