In recent weeks, Instagram users around the world have been caught up in an unexpected "account ban wave," with many accounts being suspended or banned without clear reason, even when users claim they have not violated any platform policies. Despite Meta's failure to issue an official statement on the matter, speculation among users about misjudgments made by artificial intelligence automation has been rampant, causing widespread concern.

Platforms like Reddit and X (formerly Twitter) are filled with complaints and requests for help from affected users. Many of these users say they have repeatedly submitted account review appeals but have received no response. Worse still, users find that there is almost no other direct way to contact Meta’s customer service team, leaving them feeling helpless and at a loss.

User u/Dyrovicious on Reddit wrote after their personal Instagram account was banned: "I've submitted appeals multiple times, uploaded my ID, and tried to reach Meta through all official channels, but I've been completely ignored. It feels like shouting into the void." (Notably, Meta offers paid subscriptions for creators and businesses to receive priority customer support, but this has failed to quell anger among regular users.)

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In the Reddit community of Instagram, recent popular posts are almost entirely focused on this ongoing ban wave that has lasted for several weeks. Users on X also flooded Instagram's official reply section, pleading for the company to take action or at least publicly acknowledge the existence of the problem. Additionally, a petition on Change.org regarding these bans quickly gathered over 4,000 signatures, showing collective anxiety among user groups.

Large internet companies rely on automated review systems to handle massive amounts of content, so occasional false positives are unavoidable. However, the recent surge in Instagram bans immediately sparked suspicion that artificial intelligence might be the幕后black hand. Previously, Pinterest faced a similar mass ban earlier this year, with users complaining that their behavior did not violate company policies, and some even threatened legal action. Although Pinterest eventually admitted in May that an "internal error" caused the mass bans, it did not specify the exact cause and claimed it was not due to AI reviews.

For Instagram, this ban wave has far-reaching impacts beyond individual use, severely affecting the livelihoods of many businesses and creators. Reddit user u/Paigejust said: "This is my livelihood, my full-time job. I heavily depend on Instagram to get leads." Another gym owner u/CourtShaw shared: "This ban directly affects my business, as well as the countless hours of hard work and brand building I’ve put into my business, my gym, and my students."

Without access to internal company data, it is difficult for outsiders to determine whether the recent mass bans indicate a significant increase in false positives. Meta has yet to publicly acknowledge this issue.

In addition, some affected Instagram users report being wrongfully accused of serious violations such as child sexual exploitation. These users point out that such accusations could completely destroy their careers and reputations, causing great concern. This mass ban event is seriously eroding user trust in the Instagram platform and highlights the necessity for transparency in automated review systems and appeal mechanisms.