On March 5, 2024, Meta, previously Facebook, went down across all its platforms. Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, and Threads were inaccessible to millions of users, including Indians.
Meta’s greatest outage generated a stir online, especially on X (previously Twitter). X became the last major social networking platform when Meta platforms went down, and users quickly found refuge there.
Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk’s reaction was significant. Musk, known for his outspokenness and occasional barbs at competitors, mocked Mark Zuckerberg and his company. X’s joke depicted the platform as captain, leading a team of penguins symbolizing Facebook, Instagram, and Threads. This humorous graphic mocked Meta’s faltering platforms, adding to internet outage discussion.
Beyond memes, the downtime allowed X users to vent. Users shared memes and gifs about the inconveniences with fun, demonstrating the online community’s creativity.
Musk and Zuckerberg’s conflicts were also highlighted by this occasion. Musk had earlier that day said he would fight Zuckerberg “anywhere, anytime, with any rules.” This statement’s timing, coinciding with the Meta downtime, generated suspicion and online excitement.
The Meta outage shows how intertwined and dependent the digital world is on major platforms. It also shows how alternate platforms like X might provide communication and expression during major disruptions. This incident also shows how internet engagement is dynamic and lively, using comedy and memes to handle unforeseen situations.
Meta is currently investigating the technical causes of the outage, but it has surely left its impact on the digital scene, inspiring conversations, memes, and the ever-changing online world.
