Instagram users face sudden suspensions, AI under scrutiny

Instagram users say they are being wrongly banned or suspended from the platform, with complaints growing across Reddit, X, and petition sites as Meta has yet to publicly acknowledge the issue.

Photo: Screenshot from Reddit post

Many users claim they have not breached any of Instagram’s rules, yet find themselves locked out of their accounts without warning.

In several cases, users said that when they appealed the decision or submitted identity documents, they received no response.

“I’ve already submitted multiple appeals, uploaded my ID, and tried reaching out to Meta through all the official channels, but I’ve been completely ignored,” one Reddit user wrote. “It feels like I’m shouting into a void.”

Critics suspect the bans may be the result of automated moderation errors, possibly involving artificial intelligence systems. However, no concrete evidence has been provided and Meta has not confirmed or denied the use of AI in this case.

Meta did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Instagram’s subreddit and reply threads on X have been dominated by users sharing similar experiences for several weeks. A petition on Change.org demanding Meta address the bans has drawn over 4,000 signatures.

Some users say they have been banned for serious policy violations, including alleged involvement in child sexual exploitation (CSE). Several have denied the accusations and warned that such claims carry severe reputational damage.

“This is my livelihood,” wrote a user who runs a fitness business through Instagram. “This ban has directly affected my business and all the hard work I’ve poured into it.”

Meta offers a Verified subscription that provides priority customer service, but many affected users appear to be outside that tier.

A similar episode earlier this year saw Pinterest users facing mass bans. The company later admitted an internal error, but said it was not caused by AI.

It remains unclear whether Instagram is facing a higher-than-normal rate of false positives or if the issue stems from a broader moderation failure.