When Your Instagram Gets Hacked: My Experience & the Frustration of Trying to Reach Meta
you’ve ever had your Instagram hacked, you know how gut-wrenching it feels. One moment, everything you’ve worked for is right there — your photos, your community, your memories — and the next, you’re suddenly locked out, watching helplessly as someone else takes over.
That’s exactly what happened to me.
Losing My Account While I Was Still Building It
I’ve only been doing photography since March, but in that short time I poured everything into building my Instagram — posting regularly, connecting with clients, sharing my work, and growing my little community. My page wasn’t just a collection of photos; it was my portfolio, my brand, and a reflection of how far I’ve come in such a short time.
When my account was hacked, it all disappeared in hours. I kept getting kicked off again and again — every time I tried to reset the password or remove the hacker, they somehow got back in faster than I could react. It was like watching my account slip through my fingers in real time.
They changed the email, added their own accounts, and deleted everything I had worked for. It felt awful.
The Frustration of Trying to Reach Meta
What made things even worse was realizing how hard it is to get actual help from Meta (the company behind Instagram and Facebook).
There’s no phone number, no real support email, and no quick way to talk to a human being. I went through every recovery form I could find, uploaded my ID multiple times, and tried every security step possible. Each time, I’d get automated replies or links to the same help articles I’d already read ten times.
At one point, it said my account didn’t exist — even though I could still see it online, now under a completely different name. It honestly feels impossible to reach someone who can actually fix it.
Starting Over From Scratch
Eventually, I had to accept that my old account was gone. I started fresh with a new one — @jendolanphoto — and began rebuilding from zero.
It’s disheartening, especially when you’re just starting out and still finding your footing in photography. But I’m reminding myself that what truly matters isn’t a number on a screen — it’s the passion behind the work and the people who support it. Every new follower, like, and message means even more now because I know how quickly it can all be taken away.
What I’ve Learned
If there’s one thing I want other creators and small business owners to know, it’s this: protect your account early.
Here’s what I wish I’d done sooner:
Turn on two-factor authentication (and don’t rely only on text codes — use an authenticator app).
Regularly check your login activity and remove unknown devices.
Download a copy of your data every few months.
Don’t ignore suspicious DMs or collaboration requests that ask you to log in somewhere else.
Even though this whole situation has been discouraging, it’s also been a reminder that I’m stronger than I thought. I built my first account from nothing once — and I can do it again.
If you’ve been hacked too, you’re not alone. And if you ever see one of your favorite creators suddenly disappear or restart, know that behind that new page might be someone just trying to rebuild what they lost.
