A few years after I left a certain social media platform, I reluctantly signed up once again. I did this since some organizations from whom I need to get information only have an online presence on said platform. I don’t know why they can’t set up their own site, instead of getting locked into another platform. Once I created my account, I locked down all privacy settings, checked that group for information, and then left. The mind within that platform didn’t like it.
The next day, I received an email that my account had been suspended. I had 180 days in which to appeal my suspension.
At first, I thought it was a phishing attempt. I had posted nothing, done nothing aside from looking at one organization’s pages for information. Next, I searched online for any text similar to the email message. It appeared legit. Instead of clicking a link in the email, I went to said social media site. Sure enough, the account had been suspended. Once I clicked on the suspension message, it told me that I had neglected to add a profile picture. I added a picture, and clicked the button to appeal.
Many days later, still no word. I suspect this type of suspension is triggered within the system of that platform, and since I locked down all privacy settings and left the account alone, in less than 24 hours their bots decided this was not enough of an engagement. Thus: suspension. It’s now been several days since I complied with the request that caused the suspension. I’ve heard nothing. According to the message, the appeal can take up to180 days. I suspect that it’s actual people (not some algorithm) reviewing said appeals. Much like government bureaucracy, they’ll get to it when they get to it. It may even take 180 days and then the account is vaporized, forgotten, rendered into oblivion.
Should those 180 days pass with no action, I don’t really care. I found what I looked for, and that platform no longer matters to me. However, it just seems like poor customer service to drive someone away less than 24 hours after they sign up for that platform.
Meanwhile, due to politics, certain people are leaving another social media platform for supposed alternatives. Why not create your own sites, I wonder. Is everything politics now? Certain famous people have declared they’re leaving a once busy platform, citing toxicity. I inhabit only a tiny corner of that platform, and don’t pay attention to anything else. Choice is good. Let’s hope these leavers find what they’re looking for in the other places.
