The Day Facebook Locked Me Out
What keeps you up at night?
Aren’t we all leisurely scrolling Facebook and checking email during the early morning hours of… well, any given day? This particular one was a Monday at roughly 4:30 a.m. I mean even though sleep may evade me, I haven’t figured out how to escape Facebook. At least, I had not. Maybe now.
I hope that given time to heal and work through the trauma, I will not always remember that Monday, April 26, 2021 was the day when my long-standing, curated and nurtured, carefully considered Facebook account went down—as in 757 nose-dive-into-the-dirt down.
We who have lived a few decades (or several decades) can recall major events in history, where we were and what we were doing when those happenings took place. I recall the shooting of President Reagan, the explosion of Challenger, the horrific shooting at Columbine, and the national tragedy that occurred on September 11, 2001. Clearly, these events are devastating on a grand human scale. In the light of those moments, I gotta say that I experienced way more anxiety and frustration over my in-the-grand-scheme-of things insignificant Facebook crisis than I should have.
As I lay checking off each notifications that came in overnight and intermittently cleaning out my spam email, I got a message indicating that someone may have hacked into my account. There had been email addresses added, and I would need to review my account profile, make the corrections, change the password, blah, blah, blah.
I quickly moved to my desktop where I could function more effectively to get things back on track. But, in my haste and angst, I logged out of my open Facebook account at my computer. And, before I knew it, I was shut out and struggling to find a way to get back in. Watching google videos, searching Facebook’s ironically unhelpful help page, soliciting input from my teenager, phoning computer savvy friends, and praying for a life line. Seriously. God, if you can help me get my Facebook account back up and going, I promise not to spend so much time on it.
My final step was to submit my identification to Facebook in order for them to determine that I am the person I claim to be. They rejected my voter identification card, so I sent my driver’s license—approximately half a dozen times. This all took place on that fateful Monday morning before noon. Then, I waited.
Learning to live without
For several days, I resisted opening a new account, but I knew I was missing stuff. I was missing notifications about groups I’m in, digital invitations that come in hot and heavy in the spring, educational workshops only accessible through Facebook, prom photos for Goodness’ sake, and opportunities to promote my writing endeavors and my husband’s brand new real estate career.
I had collected over a thousand friends through writing circles; groups for families with Guatemalan adoptees; long-time school and community contacts in my small, but growing hometown where I’ve spent most of my life; workplaces; and more. And, now the first image of a Facebook search of Hally Wells was a cutie, far younger and blonder than I. I did not exist in Facebook land.
Not only was I worried about my inability to interact digitally, I was concerned about the security breach. I am not a techie person, so I don’t understand completely the risks involved in having a Facebook account hacked. I wondered just what could be done with my pictures, friends list, and personal information. Could they access my credit card? My financial information? Could there be something even more insidious? Is this directed at me personally?
I have always been pretty careful not to post or share politically charged information. I am not a debater, so playing out an online war of opinions is of no interest to me. I’d prefer to be appealing rather than off-putting. Therefore, I was confident that I hadn’t offended anyone or landed myself in “Facebook jail” due to some controversial post.
What was my relationship with Facebook?
Over the next several days, I had to put it out of my head. I figured my only option was to wait for the Facebook powers to respond to my pleas for help, made only in the character-controlled lines of an automated message.
My natural tendency is to be a little all-or-nothing. Of course, that statement is an oxymoron, but it’s not altogether wrong. I don’t suffer from OCD, but I ride the line. I don’t often eat one cookie. I rarely clean half the house. So, sometimes it is a struggle to limit my screen time. I have never spent hours a day on a site or a device, but I felt I had been neglecting other more important areas of my life as my time and “engagement” with Facebook had increased. I think prior to the lock-down and shut-out, I had begun spending perhaps 90 minutes each day with Facebook. It had become a time suck!
Kids and the powerful pull of social media
Now, aside from my crisis, consider this. If I—a women born and through college before cell phones came without accompanying bags, a person who has an Master’s degree in counseling and many years in the education field, a mentally sound and emotionally secure individual (on most days, anyway)—has a hard time putting down the device… well, how in the world do we expect our young people to stand up against Facebook or any other social media platform. How do we expect them to set limits, manage their time, and protect their developing minds from such a powerful pull?
If you have not seen The Social Dilemma on Netflix, I highly recommend watching it. Additionally, here ZDoggMD analyzes the documentary, sharing his take and his concerns associated with social media. While this is super important for those of us who still have kids or teens in our homes, it provides awesome insights for us adults as well. ZDoggMD uses colorful language, but I think the information is on point. Check it out!
Was this a sense of peace?
As those waiting days passed, I noticed something. I noticed I felt more relaxed. I noticed that I didn’t always feel like I needed to address a comment or a message. I didn’t feel like I had to check in, make an encouraging remark, or respond with an affirming image. I didn’t feel like I had to, because I was not able to. It was freeing. It was relaxing.
And, I also didn’t have to tune in first thing each morning to my social media master. Instead, I began to check in more regularly with my Heavenly Master, whom I had been neglecting during those first moments each day for some months. That allowed me to start my days in a far better place—positioned to be more productive and less stressed.
I needed a reset. I needed perspective. I needed help to re-align my priorities. Whether the Facebook episode was from God or not, I felt convicted that I’d been investing too much time with Facebook. And, that forced break helped me see that I’m healthier and happier when I don’t.
Full disclosure, I did open a new account a couple weeks after mine went down. But, I don’t feel the pull I did prior. I do feel the dangers. I recognize the benefits Facebook provides, but I have been reminded of the costs it presents. I may never hear from Facebook regarding my old account, but that’s okay. My security settings are way up and my number of friends is way down.
Ponder this
The temptations in our lives come in many forms. Whether it’s an unhealthy and unholy behavior or an ungodly attitude, a lack of compassion or the withholding of a loving word… whatever ails our spirit and keeps us from connecting with Him, let’s pray that He reveals it to us and delivers us from it.
PS: My Facebook problem
It seems my issue with Facebook is happening to others. Check out this special report by News Channel 4 (KMOV4) with Chris Nagus; it describes almost exactly what my experience was. Be careful out there!
Blessings!
Hally
