Facebook users blast 'horrific' review process after thousands of accounts deleted without explanation

However, since the beginning of July the number of users reporting issues has continued to rise, with thousands claiming their personal and business accounts have been impacted by the system error.

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"I logged into my Instagram account as normal in the morning to check what I had on for the day and it said my account had been disabled," said Jason Forrest, a Wolverhampton-based podcaster and radio host. "There was no warning and no description of why, it just said my account had been disabled.

"It's businesses and livelihoods that are being affected here. It's an absolute kicker.

"I have no way of contacting Facebook at all. I took out their verified status back in May and went through all the verification process to prove that I'm me, and there was no question about anything that I was doing.

"Meta seem happy to take your money when you're buying into their system, but even that doesn't protect you from this kind of thing happening to you.

"There's some concern about what I have to do with my VR Headset. Meta have told me that if I de-link my Facebook account I will be able to continue using the £300 to £400 worth of purchases that I've made on my VR Headset, and the equipment itself that's worth over £1,000 will still work. It's stopped everything Meta that I own.

"It doesn't make sense that they have disabled my Facebook and Instagram accounts, but are still happy for me to use and spend on Meta.

"It's my digital footprint, and it's almost as though they're telling me that I'm not me.

"Facebook and Instagram is where I kept a lot of my work, and I'm very fortunate that a few months ago I actually downloaded some family photos that I'd put on there.

"There's stuff on there from devices I've had in the past that were automatically uploaded to Facebook, and therefore I don't have a backup for because it's the only place it goes. Even messages between family and friends that are no longer with us that you can go back and look at, it's all just been erased."

Matthew Lee, who owns multiple local businesses including Walsall Scare Maze, is another person affected by the issue, and he explained his own struggles when it came to appealing the decision to close his personal Instagram account.

"The communication has been horrific," he said. "I get that you can't have hundreds of thousands of people talking to everyone across the world when their Facebook account isn't working, and I get the value of AI, but there really should be a process when something that's gone wrong through no fault of your own is sorted by speaking to a human.

"I've spent thousands of pounds with Meta putting ads out for the business, and what makes me laugh is a member of staff at Meta that I spoke to told me they know how much of a nightmare it is because their account also got suspended.

"She works for Meta and still had the same problem, so if the problems are being picked up internally why are they not being sorted out?

"I am pro-AI in terms of some things, but when it comes down to running systems and replacing humans I think there's got to be a fine line of what they allow it to do.

"I've lost a lot of pictures and memories, and that really is sad. As much as it's angered me it has also upset me as well, and caused me an untold amount of issues.

"Human interaction is still crucial. I get AI saves wages and money is tight at the moment - I understand that fully - but there's still got to be an element of human interaction."