“A Robot Erased 21 Years of My Life: Why I’ll Never Sign In With Facebook Again”
Please tag @Facebook @Meta. Help restore my account.
A robot made the decision.
After 21 years of being on Facebook—since almost the very beginning—I’ve been erased.
And I never spoke to a single human being.
Let me be clear—
I’m not telling anyone to delete their Facebook.
I’m not saying log off, deactivate, or go digital hermit.
I might even return myself—because the value of connection, community, and networking on the platform is powerful.
But what I am saying is: you better be prepared if something goes wrong.
And if you have not seen The Circle (the movie with Tom Hanks—not the series), I highly encourage you to watch it.
Not for fun.
For foresight.
Because what Meta is becoming? Feels eerily close to the warning that film tried to give us.
What Actually Happened
I’ve been on Facebook since 2004—just months after it launched.
I used the platform to share art, connect with family, build community, tour globally, and grow my business.
During the pandemic, I received a grant from Facebook. I was one of their premier ad buyers when Meta was launching and testing tools for creators.
I invested in the platform—and trusted it.
Then one day, I got a notice.
They claimed I had violated intellectual property policy.
The video in question? Footage from my own Poetry vs. Hip-Hop show.
That first time, they gave me a warning.
They said, “If you believe this is an error, you can appeal.”
So I did.
I explained that it was my original content.
I told them I was a grant recipient, a top-tier user, and a long-standing member since nearly day one.
To their credit, they replied quickly—less than 24 hours.
They apologized. They reinstated my account.
But they ended the email with a warning:
If it happens again, we will suspend your account for six months.
I took that seriously.
But just a few days later—probably three or four—I posted another video. Again, it was my original footage from my event.
I was in the middle of campaigning for my second Grammy nomination, final round.
I was coordinating multiple tour stops and shows with City Winery.
I had to keep my content flowing.
Then—just like that—I was locked out.
They followed through.
A suspension notice landed in my inbox with the line: “We warned you.”
It felt threatening. Cold. Final.
The Appeal That Went Nowhere
That’s when I began the real appeal process.
I replied to the original email thread.
I emailed Meta Security.
I found the intellectual property inbox and submitted detailed appeals—over ten times across six months.
No reply. No human. No help.
Nothing but crickets.
For months, I kept trying. No response. No access. Just silence.
Then, just a few days ago, I got an email:
“Your account should now be active.”
I felt a sliver of hope.
But minutes later—not even an hour later—another email arrived:
“Your account has been permanently deleted. Our systems have detected repeated violations.”
Let that sink in:
A robot overturned their own apology.
A robot decided that I didn’t belong on Facebook anymore.
And there was no one I could talk to about it.
What I Lost
21 years of photos, videos, and digital memories
Messages from loved ones who have passed
Content tied to business contracts, grants, tours, and creative archives
Access to platforms and apps connected via “Sign in with Facebook”
Gone.
This wasn’t just a social media profile.
This was a personal and professional archive.
And now it’s been erased—not by a person, but by a program.
Why This Should Matter to You
When you sign in with Facebook, you’re giving them the master key to your digital house.
And if they change the locks—or decide you no longer belong—you are locked out with no warning, no explanation, no recourse.
So I’m not saying leave Facebook.
But I am saying: protect yourself. Right now.
What You Can Do
✅ Stop using “Sign in with Facebook.” Unlink it from every site you can.
✅ Use a unique email address for your accounts.
✅ Create complex passwords. Store them in a secure password manager.
✅ Back. Up. Everything. Your photos, your messages, your memories.
✅ Export your Facebook data now, while you still can.
These platforms were not built to preserve you.
They were built to profit from you.
And when they decide you’re no longer useful, you will not be notified with compassion.
Final Thought
I was a loyal user.
I invested time, trust, and money.
And still, I was erased by a faceless system—with no human in sight.
I am still trying to get my account restored.
If you know someone at Meta who can help—I’m asking. I’m open. I’m here.
But I also want others to learn from what happened to me.
Do not wait until a robot decides your digital life no longer matters.
Reclaim your power now.
And please—watch The Circle.
It might explain more than you think.
—
Write on,
Sheba
#TheQueenSheba
www.thequeensheba.live