Facebook and Instagram went dark for users across the globe on Tuesday, March 25, 2025, marking yet another major social media outage for the platforms owned by Meta. Reports began pouring in shortly after 9 AM ET, with thousands of users expressing their frustrations through Downdetector.
Initially, Instagram seemed to bear the brunt of the disruption, particularly in its comments section. Users found that while they could see comments on their stories and pictures, clicking on them led to error messages stating that no comments were available. One bewildered user explained, "I see comments, but when I click on them it says no comments, start the conversation. When I put comment it disappears." The issue wasn't confined to a single region; reports emerged from users along the East Coast, down to the West Coast, prompting inquiries on social media about the extent of the problem.
Facebook users were not spared from the disarray. Many encountered difficulties logging into their accounts, with reports indicating that approximately one third of user complaints involved login issues. Users expressed their shock as they attempted to access the platform, with one lamenting, "I signed out a little while ago and it was fine. Now I'm getting an error message trying to sign back in!" These complaints came on the heels of various reports detailing that Facebook's application and website were also plagued by functionality issues for users who were already logged in.
Through the morning, the scale of the outage became clearer. At one point, Downdetector noted that out of all Instagram-related complaints, nearly 60% revolved around the comment section. Additionally, reports highlighted that a significant spike in issues came in around 12:30 PM ET, further amplifying the confusion and frustration among users. One Instagram user in New York stated, "Here in NY - can’t see comments on posts or reels!" This sentiment echoed from Ohio to Utah, with users nationwide lamenting similar issues.
Facebook users, alongside Instagram aficionados, took to platforms such as X (formerly Twitter) seeking answers and clarity amid the chaos. Given the silence from Meta, many were left to speculate about the nature and cause of the outage. "Is Instagram down? I can’t see some people's stories nor can I see comments," one user inquired. Meanwhile, another criticized the lack of communication from Instagram, stating, "It’s the radio silence from Instagram that always gets me; like they could send a notification saying the app is down so I don’t have to investigate on Twitter like Sherlock Holmes."
As of now, the reasons behind the problems remain unclear, as Meta has yet to officially comment on the situation or provide updates about a timeline for resolution. This outage comes just weeks after a similar glitch that affected multiple Meta applications, including not only Facebook and Instagram but also WhatsApp and TikTok.
The ripple effects of today's outage have extended beyond Facebook and Instagram, with reports indicating that other platforms such as Facebook Messenger, Instacart, Indeed, and even Earthlink experienced service interruptions around the same time. What many users are left wondering is how long the disruptions will last and whether they will become a recurring issue.
As the world continues to navigate the challenges posed by such outages, many can only hope that Meta will enhance its communication and service reliability to prevent future frustrations. It is evident from the myriad of reports flooding in today that Facebook and Instagram remain central to everyday communication for millions and any disruption can lead to widespread concern and confusion. Users are left eagerly awaiting a return to normalcy in their online interactions.
