On Tuesday, October 8th, 2024, Meta’s social media platforms, including Instagram, Facebook, and Threads, faced a widespread outage, leaving thousands of users frustrated. According to Downdetector, a surge in downtime reports began around 6 AM UTC, with over 3,000 Instagram users experiencing issues accessing the app.
Although Facebook and Threads also faced connectivity problems, the impact on these platforms was less severe than on Instagram. As of now, service has been largely restored, but the outage has raised concerns about the stability of social media platforms, especially during peak usage times.
This recent Instagram outage in 2024 is not an isolated incident. Over the past few years, social media platform crashes have become more frequent, with major outages occurring in October 2021 and June 2022.
These past disruptions often resulted from technical glitches or issues with Meta’s infrastructure. For example, the 2021 outage, which lasted nearly six hours, was linked to a configuration error that affected the entire network. Users reported similar frustration and uncertainty, as social media is now a key communication tool for both personal and business use.
Experts suggest that the root of such social media outages often lies in centralized infrastructure and rapid updates. A technology analyst from CCN News commented, “As platforms like Instagram grow and add new features, the backend systems become more complex, increasing the risk of technical issues.” Cybersecurity experts also note that social media platforms are frequent targets for cyberattacks, which can cause temporary disruptions. While no official statement from Meta has indicated a cyberattack in this case, the possibility cannot be ruled out.
During social media platform crashes, users can take practical steps to stay informed. Following trusted tech news sites or using outage-tracking services like Downdetector can provide real-time updates. If experiencing issues, it’s advisable to check if others report the same problem before taking drastic measures, such as reinstalling the app.