If you are wondering why Vintage Virtues has gone quiet on Instagram (since 2023) and most recently on Facebook too, let me fill you in. Here is a transparent update on our official online presence, sharing what led to our departure from these social media platforms, and letting you know exactly where you can still find us.

What Happened to Our Facebook Presence

Both my personal Facebook page and the Vintage Virtues business account were subject to significant restrictions after a failed identity verification process. What makes this particularly frustrating is that I had previously completed successful verification using the same state driver’s license and held Meta Verified (blue check mark) status.

The restrictions came suddenly and without clear explanation, despite my account being in good standing for years. I opened two support cases, communicated with multiple customer support agents, and received inconsistent information throughout the process. The self-service identity verification option was removed entirely, leaving me unable to resolve this independently.

The specific restrictions included being unable to post, comment, or respond in any Facebook group, including those I’m an Administrator of and long-standing communities such as my local homeschooling group.

How It All Started

I received a notification about restricted activity due to “unusual activity” and was prompted to verify my identity through a selfie video, driver’s license, or passport. The selfie option didn’t even come up, so I uploaded my state driver’s license, the same identification that had previously been accepted for my Instagram account.

The Customer Support Maze

What followed was a confusing journey through Meta’s customer support system. The first agent stated my account was under investigation and wasn’t eligible for a new appeal. The case was escalated to a second agent who found no restrictions on file and suggested it might be a technical issue. When I clarified that restrictions were indeed active, the agent replied with something that should concern every small-business owner using these platforms: “That’s AI, Jennifer, not a human review.”

This was the first indication that an AI tool, rather than human support, was making critical decisions about account access without proper oversight.

I was connected to a live agent who confirmed the issue was a behavioral access block, not a community standards violation.

The Fraud Allegation

After 48 hours without an update, I checked the message center and found the case had been closed. The message stated my account was restricted for alleged violations of community standards related to fraud and deception.

Let me be clear: there has never been any fraud or deception associated with my accounts. This blog has always provided content focused on biblical homemaking, homeschooling, and faith-based living. The allegation was completely unfounded, yet it was now attached to my account with no clear path to dispute it.

Missed Calls and a Troubling Verification Request

I opened a new case, but scheduled callbacks repeatedly fell through, first at 3:45 pm, then rescheduled for 6:30 pm, with no call ever coming and only automated messages promising an agent “shortly.”

Two days later, a Meta rep called early in the morning, asking me to join a video conference call and share my screen to walk them through the issues I’d already documented in writing with screenshots.

They also asked me to download an app on my phone. For security reasons, I declined to download the app. The rep directed me to verify my identity through the accounts center’s political and social ads option, rather than the account protection or “other” options available. When I pushed back, explaining I don’t run political ads, I was told it didn’t matter, that this was simply how I needed to confirm my identity. I uploaded my driver’s license and within two hours, despite the video call, the uploaded ID, and two-factor authentication already in place, I was told my identity still couldn’t be confirmed.

This all followed a post I’d made about Christian Patriotism versus Christian Nationalism, and I later learned a similarly themed account, Proverbs 31 Homesteading, faced comparable restrictions around the same time. I also noticed my account was no longer following theirs, and heard from a follower who’d been unfollowed from both pages without explanation. The timing of it all struck me as significant.

What I Requested From Meta

In writing, I requested that Meta:

• Restore my access to identity verification or provide an alternative verification method.
• Confirm in writing that the “fraud and deception” allegation against my account is unfounded and remove it.
• Lift all restrictions on both the Vintage Virtues business account and personal account.

None of these requests were fulfilled

What This Means for Small Businesses & Individuals

For small businesses, content creators who depend on these platforms, and individuals, this should serve as a wake-up call. When your entire community’s presence relies on a single data source controlled by a single company, you’re vulnerable to decisions made by algorithms and AI tools that may lack adequate human oversight, and humans that don’t resolve the issues.

The reliance on Meta AI rather than on consistent human support creates situations in which accounts in good standing can be restricted without clear recourse. Meta’s advertising standards appear inconsistent, and the Transparency Center doesn’t always provide the transparency its name suggests. Restrictions can occur even when accounts are in good standing, and there is no clear violation.

The Meta Verified subscription model was supposed to provide additional verification and support, but it didn’t prevent my verification from failing, even when I used the same identification that had previously been accepted.

Where We Are Now

I no longer own or operate the Vintage Virtues Facebook page. I took it down for my own security and the community’s protection. My personal account still exists but remains restricted.

Where You Can Find Us

The only official places you can access content associated with this blog are:

Our official YouTube Channel: @VintageVirtueswithJen

Our websites: www.vintage-virtues.com and glutenfreeheritage.com

These platforms allow us to maintain a little more control over our content and community without relying on the unpredictability of social media run by a single tech giant. Subscribing to our websites helps you stay informed and up to date on website news and, more importantly, the homesteading, homemaking, and homeschooling content you enjoy, all from a biblical perspective.

Moving Forward

I encourage you to prayerfully consider your own relationship with Meta, Facebook, Instagram, and social media in general. I’m not telling you to leave these platforms, but I am encouraging you to think strategically about where you invest your time and how you build community. Be sure you’re building real-life community.

If you’ve experienced similar Facebook restrictions, know that you’re not alone. The frustration of dealing with inconsistent customer support, the confusion of navigating Meta’s systems, and the helplessness of having your account restricted without clear recourse is shared by many. Remember that your value as a human being made in the image of the ultimate creator, God, isn’t determined by your access to any particular platform. Your content, your relationships, and your impact exist independent of social media platforms.

I invite you to join us on YouTube and on our websites, where we can continue the conversations about faith, family, homemaking, and biblical living that have always been at the heart of this community.