This is a looooong post but I wanted to include all of the details of my efforts for others because Reddit is what helped guide me through this situation. I don’t know what was the magic trick… for my case it wasn’t a legal letter because that was set to go out on 11/07. Could it have been a dead end email… could it have been a congressional rep’s assistance… could it have been Meta actually processed my appeal. I don’t really know. 

**10/25/25**

\* mindlessly scrolling through reels at 11:30pm cst when my screen resets and informs me that I’ve been suspended for CSE. The link for whatever I allegedly shared was broken. 

\* I immediately push the appeal button and I’m instructed to provide a video selfie in good lighting. I do as told and hit submit. 

\* My screen moves permanently to the “you’ve submitted an appeal” screen. 

**10/26/25**

\* Over brunch, my husband takes the conspiracy theory route and discusses possible bad actors in my life that could have done this out of spite 

\* Once home, I randomly google my situation and I was SHOCKED at what I discovered… I literally had no clue this was even a thing. 

\* I spend the rest of my Sunday buried in posts on Reddit and strategizing my game plan. 

**10/27/25**

\* I spend the day gathering links, searching the depths of the internet for various state politicians email addresses, and composing a ridiculously long email (some of what you’ll see below but this 10/27 email was much longer and more detailed)

\* I included this in my 10/27 email… 

\* Lastly, let us not forget that Meta has a reputation for not doing what's in the favor of its users and/or unethical practices...

\* DiCello Levitt secured a $90 million settlement in a 12 year data privacy class action lawsuit against Facebook for tracking cookies (https://dicellolevitt.com/facebook-to-pay-90-million-to-settle-decade-long-data-privacy-class-action/)

\* In 2019, the FTC imposed a historic $5 billion penalty against Facebook while also requiring new privacy restrictions. (https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2019/07/ftc-imposes-5-billion-penalty-sweeping-new-privacy-restrictions-facebook)

\* Milberg, a global consumer protection firm, has filed a class action lawsuit against Meta for violating federal and state (CA) laws, including the Wiretap Act, 18 U.S.C. § 2510 et seq. (https://milberg.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/10/Complaint-9.15.22\_Meta-Platforms.pdf)

\* I sent the email to all of the various IG and FB email addresses floating on Reddit  (which I think are all dead ends but I figured why the hell not), various state politicians email addresses, various local news outlets, BBB, FTC, and my state AG. 

**10/28/25**

\* I look up the Oversight Board and find all of their email addresses

\* I send a similar email to each of them. 

\* This too is a dead end so I will not be sharing this list as I’m sure they’re overwhelmed. One of them even has a statement on their website that says they cannot intervene with these wrongful meta bans. 

\* I remember about an IG account I created in 2018 with a different email address. I grab my MacBook, use an incognito browser, and I’m able to log in successfully. I change the account private to public and then nothing else with this account until 11/04/25. 

**10/29/25**

\* I join LegalShield that evening and submit a Consumer/Finance request.

\* I am assigned to an in state law firm.

**10/30/25**

\* I reach out to LegalShield, via chat, because I was hoping for a CA firm. I’m told that I will get transferred out once the local law firm calls me. 

\* The attorney calls me and says he’s familiar with these cases… said he’s done 5-6 of these letters and only one account wasn’t reinstated. Said it takes about 3-4 weeks from the time the letter gets sent. Tells me to expect the letter, to review, on Monday. So I figure why not since he’s done a few. 

**11/03/25**

\* 4:15pm still no letter from the attorney, and to me, every second counted because I didn’t want to permanently lose my stuff and/or get permabanned. 

\* I reach out and am told that my assigned attorney is gone for the day. I leave a message stating that he promised I would have the letter today and that they can just transfer my case to a firm in CA. 

\* 45 minutes later the letter is sitting in my inbox for review… the letter was very underwhelming. 

**11/04/25**

\* I used my iPad (which was brand new so no meta log ins on it ever) to log in from the mobile app. That’s a success. I nervously debate with myself for at least 30 minutes about my next move… getting Meta Verified. I say f\*\*k it and just go for it. I pick the level that includes a phone call (it was offered to me for like $15/1st month, normally $45 I think)

\* I had to update my name to my government name (scared me bc that was my name on my suspended account)

\* I had to include my phone number 

\* And I had to provide a photo of the front and back of my DL (state ID and passports were other options)

\* Said it would take up to 48 hours for a decision… 22 minutes later I got the “we’ve confirmed your identity… congrats” type email

\* I change my handle to reflect my business so I can get my stuff back out there… this requires Meta approval since I’m now a verified account; also approved

\* I open a Meta Enhanced customer support ticket. 

