Why Facebook's 2 Factor Authentication (2FA) Sucks

Facebook has been around since 2004 and I’ve had an account on this social media network since 2007. Over the years I’ve built up quite a following and built up my audiences on a few different pages and groups. But sadly, a huge chunk of this vanished overnight. I did something idiotic and I can’t resolve it because I am beginning to doubt if Facebook actually has humans that run the network behind it. Support doesn’t seem to be a priority for this social network (which has more than 2.85 billion users worldwide).

Here’s Why Facebook’s 2 Factor Authentication (2FA) sucks

Okay, so here’s the idiotic thing I did. I got a Facebook link from someone that I know on WhatsApp (which was a mobile link) and I clicked on it. Facebook asked me to change my password (because I was not been logged into the m.facebook version of the network). I did, but then Facebook asked me changed my password, so I did.

Sadly, I forgot that I was signed into my phone and that I had to approve a log in with Facebook’s Code Generator, so I was logged out of the app on my phone. Luckily I was still logged into the Desktop version, so I tried to approve the login there, but I could not find the code generator for the desktop version.

I tried to change the 2FA (2 Factor Authentication) settings, but I could not select a second method (SMS) to receive the code. I even tried changing the settings on the m.facebook version, but I got an error when I attempted it. Eventually Facebook picked up that I was logged into my Desktop with an old password, so they kicked me off that too.

Since then I’ve tried EVERYTHING that Facebook’s Help / Support told me to do. I have acccess to my phone and the email address that I’m registered on, but I just can’t seem to get my access back. It doesn’t matter if I reset my password or try to confirm my identity, it keeps on asking for a code that’s sent to my phone (which I am not logged into).

When I click on Faceboook’s “Having Trouble?” link on the Facebook Android app, it takes me to a page that doesn’t exist (404). When I click on “Need another way to authenticate?” it tells me to approve from another device and approve the login from the Code Generator (which I can’t do) – it DOES NOT give me another option to authenticate. I feel like I’m stuck in an endless maze of Code Generator enthused hell that I can’t get out of. I am pretty sure that bashing my head against the wall would be more fun than this (but I probably won’t do it).

I’ve also tried (and failed) to find a way to speak to a HUMAN BEING working at Facebook. If you ask me, Zuckerberg (or whoever is responsible for creating the 2FA) didn’t really think things through when they created this feature (which supposedly adds additional security to your account). My account is secure, but I can’t friggin’ access it. Great job guys. Great job. (NOT).

My Conclusion

I’ve Googled my arse off over the last few days and my conclusion is that there’s NO SOLUTION for this problem. There seems to be quite a few people that are having the same issue and Facebook is dead quiet about this. They don’t respond to Tweets or DMs on Twitter and their official page Inbox is handled by (surprise, surprise) a bot that keeps on directing you to their help / support pages.

If you have any suggestions on HOW I can resolve this matter (and get access back to two of my blog’s Facebook pages and my Photography page) or if you’re a sympathetic Facebook employee, please leave a comment below.

I would really love it to get back into my account (which I’ve built up like a city on Cities Skylines over the last 15 years).

PS: I managed to log into an old Facebook account I created for some reason in 2019, but I would love to have my old account back.

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