Meta Platforms Experience Global Outage, Disrupting Services for Millions

Updated : Wed Dec 11 2024 23:01:51 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

A widespread outage hit Meta-owned platforms WhatsApp, Instagram, and Facebook on Wednesday, leaving millions of users worldwide unable to send or receive messages, make calls, or access WhatsApp Web. The technical issue affected users across various platforms, including Android, iOS, and desktop, with reports of problems from the US, UK, parts of Europe, Asia, Australia, and South America.

The outage started around 18:00 GMT on Wednesday, with tracking site Downdetector reporting over 22,000 users experiencing difficulties accessing Facebook and over 18,000 users struggling to use WhatsApp. Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, acknowledged the issue and apologized for the inconvenience, stating that it was working to resolve the problem. This is the second major outage for Meta's platforms, following a six-hour disruption in 2021.

The issue affected multiple regions, with Downdetector reporting significant problems in Pakistan, where 2,222 issues with WhatsApp, 976 with Facebook, and 1,217 with Instagram were recorded. NetBlocks also reported international outages on Meta platforms, with users in the US experiencing issues with Facebook and Instagram, including over 105,000 and 70,000 incidents respectively. Meta has faced similar outages in the past, with an issue occurring in October and another earlier this year.

Meta's platforms experienced technical difficulties, making it difficult for users to access their services. The outage was a setback for users worldwide, with many taking to social media to express their frustration. Meta apologized for the inconvenience and is working to resolve the issue, but the exact cause of the outage remains unknown.

As Meta's platforms struggle to regain full functionality, users are left to wait and hope for a swift resolution to the outage. The incident highlights the importance of functionality and reliability in the digital age, where online services play a vital role in daily life.