Last Monday was epic. As in epic misfortune! I tried logging into my Instagram (IG) account and I couldn’t get through. A message then popped out saying my account has been disabled. What the f^%*!!! Apparently, IG has suddenly decided to disable my account because I violated their “terms of use.” I swear I didn’t do anything. I am 100% sure I have done nothing wrong. I don’t remember posting any malicious photos or comments. That’s just not me! My IG followers can attest to that. Ang bait ko kaya at mahilig pa mag-like (sariling puri)! Haha.
So, I googled how I could get my account back. A video tutorial on YouTube says I should report to IG that my account has been hacked. The guy in the video boasts he was able to retrieve his account in 24 hours because this technique can get to IG’s contact center faster than if I followed the appeal instructions for disabled account in the app (which was actually the first thing I did by clicking the “Learn More” in the photo below).
Call me desperate but I followed the guy’s advice. This was Monday night. I would receive an email from the IG team a few minutes later containing some codes and instructions that I should follow “before they could help me.” I provided everything they asked of me and the next day, Tuesday, I received another email from them informing me that my account has not been hacked but disabled. I replied to the email saying that it was a mistake. I also explained my side and asked them to tell me which specific term I have violated and when. In the end, I requested politely that my account be activated again. I haven’t received a reply from them up to this day to my consternation. Even the appeal instructions in the app that I followed (wherein I shared some of my IG-related information and uploaded a photo of my valid ID) hasn’t given me a feedback yet. I’m trying to be optimistic here (as I had long said goodbye to my pessimistic self), but I don’t wanna get my hopes too high.
I guess it can be told now. My IG account @edelweiss_19 is dead. Unless a miracle happens, that username that belongs to yours truly, along with the photos, memories, captions, hashtags, comments, mentions, and all other interactions attached to it, is now gone. I feel terrible just thinking about it. But you know, that’s life. Bad things like that happen all the time. I, therefore, declare that this misery is going to be short-lived!
Now, should I leave IG for good? The thought crossed my mind. But then, I enjoy using IG. I always have fun looking at photos in my feed and checking out the profiles and photo collections of my IG friends. Sayang naman, naisip ko! Plus, I can always sign up for a new account. Actually, as of this writing, @edeltecho on IG is active. Yes, that’s my new username. I will surely miss @edelweiss_19 as it has been my official username online, but on IG, it’s going to be a different one now.
To my IG friends out there, I’ll follow you again using @edeltecho and I hope you’ll reciprocate the gesture. If you get to follow me first, then I’ll make sure to follow you also. 🙂
May you choose happiness always,
Aw sayang naman sis! Wala na bang ibang way para mabawi mu ulet? Maybe this article can help you:
http://www.louisechelleblog.com/2015/12/how-i-retrieved-my-instagram-account.html
Im not sure if yan na ung ginawa mu but she was able to retrieve her account.
Sinabi mo pa, sis. I tried that, too, pero sabi kasi nila hindi daw na-hack kundi na-disable ang account ko. Okay lang, kung ayaw nila ibalik, eh di wag. 🙂
Kaya pala bago ang IG mo sis!! 🙂
Korek, sis! 🙂
Awwww…. it’s ok, new Instagram account means new memories to be made! And optimistic ko lang no?:p
I actually don’t look at Instagram anymore because it has the effect of fostering envy and discontent in me. It doesn’t happen right away, but I realized that I was always wishing for newer clothes, a nicer house, more vacations etc. etc. So instead of constantly comparing my life with others, I weaned myself from Instagram na lang. I can’t say that I stopped lusting over things though, but I’m more content now and I read more books too. Maybe in time I’ll open Instagram again, but for now, I’m happy getting reacquainted with books.
Salamat, Jill! Buti na lang, di ako nauubusan ng memories. Hahaha. Social media sites sure have envy- and discontent-inducing factor. And I guess it’s normal for us humans to feel those emotions especially when provoked, right? Basta healthy levels lang dapat para di makasama sa atin. Oh, I try to read as much as I can, too. Kakatapos ko lang magbasa ng She Makes More, nabasa ko kasi dati sa blog mo kaya na-inspire ako basahin. Now, I’m reading The Science of Getting Rich and some novel. 🙂
I feel your pain but it was more of my Facebook account than Instagram naman (baka depende sa finofollow hehehe).
Naku Edel, panu na daw yung mga pictures? Deleted na daw ba yun? Sana may sumagot kung sakaling may na violate ka sa mga T&Cs nila.
Yun na nga ang problem, sis. Wala ako narereceive na feedback from them. As in dedma lang..
This is terrible. Did they say why it was disabled in the first place? The least they could do is explain why they disabled it.
A friend said you can try logging in on another phone. If you’re able to login, it mean that they’ve disabled IG only on that phone/IP address. Hope that helps!
Ochi | Ochi In The City
I tried that, too, but to no avail. Nope, they didn’t tell me so I was really baffled. Moving on now.. 🙂
What???? Oh my! Will follow you now. Wait lang…
Yes! Thank you, sis! 🙂
Akala ko pa naman you blocked me on IG. Hehe. I’m planning to have our photos printed and put them in a photo album. Yung old school. Natatakot kasi ako baka masira yung computer ko and mawala mga files or baka madisable ang facebook account ko, or mawala ang cellphone.
Haha, di ko gagawin yon sayo! Alam mo naisip ko rin yang magpaprint ng photos, kasi pag digital pwedeng mawala sa isang iglap lang, diba? 🙂
This made me sad too. Alam ko may memories ako dun sa Instagram account mo. The first time we met. :'( tapos ngayon wala na ha #saklap okay medyo exag hahaha
Ay oo nga noh! Sad. Di bale magkikita pa naman tayo ulit, eh. 🙂