Meta Launches Centralized Hub to Tackle 'Hijacked' Facebook and Instagram Accounts

Meta is finally addressing one of the most persistent complaints from its massive user base: the nightmare of recovering a hacked account. On Thursday, the company announced the launch of a new, centralized support hub designed to streamline the process of reporting and recovering hijacked accounts across both Facebook and Instagram.

The move comes with a rare admission of fault from the tech giant. “Getting help with your account should be simple and accessible,” Meta stated in its announcement, acknowledging that its customer support “hasn’t always met expectations.”

A Centralized Solution for a Global Problem

For years, users have navigated a labyrinth of disjointed forms and automated loops when trying to regain access to compromised profiles. The new hub aims to fix this by consolidating support options into a single, accessible destination within the apps.

Rolling out globally to iOS and Android users, this dedicated space brings together all the necessary tools for reporting account issues. Whether you’ve been locked out due to a forgotten password or a malicious takeover, the hub is designed to be the first—and hopefully last—stop for resolution.

According to Meta, the system uses advanced technology to better detect the devices and locations associated with legitimate account owners. This background verification is intended to make the recovery process not just faster, but more secure, ensuring that the person asking for access is actually the account holder.

AI Integration for "Instant" Help

Beyond just centralizing existing tools, Meta is leaning heavily into automation to solve the scale of the problem. The company revealed it is working on an AI assistant capable of providing “instant, personalized help.”

Currently available to Facebook users, this AI tool can guide people through the specific steps needed to recover an account or update security settings. While the feature is launching specifically for Facebook first, Meta has confirmed it is “exploring bringing it to our other apps in the future,” signaling a broader rollout to Instagram likely down the line.

The effectiveness of an AI-driven approach remains to be seen, but the intent is clear: to reduce the friction of finding the right solution in a panic. By using AI to direct users to the correct recovery option, Meta hopes to bypass the confusion that often leaves victims of hacking feeling helpless.

The Access Paradox

While the new hub represents a significant step forward in user support infrastructure, it does face an inherent logical hurdle: accessibility for those already locked out.

Because the hub is accessed primarily through the Facebook and Instagram apps themselves, its utility could be limited for users who have completely lost access to their accounts and cannot log in to reach the support page. Meta has stated it is improving the recovery process to address these scenarios, but for users currently staring at a login screen they can't bypass, the "hub" might still feel out of reach.

Nevertheless, for the millions of users who face the daily anxiety of digital security, a dedicated, centralized resource is a welcome—if overdue—development in social media safety.