Social Media: 1)Canadian says Meta won’t let her talk to a human after killing her accounts; 2)Social Media Examiner issue – 3 parts

1)Canadian says Meta won’t let her talk to a human after killing her accounts

Courtesy Barrie360.com and Canadian Press

By Anja Karadeglija, September 29, 2026

A Toronto woman says Meta permanently shut down her Facebook and Instagram accounts without warning — and her only recourse has been to talk to AI chatbots.

Jasmine Ault told The Canadian Press she has not been able to reach a human being at Meta since the accounts were deactivated on Sept. 24. 

She said the company shut down her 20-year-old Facebook account, an Instagram account that dates back to 2011 and another Instagram account dedicated to her dog.

“It’s actually quite scary to think about the trust that we put in the social media platforms that can all be taken away in one day,” she said in an interview.

Ault compared the experience to losing belongings in a fire.

“That’s how it feels. And it’s really upsetting because the hypothetical, the metaphorical fire that I’m referring to, is my memories.”

She said she has lost her social media contacts and is unable to let people know she hasn’t blocked them and isn’t ignoring them.

“There’s a dead end and I can’t even communicate to the people I want to communicate with,” Ault said.

She described the experience as isolating, leaving her unable to look back at memories, connect with people, or see what they are up to through their posts.

Meta didn’t give Ault a reason for shutting down her accounts and said only that her Facebook account “doesn’t follow our rules.”

Ault said she hadn’t posted on Facebook in years, though she did post frequently on Instagram.

She said she suspects someone tried to hack her account because she found a record of suspicious login attempts shortly before the account was deactivated. Meta also had her phone number associated with a person who lives in India.

Ault said she has only been able to talk to Meta’s AI chatbots, which have not been able to resolve the issue. After she requested a review, the chatbot told her it was unsuccessful and her Facebook account had been “permanently disabled.”

She said she hasn’t been able to contact a human being at the company despite signing up for and paying for a verified account, a service that Meta says includes direct help from human agents.

“If Facebook wants to be the main conglomerate for social media, they need to be accessible,” she said.

Media outlets have reported similar experiences among users of Meta’s platforms in the United States. In July, The New York Times profiled several users whose accounts were deleted by AI, and who then had to rely on AI to resolve the issue.

Meta restored some of the accounts after the newspaper flagged them to the company. Two of those accounts had been hacked before they were deactivated.

Markus Giesler, a professor of marketing at York University, said social media platforms have become very important to people’s personal lives and careers.

“We like to think of this as a customer service case when in actuality it’s a case of platform accountability,” he said.

“These platforms have been woven so much into our social fabric, into who we are as individuals and communities, that access to them is really important.”

Giesler said efforts to regulate social media platforms should also address issues like access and being able to talk to a human being at a company.

He said suspending an account can have personal financial consequences.

Ault, who is working full-time as a manager of marketing and communications, said she has used her social media in the past to find clients for her own consulting agency. Without her accounts, that’s not possible at the moment.

“They have nothing to look at. They can’t see my portfolio of work,” she said.

When contacted by The Canadian Press, a Meta spokesperson pointed to a blog post that provides information on how to access account support. It includes an update from March saying Meta was rolling out an AI support assistant.

The spokesperson did not provide any comment or respond to questions — such as how a person with a deactivated account can contact a human being at Meta.

2)Social Media Examiner – 3 parts

Part 1 – News You Can Use

Meta Expands Test Limiting Facebook Page Link Posts: Meta appears to be extending a test that restricts some non-paying Facebook Pages to two posts containing links per month, with additional link publishing potentially tied to Meta One subscriptions. The experiment predates Meta One for Business but is reportedly reaching more Page managers following the subscription service’s launch. Publisher Pages remain exempt, while other businesses affected by the test could need to adjust their organic traffic strategies or subscribe for greater link-posting access. Social Media Today

LinkedIn Adds Post Proofreader for Premium Members: LinkedIn is introducing Post Proofreader, a Premium feature designed to help members refine posts before publishing. Users can ask the tool to correct writing errors, shorten a draft, or improve its clarity, with proposed changes displayed inline for review rather than automatically applied. The feature gives users control over accepting or rejecting AI-assisted edits, although it currently works only with English drafts and does not include features such as version history or manual editing while suggestions are being reviewed. LinkedIn

LinkedIn Tests Separate Network and For You Feeds: LinkedIn is experimenting with a redesigned feed that separates content from existing connections and follows from broader recommended content. The Network tab centers on people users have deliberately chosen to connect with, while For You is intended to help users discover perspectives from practitioners across and beyond their networks. The test gives LinkedIn users a more explicit way to choose between keeping up with professional relationships and discovering new information. LinkedIn

LinkedIn Expands Verification for Members and Businesses: LinkedIn is broadening its verification system with new ways for professionals to establish credibility and companies to protect their brands. The platform is testing peer verification of employment and education history while giving verified Page admins stronger controls over false employee associations. LinkedIn is also extending its verification signals beyond its own platform through new integrations with Truecaller and PeerSpot, as its verified member base surpasses 115 million. LinkedIn

Google Adds Conversational AI and One-Click Experiences to Demand Gen: Google’s September Demand Gen update introduces new tools designed to shorten the path from discovery to conversion across YouTube, Gmail, and Maps. Business Agent brings conversational product and brand assistance directly alongside YouTube video ads, while one-click image ads make it easier for viewers on Shorts and Gmail to reach advertiser landing pages. Google is also extending local advertising through Promoted pins on Maps and introducing a dedicated hub for future Demand Gen updates. Google

Pinterest Adds Campaign Optimization Scores to Ads Manager: Pinterest has introduced a campaign optimization score designed to help advertisers quickly identify ways to improve campaign performance during the holiday season. The feature evaluates campaign setup, creative variety, and signal strength, then provides actionable recommendations based on Pinterest’s performance best practices. Advertisers can use the score throughout campaign creation and management, alongside Performance+ automation, broader targeting, varied creative, and Media Planner forecasts to guide ongoing optimization. Pinterest

Threads Removes Instagram Account Requirements for Advertisers: Starting in September 2026, businesses will be able to run Threads ads without maintaining a matching username on Instagram. Brands without an Instagram presence will also be able to advertise directly through their native Threads profiles, making Threads a more independent advertising channel for businesses that want to establish and promote a presence on the platform. Meta

YouTube Dynamically Adjusts Product Tags Based on Viewer Engagement: YouTube is introducing a dynamic placement system for affiliate Shopping product tags that determines their visibility based on how viewers interact with them. Products generating interest can receive more prominent placement on the video itself and in its description, while less-engaged products will remain available in the description. YouTube says these adjustments are limited to product-tag presentation and will not affect how videos are distributed or recommended. Google

YouTube Unveils Major Creator, Shopping and AI Updates at Made on YouTube 2026: YouTube announced a broad set of features spanning content discovery, fandom, monetization, commerce and creation. Highlights include customizable feeds and Shorts Series, expanded creator-brand partnership tools, international growth for YouTube Shopping, AI-assisted Studio features such as video A/B testing and dynamic thumbnails, and conversational editing for Shorts. The platform is also expanding community experiences and strengthening likeness detection as it gives creators more ways to grow audiences, optimize content and generate revenue. YouTube

2. How to Create Instagram Reels That Build a Loyal Following

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3. The Habit That Nobody Does

The Word Your Reel Is Missing

Before you post your next Reel, ask: Is there one word that would make your people feel it? “Pink Floyd” instead of “rock.” “Relocating to Nashville” instead of “moving.”

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