Instagram is a social media giant that thrives on constant connection. It wants you to be able to open up your app at any moment and get back to your feed without any hiccups. But what happens when the platform goes down, leaving you and millions of users staring at blank screens?
What we usually do during these outages is pace around in our homes, asking, “What happened to Instagram?” and remembering that society still exists. But you don’t be like us.
With this article, we’ll check out the possible reasons behind Instagram outages, exploring technical glitches, server issues, and even external factors that can disrupt your daily scrolling.
What Can Cause Instagram to Go Down?
While news outlets might report on Instagram outages, the specific cause isn’t always readily apparent. Here’s a breakdown of some potential culprits:
- Server Overload: Instagram handles a massive volume of user traffic globally. Server overload happens when the infrastructure struggles to keep up with the demand, leading to slowdowns or complete outages. That can be triggered by:
- Increased Usage: Spikes in activity, like during major events or holidays, can strain server capacity.
- New Feature Rollouts: Introducing new features or updates can sometimes cause unexpected strain on servers during deployment.
- Technical Glitches: Software glitches or bugs within the Instagram app or backend systems can lead to malfunctions that affect the user experience. These glitches can be triggered by coding errors or unforeseen interactions between different software components.
- Network Issues: While Instagram itself might function normally, problems with internet service providers (ISPs) or underwater cables can disrupt user connections to the platform. In such cases, the problem is with the infrastructure that delivers data, not Instagram itself.
- DDoS Attacks: Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS) attacks are malicious attempts by hackers to overwhelm servers with a flood of traffic, making them inaccessible to legitimate users. While uncommon, DDoS attacks can cause temporary outages on platforms like Instagram.
How to Get More Information on the Outage
When an Instagram outage strikes, there are ways to get a clearer picture of the situation. They include:
- Down Detector Websites: Websites like Down Detector track online service outages and user reports. These platforms can provide real-time information on the scope and nature of the outage. That will show if it’s a widespread issue or affecting specific regions.
- Official Instagram Channels: Follow Instagram’s official social media channels on other channels for updates. While they may not always provide detailed technical explanations, they can confirm an outage and offer estimated resolution times.
- News & Tech Websites: Reputable news and technology websites might publish articles about major Instagram outages. These articles can offer insights into the potential causes and the overall impact on users. Ensure to stick with legitimate sites, as others can use the outage as clickbait for irrelevant news.
Instagram outages can be frustrating, but understanding the potential causes and the platform’s response efforts can provide peace of mind. You can navigate these temporary disconnections effectively by checking out outage tracking websites and staying informed.
