Lazy users freak out as 'configuration changes' caused massive Facebook logout

[Cal Jeffrey]

Facepalm: Many Facebook users found themselves logged out on Friday. The social media giant said the situation happened when it reconfigured the website but did not discuss specifics. It claims the problem was fixed on Saturday, but some users are still locked out as of Monday.

If you are a Facebook user, you may have noticed that you had to log back into the service this weekend, even if you had your account set to stay logged on. If not, you have probably seen one of the many memes floating around mentioning it. Downdectector shows users started reporting Facebook problems Friday evening. The website status tracker received nearly 5,000 reports, with 77 percent being login-related.

Did Facebook log us all out? No, Bernie did. pic.twitter.com/KhnzQB74pv

--- Adri 🌹🏳️‍🌈 (@pickledpetty) January 23, 2021

In an emailed statement, Facebook claimed a "configuration change" was the culprit, but did not go into detail.

"On January 22, a configuration change caused some people to be logged out of their Facebook accounts. We investigated the issue and fixed it for everyone earlier today. We're sorry for the inconvenience."

It was a minor inconvenience for most users, only requiring that they log back into their accounts. As they did, many floated conspiracy theories and memes to explain the event.

While memes of Bernie Sanders logging everybody out were poking fun at all the mitten memes, some believed that Facebook reset their accounts so that the social media giant could track them "off-site." However, this explanation debunks itself when looking at off-site activity. Many of the webpages and apps reporting to Facebook go back as far as 2019.

TechSpot identified websites visited via links on Facebook, apps routinely used on the platform, and webpages and applications where the "sign-in with Facebook" option was used. There does not appear to be anything new here. The Off-Facebook Activity tool has been around since early last year.

Despite claiming it fixed the problem on Saturday, some users report they still cannot access their accounts as late as Monday. For many, the problem appears to be related to two-factor authentication, with Facebook failing to send them a 2FA code when attempting to log in to their profile. Facebook is likely handling continuing issues on a case-by-case basis.

image credit: TY Lim

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https://www.techspot.com/news/88400-lazy-users-freak-out-configuration-changes-caused-massive.html

 

[kimo1]

For many, the problem appears to be related to two-factor authentication, with Facebook failing to send them a 2FA code when attempting to log in to their profile.

That's an old issue of theirs. Very annoying. The SMS just doesn't arrive. Once I tried for several weeks. "Oh, can't log in? JuSt SeND Us A CoPY oF YOur ID iNstEad." And I'm pretty sure it's intentional.

 

[Adhmuz]

Guess nows as good a time as ever to delete their Facebook accounts. Can't log in? Never log in again!

 

[kmbear]

Couldn't understand why this was newsworthy on so many sites.. people just got logged out.. it happens.

 

[Cal Jeffrey]

That's an old issue of theirs. Very annoying. The SMS just doesn't arrive. Once I tried for several weeks. "Oh, can't log in? JuSt SeND Us A CoPY oF YOur ID iNstEad." And I'm pretty sure it's intentional.

Yeah I did see a couple of comments on the Downdetector saying they followed the account recovery process (providing ID) and they still could not access their account.

Couldn't understand why this was newsworthy on so many sites.. people just got logged out.. it happens.

There are enough people still having issues logging in that it is noteworthy. I was rather surprised though at the number of people just complaining that they had to reload in. lol People have become way too lazy these days. smh

 

[EClyde]

I don't stay logged in so it not a prob