On September 25, 2024, Mark Zuckerberg, the CEO of Meta Platforms, addressed users during the Meta Connect event held in Menlo Park, California, amid a significant outage affecting the company’s suite of applications, including Facebook, Instagram, Threads, WhatsApp, and Messenger.
The disruptions commenced around 9:57 a.m. PST, with reports from users collected by Downdetector indicating that over 100,000 individuals encountered difficulties accessing Facebook alone at the peak of the outage around 10:11 a.m. PST.
In response to the issue, Meta posted updates on social media platform X, confirming their awareness of the ongoing technical problems impacting users. Their message reassured users that the team was working diligently to resolve the issue and expressed apologies for the inconvenience caused.
Later in the day, Meta provided another update regarding the outage, stating that they were nearing resolution. Instagram then announced that their services were back online, thanking users for their patience during this time.
This outage is not without precedent; a similar two-hour disruption occurred in March 2024 during Super Tuesday, a major date in the U.S. presidential primaries.
In light of these recurring outages, it’s clear that while technical issues are an inherent risk for major platforms, Meta’s responsiveness serves as a reminder of their commitment to user experience. The return of services can also be viewed as a testament to their ability to address such challenges effectively, ensuring that users can once again connect and share across their platforms.
In summary, Meta experienced a significant outage affecting multiple services, which was promptly acknowledged and resolved by the company, highlighting their commitment to customer service even in the face of technical difficulties.