Meta’s AI Moderation Under Scrutiny After Instagram Mental Health Community Shut Down

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Meta’s use of AI-powered content moderation is facing renewed scrutiny after the deactivation of an Instagram mental health account, leaving more than 180,000 followers without access to daily support.

The account, @werall_inthistogether, was founded by author and community builder Jane Lovascio. Despite providing evidence, submitting appeals, and sharing a written retraction from the original complainant, Lovascio’s account remains disabled.

“This isn’t just about me,” Lovascio said. “This is about human rights, civil rights, and mental health rights. If Meta’s AI can erase 180,000 people’s safe space with no explanation, then every community is at risk.”

Broader Concerns Over AI Moderation

Jane’s story has garnered sympathy from other Meta product users who say they’ve experienced similar challenges. Across Instagram, YouTube, and other platforms, creators and small businesses have shared their own accounts of sudden deactivations, lost income, and limited avenues for appeal.

These concerns have also been reported internationally.  A  Guardian investigation detailed how Sam Enticknap, a makeup artist in Western Australia, lost access to her Instagram account with 48,000 followers after a suspension notice linked incorrectly to child exploitation content. Enticknap said the decision cost her 80% of her bookings during the peak wedding season and described the appeals process as a “dead end.”

The Guardian further reported on other businesses facing similar suspensions, as well as petitions with tens of thousands of signatures and an online support community on Reddit. A growing number of users say wrongful bans have left them cut off not only from their livelihoods but also from personal memories stored on Meta platforms.

Some of these concerns extend to Instagram’s collaboration feature, which encourages users to co-publish posts. Creators report that in some instances, accounts have been penalized not for their own content but for alleged violations tied to collaborators.

“Instagram is telling us to collaborate, but their AI punishes us for it,” Lovascio said. “That’s not community-building.”

Jane reports that Meta indicated in messages that they may not be able to override the AI moderation system. While appeals were acknowledged and documented, she says the system repeatedly rejected reinstatement, even after evidence and the original complaint’s retraction were submitted.

Meta has previously emphasized that AI moderation is a crucial tool for managing billions of posts across its platforms. Critics, however, argue that automation alone can lack the nuance required in sensitive contexts, such as mental health support communities.

For many who relied on @werall_inthistogether, the account’s shutdown has been a challenging experience. Lovascio said members have reached out expressing feelings of abandonment, fear, and guilt.

“They’re reaching out in tears,” she explained. “It’s not just about my mental health — it’s about the thousands of people who used this community as a lifeline.”

Other creators in solidarity have voiced similar challenges: long-term trauma from losing entire communities, small businesses collapsing overnight, and families cut off from both income and emotional support.

Lovascio and others are urging Meta and policymakers to examine how AI-driven moderation affects communities and livelihoods. Their requests include:

1. Reinstating wrongfully deactivated accounts, including @werall_inthistogether.
2. Reviewing AI moderation practices and their implications for human rights and digital expression.
3. Raising public awareness about the impact of automated systems on vulnerable users.

Jane Lovascio is a children’s author and community builder who has dedicated her career to creating free, safe spaces for mental health, empowerment, and unity. Her Instagram community,  @werallinthistogether, grew to over  180,000 members before its shutdown.