This month my Instagram, personal Facebook page, art page, Threads, and Messenger were all permanently disabled without the option to appeal. My personal Facebook page had 16 years of my daughters irreplaceable memories and milestones, and Instagram had 12 years of my artwork and growth.

The only option for me, since there’s no chance to appeal and no customer support for Meta, is to hire an attorney to submit a request for review. These requests have become so common due to Meta’s use of AI to flag violations that the process is usually billed as a flat fee, in my case $3,500.

Instagram is the most vital took artists have: it’s the first place galleries and trade shows look when examining your portfolio, the main site for networking with other artists, and for being notified of open calls for gallery submissions. As much as I rely on Instagram, I would gladly sacrifice it to have my Facebook page back with all of my daughter’s photos and memories. Unfortunately, since it’s all Meta, everything was permanently disabled en masse.

In a strange twist, I think I know exactly what got my page disabled due to the timing. Anyone who donates any amount to help with recovery expenses will get a free postcard (made by me) featuring the exact meme that did me in. I’ll share the full story (and meme) when this process is complete!