FACEBOOK: You have been temporarily blocked from performing this action!

According to the Frequently Asked Questions on the Facebook (FB) website:

Founded in 2004, Facebook’s mission is to give people the power to share and make the world more open and connected. People use Facebook to stay connected with friends and family, to discover what’s going on in the world, and to share and express what matters to them.

Is Facebook living by its mission statement?

If you are a member of the Facebook community have you ever received this notice:

  • You have been temporarily blocked from performing this action.
  • If you think you’re seeing this by mistake, please let us know.

You have been temporarily blocked from performing this action means that you cannot post links to articles on Facebook pages that have accepted you and allowed you to post links visible to their members.

Here are some comments left on the Facebook Help Center on blocking:

Josef Pinter wrote, “[Blocking] seems rather arbitrary, and definitely draconian. [I]s there to be no recourse? What about when a group of Bad Actors collude to block someone for nefarious reasons? It appears that certain people are abusing the Blocking Feature.”

Michelle Leigh Benettim “Yes I agree Josef Pinter. I’m sick and tired of the blocking. I do NOTHING wrong to be blocked. I am 38 years old and have never been in so much trouble with ANY website. Geesh. I swear, I will find me some witty little dudes and create another social media site…”

Some now believe that Facebook and/or some individuals are using this administrative tool to block conservative citizen journalists, like myself, from posting links to articles they disagree with. You see the notice does not explain why someone is blocked or who requested the block. Every time I have reported that the blocking as a “mistake” Facebook does not lift the ban. This ban normally lasts for at least 48 hours.

Once the block is lifted and I begin posting links to articles the block is suddenly re-instituted. The questions is: By whom and why?

The answers to these questions are never revealed. I have noticed this Facebook policy is more frequently used since the beginning of the 2016 presidential primary process.

If you have experienced this kind of censorship please take our confidential online survey:

EDITORS NOTE: If you have been blocked you may leave a comment at the Facebook Help Center here.

27 replies
  1. Richard Jenkins
    Richard Jenkins says:

    Hello Dr Swier. I am having the same problem posting links and saying hello to my Facebook friends and family too. I am at a lose like many are now. Is it because I changed a setting to include public… That didn’t work, set it back to friends… same thing. I am afraid that I am going to lose my Facebook friends. All they get when I sent one at a time, one went through and got a thank you. I slowly sent one at a time…. And got the ones sent, friends are wondering what I sent. I, much like others, I need help.
    Thank You
    Richard Jenkins
    Eureka, California 95501

    Reply
  2. SUE
    SUE says:

    I always share the knowledgable articles and the funny things to others . Then fb is blocking me . It’s so annoying and very disappointing . Stupid idea ever . Who the hell did report me . I never give trouble to anyone but someone want to give trouble to me . WTF

    Reply
  3. Bob Weigel
    Bob Weigel says:

    Facebook blocked me because a bunch of porno people who claim they are trying to promote positive body image for women…lol…ganged up on me. Called my phone 14 times in a minute I think it was. Assuming all those random numbers I don’t know were people harassing me. One said ‘we’re coming after you bobby’ and they do nothing about it. A swat team needs to come in there and bust these people. I got’ harley’s whorehous’ removed by repeatedly reporting it with other friends of mine. INSTANTLY the group appears again…already with 54K members. lol

    Reply
  4. Victoria Ashworth
    Victoria Ashworth says:

    I have contacted Facebook every day, several times and still, they do nothing for me. I fear the only thing to do is just deactivate. It sucks because I have family in other states that I can stay connected with through Facebook but whats the point now? I can’t like or share anything. I’m sure blocking me from commenting will be next.

    Reply
  5. Nikki
    Nikki says:

    the information is very useful but I don’t really get it why facebook temporarily block me from sharing and liking post I literally did nothing wrong at all I’m a just sharing some memes but please do help me in this problem this is so frustrating

    Reply
  6. sharon ocarroll-craig
    sharon ocarroll-craig says:

    After liking and trying to share a video of our local sheriff lip sync video I started to see this pop up and the video never posted to my time line

    Reply
  7. SP
    SP says:

    Happening to me now and as you say no explanation, its like a full ban because I can’t do anything and the wont tell me anything

    Reply
    • Cheyenne
      Cheyenne says:

      Same thing happening here. I’ve “contacted” Facebook, they don’t reply. I’ve clicked “this is a mistake” yet I still cannot do anything, or even use messenger, and I have no idea why.

      Reply
  8. Slodeine
    Slodeine says:

    Same they are abusing they’re own platform tools they have rapidly done this to Thousands of accounts, just in the beginning of last week, they don’t respond, they don’t tell you why, they give u no warnings, they don’t even tell u for how long…they are being abusive and they are treating us very poorly on facebook

    Reply
  9. Git
    Git says:

    When I try to share this article on Facebook I get this: Your message couldn’t be sent because it includes content that other people on Facebook have reported as abusive.

    Reply
  10. Kimberly A Collins
    Kimberly A Collins says:

    I literally didn’t even use my account for WEEKS and got this and the only reason it’s supposed to do this is if you spam use that action but how am I gonna spam abuse my messages, posting, likes, comments and everything else not even using my account? It’s been almost a week and NOTHING? What is even going on? it’s so frustrating honestly.

    Reply

Trackbacks & Pingbacks

  1. […] recently posted a column titled FACEBOOK: You have been temporarily blocked from performing this action! Since the beginning of the presidential primary season Facebook has repeatedly blocked me from […]

Leave a Reply

Want to join the discussion?
Feel free to contribute!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *