Meta Outage and How It Is Okay to Take a Break from Social Media

Written By Alicia Vial

On March 5, Facebook and Instagram experienced significant outages affecting thousands of users worldwide. The outage forced some to move to other platforms or even take a break from social media for a few hours… so what happened and what can it teach us about stepping away from social media, if only for a small amount of time?

So first, what do we know about the outage for Facebook and Instagram? We know that the platforms operated by Meta were not hacked. The two services experienced an outage that was attributed to a number of technical issues across different web platforms. According to one source the outage was most likely caused by an issue with a backend service like authentication. The Meta team addressed the issue and had the platforms back up and running for most users within hours.

This is not the first time something like this has happened with Meta. Another incident during reported routine maintenance was a worldwide outage that affected Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp. The error triggered a bug that made it difficult for users to upload or send photos and videos. Other similar incidents have also occurred and triggered concern about potential account breaches, but according to Meta all can be attributed back to issues like the one with Facebook’s login system.

While these outages were undoubtedly inconvenient, they also offered a unique opportunity for individuals to take a break from social media. A temporary disconnection can be positive, it encourages us to engage in other activities or simply enjoy a moment of quiet away from the constant buzz of social media notifications. The pause could also serve as a reminder of the importance of diversifying our sources of information, entertainment and social interaction beyond digital platforms.

Alicia Vial

Alicia Vial is a New Orleans native with more than a decade of experience elevating client stories and leading crisis response. As the senior director of strategy, Alicia acts as a leader within the Gambel Communications team ensuring each agency team member is positioned to deliver strategic public relations services that meet the highest standards of the industry. In addition to supporting the agency’s long-term business growth and development, she coordinates day-to-day account services and oversees strategic direction while staying abreast of best practices and industry trends to provide innovative solutions to meet client’s needs.

Before joining Gambel Communications, Alicia served as the communications director for the Louisiana SPCA, the oldest and largest animal welfare organization in Louisiana that impacts more than 74,000 animals per year. During her nearly eight-year tenure, Alicia oversaw numerous crises, served on national communication taskforces, oversaw all aspects of internal and external relations and worked alongside the development department to raise critical funding. Prior to that, she worked in the fast-paced New Orleans hospitality industry focusing on digital public relations for multiple hotels.

Alicia is a member of the Public Relations Association of Louisiana (PRAL), Southern Public Relations Federation (SPRF), a board member of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) New Orleans Chapter and a member of the New Orleans Regional Leadership Institute. An accredited public relations practitioner (APR), Alicia is also certified in crisis communications, organizational leadership, content marketing and social media.

A well respected and trusted public relations practitioner, Alicia has been recognized by SPRF as a ‘Senior Practitioner of the Year’. Dubbed early on in her career as one to watch, she also received the ‘Rising Star’ award by PRAL and was profiled in St. Charles Avenue Magazine as part of their Young Bloods series. Most recently, she was recognized at PRSA’s annual Fleurish Awards and received four Awards of Excellence for her work along with the ‘Plate Spinner’ award for her efforts on the board of directors for the chapter.

An LSU graduate, Alicia received a bachelor's degree in mass communications with a concentration in public relations and minors in business administration and leadership development. She is a frequent speaker and presenter on public relations topics, most recently presenting at the Jefferson Economic Development Commission and SPRF annual conference.

When Alicia is not at work, you can find her at the ballpark with her three boys or cheering on the Tigers in Death Valley.

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