As I write this post, several friends at Meta have attempted to handle the issue internally, but they’ve each reached a dead end, and my page is no longer visible. At the height of my Facebook page’s popularity, I would reach 4 million real users per week, but so much has changed about Facebook; or is it Meta now? I can’t keep up with all of these new names billionaires come up with for their data collecting websites that we all feel we absolutely must have to remain in contact with each other and the world. Either way, losing my Facebook Page has truly put some things into focus for me and I wanted to tell you how it happened, how it’s shifted my feelings about social media and also tell you exactly how it happened so that you and your friends can protect yourself from this increasingly popular scam.

A few weeks ago, I got an email from a producer for Travis Kelce’s podcast, The New Heights. Frankly, I didn’t know he had a podcast and I couldn’t think of a reason why he’d want me; a decidedly un-atheltic, black, goth trans woman to be on his show about Football: a sport I still struggle to understand. Typically, I avoid being on podcasts or shows because I’m pretty sensitive to controlling my own narrative and what I’ve found is that because I embody so many things that aren’t commonly understood, the reasons people want to speak to me are usually not conversations I’m interested in entertaining. However, recently I’ve been pretty excited by the idea of guesting on other people’s things because I’m going through a distinct shift in my life as a creator and there’s something nice about giving up a bit of control and making someone else’s project collaboratively. So despite the fact that I couldn’t figure out why he wanted to talk to me, nor could they tell me why they wanted to speak to me, I decided to say yes. A decision I would frankly come to regret.

Going into this podcast, I had a lot of reservations. They told me it would be live-streamed, which seemed odd since, from what I can tell, Travis’ podcast isn’t. But I would say the vast majority of times I’ve made any sort of appearance, it’s been far in advance, usually with edits to come in the coming months. I have a lot of discomfort with livestreaming because I’ve found that there’s virtually no way for me to do it without being harassed. As discussed several times on this blog, I have a pretty long history of being harassed and my livestreams are always brigaded no matter how small, no matter how bizarre. I’ve been a blogger for most of my life and I can count the times i’ve gone live and not been called a slur on one hand. It’s never been a format that I’ve liked for formal conversation. So going into this, harassment was a big concern of mine. I was told that they were going to pre record our conversation and livestream it when it came out. In other words, there would be no direct interaction between myself and the audience. The payday was uncharacteristically large; about 5 times what I’d typically make, and naturally my agency was excited.

So we set up a tech call, and there were numerous red flags. Firstly, I was told that there would be no pre-recording, instead we’d be broadcasting live on Facebook of all places. Mind you, while my FB page had around 178K followers, I hadn’t really used it in a very long time. I would occasionally use it to engage with my audience on there, but those posts never got very much attention. So naturally, I really didn’t understand why we were using Facebook. I brought up my concerns about harassment and the tech guy really didn’t address them. Instead he said to me “We are looking forward to having you on this episode and future episodes.” then he confirmed the dollar amount of my payment with my agency. It was very odd. And very tacky. We don’t talk numbers. I was very put off by this but largely because I placed my trust entirely with my agency, I followed the steps I was given. The tech guy, who wasn’t on camera by the way, instructed me to open up my business account and create a permission for my page. I was honestly feeling incredibly dejected in this moment. I brought up harassment, it was pretty quickly dismissed and I was told how much money I’d be making. It felt gross. I don’t want to sound like I’m not someone who likes money, but it’s not worth my dignity. I have said no to so many interviews and walked away from so many things. I don’t want to be debased unless I consent to it; and if I’m coming onto a show to share my perspective, that’s not the right place or time. But… I am a self sabotager. In the past I’ve said no to opportunities I ultimately regretted not going for. Maybe this would be one of those circumstances…

And the virgo in me refuses to acknowledge… that I was right.

Within days, several accounts were added to my business account and they eventually managed to completely remove me from my own page. They’ve now done so 5 times, after I’ve been added back by people at Meta. There is a permission on my page that I absolutely cannot remove and since I’m feeling petty, I’ll share it with you right here. Hackers get fucked.

Currently, my page is being controlled by hackers in Vietnam and Indonesia. I cannot remove these permissions. I was incredibly upset with my agency so I tried to get them to get the help of someone at Meta, but that was to no avail. I was then told that I should PAY for a Meta Verified account so that I can get one on one support from a real, living human being. After a week or so of being knocked in and out of my page, I bit the bullet and paid Meta so that I could speak to an actual person, not AI. That actual person told me…. to go to fb.com/hacked and change my password and email. A solution I cold find on the FAQ that does not solve the issue with them having complete control of my BUSINESS account. After explaining it for the 5th time to someone at Meta, they finally told me that I had actually been speaking to the wrong department. That I should instead be speaking to the Bussiness support department, so I have to start an entire new support process. And I did that, they got me back into my account and this morning I was kicked out yet again. When I reached out again for support I was told to go to fb.com/hacked and change my username and password….

