Facebook Deleted Me
No reason given beyond "Violation of Community Standards Integrity"
UPDATE: The account has been reinstated. Still unsure why it was deleted, but an appeal (or a guardian angel somewhere) has restored things. I’m leaving the below article so you will have links to my other platforms, anyway. Thanks!
Hey, everyone.
I woke up this morning to find that Facebook deleted my account (Seth Andrews. Apparently The Thinking Atheist is still working.)
One lovely thing about Facebook is that it doesn't give you any specifics about how/why you've received a strike or ban. In the past, I've gotten hit for posting barbed memes which 1) weren't seen in context or 2) grazed the delicate Community Standards nerves of a "free speech" platform.
It's possible that a post somewhere activated the "Fine, you're done" policy. Or it might be something else. Again, I've only been informed I'm in violation of Community Standards Integrity. They might as well have said I'm in violation of "A Reason."
For me, as long as TTA is active, that's my primary concern at the moment. I have another admin which should still have access to ensure podcast releases, etc. We haven't spoken yet. Hopefully, this hasn't also impacted her. Navigating this now.
Resist the urge to cry "Zuck hates atheists" or whatever. I'm guessing this is a block activated because of automated systems and "human" reviewers who strike hot-button terms and don't get sarcasm.
In the meantime, WE WILL REBUILD. Follow me at:
BLUESKY:
Seth Andrews: https://bsky.app/profile/sethandrews.com
The Thinking Atheist: https://bsky.app/profile/thethinkingatheist.com
SUBSTACK: https://substack.com/@sethandrews
YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/user/TheThinkingAtheist
WEBSITES:
http://www.thethinkingatheist.com
http://www.sethandrews.com
Ultimately, this falls into the First World Problems category. Facebook has been a difficult platform to defend anyway, so if I'm shown the door, I'm not going to freak out about it. The overall TTA community remains a solid one, Facebook or no, and I appreciate the concern and support.
If I'm allowed to start FB from scratch, I'll have someone ping everyone. Thank you!
Oh damn. I lost my show’s Instagram account and all access to Threads because I tagged my personal account as a collaborator in a few posts (because I had more followers on the personal account) and they claimed that I was “artificially boosting my post” or something like that. I really hate Meta.
Check me on this, Seth, but this isn't the first time Zuck & Co. have tried to mute your input. I recall previous podcasts of yours which dealt almost exclusively with that topic. It's a shame, because I have no doubt but that you put a great deal of energy and thought into what you put up on Facebook. The obvious problem is that, as it came to the FB hierarchy, it was pearls before swine.
As for rebuilding on FB, I'm not horribly sanguine about that, nor should you be. In an age where displeasing Trump can result in all sorts of untoward action, trying to be a freethinker on a platform which gives every indication of disdaining freethought may amount to pissing into the wind. Bluesky may be a somewhat satisfactory alternative, though it is nowhere as considerable in its scope as FB is ... and maybe that's a good thing, too. Personally, I enjoy your posts here on Substack and look forward to hearing your thoughts.
In any case, I wish you luck, my friend. Take good care, always.