Facebook Purges Over 10 Million Accounts in Crackdown on Spam, Sparking User Backlash

Meta, the parent company of Facebook, has deleted over 10 million accounts in the first half of 2025 as part of an aggressive campaign to eliminate spam, impersonation, and unoriginal content. Announced on July 14 via the Facebook Creators blog, the purge targeted roughly 500,000 accounts engaged in “spammy behavior or fake engagement” and 10 million profiles impersonating large content creators, aiming to promote authentic voices. However, the mass deletions, dubbed the “Meta ban wave,” have sparked outrage among users who claim their legitimate accounts were wrongly terminated, with many blaming flawed AI-driven moderation.

Details of the Purge
Meta’s initiative focused on accounts posting duplicate content, such as recycled memes or videos, and those using fake engagement tactics to boost visibility. Actions included demoting comments, reducing content reach, and suspending monetization for offending accounts. The company emphasized its goal to make Facebook a platform where “original content thrives,” warning that accounts reposting unoriginal material without significant edits face penalties. Users whose accounts are suspended receive an email notification and have 180 days to appeal before permanent deletion. The purge also affected Instagram, another Meta-owned platform, with similar complaints of erroneous bans.

User Backlash and Concerns
While Meta framed the purge as a security win, thousands of users reported their accounts were deleted without cause, describing the process as “heartbreaking” and “inhumane.” Complaints on platforms like Reddit and TikTok highlight cases where small businesses lost client connections and individuals had personal networks, such as autism support groups, disrupted. Critics argue Meta’s AI moderation lacks transparency and fails to distinguish legitimate accounts from spam, with one user stating, “It’s like an algorithm is stripping away our ability to connect without understanding.” Meta acknowledged a “technical error” impacting some Facebook Groups but denied widespread issues, insisting users can appeal mistakes.

Context and Broader Trends
The purge aligns with broader tech industry efforts to clean up platforms, following Google’s 2023 inactive account deletions and Amazon’s warnings about Prime account attacks. Meta’s actions come amid increased scrutiny of online scams and AI-generated “slop” content flooding social media. However, the scale of deletions—averaging over a million accounts monthly—has raised questions about the balance between security and user rights, especially after Meta’s 2019 $5 billion FTC fine for privacy violations and recent layoffs impacting customer service.

Developing Story
As Meta vows to continue the purge, affected users face challenges navigating the appeal process, with many reporting unanswered requests. The controversy underscores the risks of automated moderation and the need for better user support. For updates, visit GeoKHub. Note: Account deletion figures come from Meta’s statements, but user complaints about erroneous bans remain unverified and under investigation.