As you can probably tell, this was all incredibly frustrating to me, but it really put things into perspective.

Here I am, a decently known creator, with a verified page that I earned through publishing content on reputable new websites and becoming a recognizable public figure, and I can’t get direct support from Meta?? I had several friends of mine who’ve also been hit by the same scam and they tried to connect me with people at Meta. I’ve sent my info to at least 4 Meta employees and each of them got back to me and said that they were “getting the runaround”. When the hackers stole my page, they immediately started posting AI art. They ran pornographic ads and posted inflammatory things about Russian and Indian celebrities that would get a lot of engagement. I mean they made dozens of the same posts over and over again and they were able to get more robust support from Meta than I was given at all. On almost any other platform where I have an audience of that size of smaller, I’ve been able to receive support from the company. All of this happened a week after I spent a few days giving direct advice to social media companies about creator experiences on their platform. And in those conversations, I frequently mentioned that Facebook was a dead platform, overtaken by AI art and spam that cheaps the platform. Its truly the website for older folks who knew almost nothing else. Everyone I know who has facebook still really struggles to delete it. I myself have a deep disdain for the platform, but I maintain a personal page because I want to be able to stay in touch with people and find out about events in the city. It’s so hard for me to delete even though I desperately want to.

My Facebook page was successful because of the human element. Whenever I’m traveling to a new location, I’ll make a post on Facebook, asking the hive mind for suggestions. On my first trip to New Orleans, I asked for suggestions for food and drink and so many people came to eagerly share with me what their favorite places were. And I used those suggestions to enhance my trip. I went to so many really cool places because my followers told me to. But now?? Facebook is mostly full of fake accounts obsessively posting either things that are upsetting that will get a lot of engagement or things that are completely fabricated to get a lot of engagement. I see so many blatantly fake news stories that trend on Facebook and it’s kind of out of control. So many older people have been completely radicalized by things they saw on Facebook and these days it truly feels like that’s the core of the platform. Honestly, the only thing Facebook has going for it now is the curated groups of real people. I think I’m far more impressed by people who are able to organize those than people with large pages these days. It just doesn’t carry the same value it once did.

Social Media is changing and if I’m being honest, that is both terrifying an exciting for me. As a long time blogger, I feel this desire to return to what once was. We did not used to spend every waking hour on the internet! We were able to form strong subcultures and intimate connections and networks without the internet. Frankly, one of the most fulfilling things I’ve done is get off twitter and start community organizing in person. I host a BDSM munch every month and it’s created a great network of friends, comrades and open minded and accepting people and it’s like I can feel my brain piecing itself back together as I logged off and touched grass. Obviously, because this is my job, change is indeed scary, but at this point, I feel like it makes sense for me to do so. The world is changing too.

If you follow my YouTube channel, you will probably notice that I post less often but at a much higher quality. I have my assistant/researcher, Alyssa, and my editor, Becky, to thank for that. Delegation has been incredibly hard for me, but it’s truly paid off. I’ve decided to really reappropach how I blog online and I suppose this will be a great post to define that for those of you interested in supporting what I do!

Firstly, my Patreon is how I’m able to do this full-time. People who support me on Patreon really truly are keeping me afloat. That is probably the best way to support what i’m doing and I upload my content on Patreon before I upload it anywhere else.

Youtube is obviously my main platform, and on my main channel, I will post video essays about trending stories with the goal of making a larger point and encouraging introspection.

Movies In My Closet is my newest project that I’m developing into a larger, more highly produced series. For now, however, I will upload videos about films that touch on LGBT/Alternative Lifestyles/Subcultures.

My Blaque In The City youtube channel is just reuploads of my longer/more successful tiktok videos.

My main tiktok account is going to be me speaking/chatting about things, responding to conversations and telling stories etc

My side tiktok is going to be beauty/makeup/lifestyle/fun/light hearted content and I’m using it with the thought process of it being my experimental, but very positive account.

My instagram is going to be essentially synthesis of all these things, but more photography and such.

And I think I’m the most excited to announce that I will be using this website way more. I think I took myself a bit too seriously when I started this blog, and I miss opening up my blogging page and just typing in my feelings, thoughts and experiences. That is who I am. Those are my roots. Losing my Facebook page just made me realize how much I needed to get back to my roots. I tried to start a new Facebook page, but what would the point even be? Meta has made it incredibly clear that they do not value me as a creator and it’s time to read the room and move forward.