The vocabulary of account recovery.
Plain-language definitions for the platform-policy terms, account states, and recovery concepts you’ll encounter.
A
Account banned
An informal term for accounts that have been disabled or removed, usually permanently. Not a formal Meta classification.
Account disabled
A reversible suspension applied by Instagram or Facebook when an account is suspected of violating community standards. Distinct from suspended or banned states.
Account suspended
A short-term restriction on account activity, typically self-clearing after a cool-down period. Less severe than disabled.
Ad account
A separate Meta entity that holds your advertising campaigns, payment methods, and audiences. Disabled independently of your personal or business account.
Appeal
A formal request to Meta to reverse a moderation decision. The primary recovery mechanism for disabled, removed, or restricted accounts.
Authenticator app
An app that generates time-based one-time codes for 2FA. Stronger than SMS 2FA because it can't be intercepted by SIM-swap attacks.
B
Backup codes
Pre-generated single-use codes that let you log in if you lose access to your authenticator app. Critical safety net for 2FA-protected accounts.
Business Manager
Meta's central tool for managing business assets — Pages, ad accounts, Instagram profiles, and team permissions in one place. Now part of Meta Business Suite.
C
Community Guidelines (Instagram)
Instagram's content and behavior rules. Violations are the most common reason for account disables and content removal.
Community Standards (Facebook)
Facebook's content and behavior rules. Slightly broader scope than Instagram's Community Guidelines but the same core principles.
I
Identity verification
Meta's process of confirming a user is the legitimate owner of an account, typically via photo ID and a code-in-hand selfie.
Impersonation
Someone creating an account pretending to be you or your brand. A reportable violation of Meta's community policies on both Instagram and Facebook.
M
Memorialization
Facebook's process of converting a deceased person's account into a memorial profile. Reversible only in cases of incorrect application to living users.
Meta Business Partner
An official Meta program recognizing businesses with verified expertise across advertising, recovery, commerce, or other Meta-platform specialties.
S
Shadowban
An unofficial term for reach-limiting actions Meta takes without notifying the account. Real, but rarely as targeted as users believe.
SIM-swap attack
An attack where the attacker convinces a mobile carrier to transfer your phone number to their SIM, defeating SMS-based 2FA.
Soft delete
Instagram and Facebook's grace-period state where a "deleted" account is still recoverable. Lasts 30 days before permanent purge.
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