Podcast Accounts Shut Down by Meta Over Misunderstandings

Being wrongly accused of drug dealing can feel outrageous, and that’s especially true for those dedicated to assisting others in their recovery from addiction.

Recently, Page 6 learned that Meta, the parent company of Instagram and Facebook, has either banned or imposed restrictions on several popular recovery podcast accounts.

After inquiries surfaced, the tech giant reversed some of these actions.

The “Dopey” podcast, which features prominent guests like Jamie Lee Curtis and Mark Maron, experienced a shocking account removal last week. Its Instagram page, once boasting 48,000 followers, now shows nothing.

Jannin Coulter, who hosts the “Chasing Heroine” podcast and shared her journey in a TEDx talk, mentioned that her account has faced significant limitations too.

David Manheim, the host of “Dopey” and a long-time employee at Katz Deli, expressed concern, emphasizing that these accounts play a crucial role in connecting people during their recovery, offering both humor and community support.

He also pointed out that more followers depended on these platforms for their recovery. Pinned posts from “Dopey” highlighted frequent Zoom meetings dedicated to recovery.

Manheim, who started “Dopey” with his late co-host Chris O’Connor, lamented his inability to reach Instagram for clarification after the account shut down.

He speculated that automated systems at Meta might be mistakenly identifying recovery-related content as promoting drug use.

“I don’t think Meta intends to cause harm,” he said, but he added that their algorithms are damaging to the recovery community online.

Meanwhile, Coulter reported a dramatic drop in engagement on her page, with her monthly views plummeting to mere hundreds from millions. “I’m losing dozens of followers every day,” she explained, expressing her frustration.

A spokesperson for Meta stated, “We prohibit the buying and selling of illegal drugs on our platform and use strict measures to identify and eliminate such content.” They acknowledged that sometimes their efforts result in unintended consequences.

The company also highlighted its commitment to supporting recovery from substance abuse, promising to collaborate closely with organizations to address this ongoing crisis effectively.