On September 25, 2024, Mark Zuckerberg, the CEO of Meta Platforms, announced during the Meta Connect event in Menlo Park, California, that the company’s suite of applications, including Facebook and Instagram, experienced significant outages affecting users’ access.
The disruptions commenced around 9:57 a.m. PST, impacting not only Facebook but also Threads, WhatsApp, and Messenger, as reported by users through the online monitoring platform Downdetector. At the peak of the issue, over 100,000 users reported difficulties accessing Facebook at approximately 10:11 a.m. PST.
Acknowledging the situation, Meta communicated via a post on the social media platform X, stating, “We are aware that a technical issue is impacting some users’ ability to access our apps.” The company expressed its dedication to resolving the matter swiftly and apologized for the inconvenience caused.
Instagram also shared an update on X, confirming that a technical problem was affecting access to its platform. In a later update, Meta assured users that it was close to resolving the outages, reporting it was “99% of the way there – just doing some last checks.”
Eventually, the services were restored, with Instagram announcing on X, “Andddd we’re back — sorry for the wait, and thanks for bearing with us.”
This incident draws parallels to a similar outage that occurred in March 2024, which coincided with the Super Tuesday U.S. presidential primaries, highlighting the ongoing challenges that large tech companies face in maintaining reliable service.
In light of continual advancements in technology, it is hopeful that Meta and other similar platforms will continue enhancing their infrastructure to minimize the frequency and impact of such outages in the future.
This incident serves as a reminder of the importance of reliable connectivity in today’s digital society.