Instagram users across the United Kingdom and globally found themselves unexpectedly locked out of their accounts on Tuesday morning as the social media platform experienced widespread technical issues.
Sudden Account Logouts Cause Confusion
Thousands of users reported being automatically signed out of the Instagram app and website, with many unable to log back in despite entering correct credentials. The problems began around 9 AM GMT and quickly spread across multiple regions.
Downdetector Reports Spike in Complaints
Online outage tracking service Downdetector recorded a massive surge in problem reports, with over 85% of users experiencing login issues. The service indicated that problems were concentrated in major urban areas including London, Manchester, and Birmingham, though rural users were also affected.
User Reactions and Alternative Platforms
As frustration mounted, many users turned to other social media platforms to voice their concerns. Twitter saw a significant increase in posts tagged with #InstagramDown and #InstagramNotWorking as users sought information and shared their experiences.
One London-based user commented: "Woke up to find myself completely logged out of Instagram. Thought I'd been hacked at first, but seeing everyone else has the same issue."
Meta's Response and Service Restoration
Meta Platforms Inc., Instagram's parent company, acknowledged the issues through their communications team. A spokesperson stated that engineers were working to resolve the problem as quickly as possible.
The disruption comes at a particularly busy time for content creators and businesses who rely on the platform for their daily operations and engagement with followers.
Service gradually began returning to normal for most users by early afternoon, though some reported intermittent access throughout the day.