\* I request a phone call; says average wait is 20 minutes, so I go about my life and begin working on the legal demand letter that I want sent. 

\* Check the app and see they’ve now paused me because I wasn’t responding to the chat

\* It takes 5-6hours to finally speak to someone… but through chat. 

\* I’m told “From the information you provided, it appears that the decision about your account is already final. Kindly take note that if you are no longer able to submit an appeal, we are left with no further actions on the account.”

\* Go back and forth and then request for the ticket to be closed (mainly so I could open another one, but I never did)

\* During the day, I called my Congress rep’s office. I spoke to a staff assistant, explained what was going on, and he gave me his email address to send the details, but also made no promises that help could be provided. 

\* I also reached out to a congressional rep that reps a district I lived in pretty much my whole life (1983-2015) prior to me moving in 2015. I just sent my info through the email button on the website.

\* I have several friends and family members that are attorneys but I initially didn’t want to ask any of them for help because for $30 with Legal Shield that just felt easier. But after the underwhelming demand letter from the day before, I set that thought aside and called one of my friends. I told him about my situation and that I typed a demand letter. I asked if he’d review it, put it on his letterhead, and send on my behalf. He said absolutely but it would be a day or two because of an active trial. 

\* I cancelled my Legal Shield account — which btw… you have to call in to request cancellation. They will give you a number sequence that you then have to put in a request in writing for cancellation (either email or postal mail). 

\* I used the demand letter that u/Far\_Paper\_9739 posted photos of as a model for my demand letter. I researched my state laws and included what I thought should. This is the letter I sent to my friend for him to send on my behalf. 

\* I go to bed feeling like maybe I’ve finally made progress that could potentially help me. 

**11/06/25**

\* I get an email saying my Meta Verified subscription will be canceled because I violated their terms and service but I can appeal that decision

\* I assume it’s because I used the enhanced chat to ask about my other account

\* I also could care less because I planned on cancelling the subscription myself — I only wanted it for the phone call feature

\* I think this account is likely cooked too  I had not really used the account after getting it verified, changing the handle and reaching out for support. 

\* I go to bed feeling defeated thinking it’s legit the end of the road for me. 

**11/07/25**

\* I wake up and check IG, like I did every morning since 10/26, and I was met with a surprise that I was reinstated. I checked my inbox and I saw the “apology” email from IG. 

———————————————————————

So I know these false bans can happen to anyone, anywhere, anytime… while actively on the platform or while asleep… with an active engagement on the platform or without ever having engaged (no posts, no likes, etc just watched reels etc)… 

With that said, I am still scared to look at reels on IG because that’s what I was doing when it happened. I also haven’t watched any reels on FB. I changed my profile photo, my email address, cleared out my bio, and removed everything I had ever saved on both platforms. I’m still a little nervous engaging with any posts on my personal IG account. 

Again, I am really thankful for Reddit because I would have been clueless otherwise. I am thankful for the others that shared their story and the methods they tried. I was willing to do \*almost\* anything to get my accounts back. Leading up to this suspension, I had maybe posted 10 times since January on my personal IG page and I would share my business reels in my story but that was it. And I didn’t scroll a lot looking at friends/family etc but man did I feel beyond isolated for two weeks. I told my husband I can absolutely see how if your frame of mind is slightly askew when this happens you could become very depressed etc. I found myself very sad and angry too because I felt violated and robbed. I have told so many people my story because it’s feels so wildly unbelievable that it happened and because it could happen to anyone. I am sharing my story on here because of my gratitude for Reddit and the community. 

In a comment below, I will include my email that I sent my congressional reps and the legal demand letter we had planned on sending for anyone who might want a jumping point. 

If you don’t know who your congressional reps are, go here and you can figure it out:

https://whosmyrep.org/?gad\_source=1&gad\_campaignid=23072818920&gbraid=0AAAABBZNOosA0S7gsQAZ\_myLfmnalVxAv&gclid=CjwKCAiAw9vIBhBBEiwAraSATmu4sye5hbWp\_hlbj3DqA\_-DgR5aP4yVpdQxnGHQ7SdP-DVpIabhWxoCvvEQAvD\_BwE

Reinstated 11/7 // Suspended 10/25 for CSE