Meta Issues Apology Over Facebook Glitch That Sends Unwanted Friend Requests: Report

In response to this issue, a portion of Facebook users decided to deactivate their accounts temporarily or permanently.

It's worth noting that this glitch occurred during a period of restructuring within Meta.

Meta, has reportedly issued an apology for a technical error that caused inconvenience to Facebook users. As reported by The Daily Beast, according to a spokesperson for Meta, the glitch occurred due to a recent app update, resulting in unintended friend requests being sent out. However, the issue has been addressed and rectified to prevent further occurrences.

“We fixed a bug related to a recent app update that caused some Facebook friend requests to be sent mistakenly. We’ve stopped this from happening and we apologise for any inconvenience this may have caused,” the spokesperson said. 

Late last week, several individuals took to social media platforms to express their concerns about the breach of privacy caused by this bug, some even referring to it as "the end of stalking." The incident sparked mixed reactions among users, with some finding humour in the situation and labelling it as "the funniest thing Facebook has ever done." On the other hand, there were users who felt uneasy and embarrassed by the technical mishap, describing it as "awkward."

FACEBOOK HAS A GLITCH WHERE EVERY PERSON I STALK AUTOMATICALLY SENDS THEM A FRIEND REQUEST WTF

— soleus (@solealline) May 12, 2023

is anyone else’s facebook sending automatic friend request when they click on a profile?? it was the wrong night to go through my year book & stalk 😂😂💀

— tayla 🎀🤍 (@greatdynasty13) May 12, 2023

Furthermore, some users reported that the bug caused friend requests to be sent to individuals they were attempting to block, raising concerns about privacy. These users emphasised the potential privacy implications associated with such incidents.

In response to this issue, a portion of Facebook users decided to deactivate their accounts temporarily or permanently. This decision was likely influenced by their dissatisfaction with the privacy breach and the cumulative effect of recent incidents.

It's worth noting that this glitch occurred during a period of restructuring within Meta, Facebook's parent company. Meta has recently undertaken significant layoffs, reducing approximately 13 per cent of its workforce, equating to more than 11,000 employees being let go.

This is not the first time Facebook has encountered technical difficulties impacting its user base. In a previous incident, a glitch in Facebook ads led to excessive customer charges, prompting the temporary suspension of all advertising activities. Additionally, in November 2022, users reported an unusual surge in comments on celebrity pages within their feeds, even from individuals they did not follow. Facebook acknowledged the problem at that time, attributing it to a "configuration change" causing temporary trouble.

Meta's prompt response and subsequent resolution of the recent friend request glitch demonstrate their commitment to rectifying technical issues and ensuring a secure and satisfactory user experience on the platform.