Logged out of Facebook iOS app unexpectedly? You’re not alone

Soon after iPhone users unknowingly got logged out of Facebook, several started talking about it on Twitter.

Facebook. (REUTERS)

Are you on iPhone and use the Facebook iOS app? Then you must have faced a situation yesterday (Friday) where you had to log in to the app again. That's because the social media giant logged out almost every iPhone user around the world on Friday night. Soon after iPhone users unknowingly got logged out of the app, several started talking about it on Twitter. While most of them had to log back in, some with two factor authentication (2FA) faced failed sessions and delay in login process as the SMS codes arrived late.

Facebook is aware of the issue. The company spokesperson says that this might have happened due to a configuration change and the firm is looking into it. “We're aware that some people are currently having trouble accessing Facebook. We're working to get things back to normal as quickly as possible. We're looking into reports that some people are currently having to login again to access their Facebook accounts. We believe this was due to a configuration change and we're working to get things back to normal as quickly as possible,” said the spokesperson to Engadget.

This unexpected logout from the Facebook iOS app comes around the same time when both Apple and Facebook are having a cold war over capturing user data for personalised ads and granular permissions in iOS 14. However, according to latest reports, Facebook has agreed to comply with Apple's strict privacy protection requirements that were turned on shortly after the release of iOS 14.

The company sent out emails to businesses, in which it expressed its disagreement with the Cupertino-based company's new requirements for apps that track users across applications in iOS 14 and beyond. Apple has mandated that all apps must include ‘privacy labels' that show basic information about whether an app is tracking you and what information it is collecting.

According to reports, Facebook's email claimed it had “no choice” but to comply with the mandatory prompt to users, as there was a possibility that Apple could block Facebook and its other apps from the App Store for non-compliance. You can read more about the improvements to iOS privacy controls with our handy guide.