Over the weekend, I decided it was time I took a break to eat lunch from my daily chores of designing the one-of-a-kind jewelry and digital art that has brought my work to shows all over the U.S and recently, Europe. I sat down with my homemade leftovers while I opened my Instagram phone app to find a message stating “No one can see or find your account. All your information will be permanently DELETED.” At first I thought this was some kind of hacker that must have accessed my accounts, but I remembered I had set up two-factor authentication last year. And checking with various followers, family and work colleagues confirmed there has been nothing seen unusual on my accounts, except my usual posting of reels and photos with step-by-step process shots of me doing what I do best, designing and fabricating my Upcycled jewelry line.
Despite the dialogue Instagram or Facebook provides on the screen – there was NO METHOD to appeal, no recourse, just a LOG OUT button. Imagine the horror I felt, the immediate and continual stress I experience, knowing I was being falsely accused of “violating community standards.” I have never done ANY such thing, nor have I ever posted anything except images of myself, my artwork at various exhibitions or studio process shots. My Facebook account was in fact, asked by Facebook / Meta late last Fall to switch my account over to a “Creator” account, labeled “Artist.” So how on earth am I violating “our community standards,” when I only followed Facebook’s OWN prompts to change my account to a more public-facing “Digital Creator” version?
So essentially, Meta Platforms has blocked me from accessing thirteen-plus years of my work exhibition photos and reels, my posts about other individual artists’ artwork/ceramics/jewelry I’ve shared, using the available ‘share post’ buttons within each app. Such examples include images taken at Creative Philadelphia‘s “Art in City Hall” programs, dozens of in-person visits and work I purchased to support The Clay Studio, Philadelphia and artwork I shared of marginalized local BIPOC and 2SLGBTQIA+ artists that co-exhibited with me at The National Liberty Museum and The Woodmere Museum, also in my hometown of Philadelphia, PA.
Since this happened, I’ve since filed a complaint with my local Attorney General’s Office against this ridiculous accusation by Meta for removing my long-held accounts. A Google search will provide one with many recent instances of many other artists and small business owners have had their livelihoods nearly destroyed by these wrongful bans, like me. So far, I found three different news outlets that have reported these same issues occurring, one of these was a recent report by CBS News Philadelphia by reporter Josh Sidorowicz. In this video, one can see these business owners are under a false attack on their characters for a situation that Meta Platforms mistakenly created by handing off too important responsibilities to Artificial Intelligence (AI) botts, instead of being addressed by actual human employees.
Have any of you been victimized by this wrongful sweeping AI behavior within Meta’s social media platforms Instagram and Facebook? Share your comments here or forward this post to anyone whom may find it helpful. Rest assured, I am not giving up in my pursuit of getting my original accounts restored.
Hi Patti, I have followed your accounts on Facebook and Instagram for many years and I have NEVER seen you post anything that was in violation of community standards. Quite the opposite in fact. Your postings showcased how social media platforms could be used for creative, intelligent and positive purposes. It makes no sense at all that Meta would disable your accounts. I really hope that you can get your original accounts restored ASAP.
Lu, I genuinely appreciate your remarks. Wow, all I ever did was write about various artists, my own metal and upcycled artwork, and here I land now. Unbelievable. I do anticipate a major uptick in my WordPress posts re: my new studio work. Thanks again for stopping by and sharing your wonderful comments with me!
This was terrible to read. I agree with the previous post that you’ve been nothing but an upstanding IG and FB creator — your contributions added value. I don’t understand how they could have so falsely accused you, but I hope it’s resolved soon.
Hi Gina, to say I’m horrified at what unfairly happened to me is an understatement. And to think of all the creators and artists, putting 100% of their personal and business value into a ‘rented service’ like Meta where we have no control over fallacies and automated, non-human judgements being made daily. That said, I’m focusing on using other social media platforms now, and launched a formal investigation into what exactly happened with my accounts. I’ve lost family photos of my recently deceased mother, my pets, and photos/videos taken at exhibitions with many other artists (often marginalized ones.) I do hope more old friends/colleagues come over here to artdoesmatter, and not mistakenly think that I blocked their profiles, as this is how I’m told it currently appears (plus, it’s amazing how timid people are re: speaking about this whole debacle!) Thank you, Gina; your visits are always spirited, and so valued.