FaceBook Problems.

I have been using Facebook for many years.

I use the same account that I have had for a long time to post my work, share other people's work, follow my favorite bands, and stay in touch with friends and family.

I have never had problems with my account until recently.

I use both Facebook on my laptop and on my mobile, which I have been using for a long time.

Recently, I have been experiencing problems with changing my password, which I change often for security, and because I tend to forget it. The problems are listed below:

• - It doesn't recognize any devices (apart from Messenger, on my mobile) that I usually use to sign in.
• - It recognizes my email but refuses to let me change my password because it won't recognize my devices.
• - I've now been asked to upload a selfie to confirm my identity.

I have no problems confirming my identity, but a selfie?

People change over the years, change their looks, and grow their hair.

Many selfies would look completely different in comparison to profile pictures which change over time because you can use any photograph of yourself that you wish to use, which means you may look different in a selfie compared to your profile picture.

I am worried because they threaten you with suspension if they can't confirm who you are.

It would have been simpler to ask me to verify and confirm my account using my passport instead.

I had a video interview for my passport, and my hair is slightly different in that image, though the agency could still confirm that it is me.

Facebook has another problem with identification.

They use your device when you log in to confirm where you are logging in from.

However, I take my mobile and laptop out with me, so I can be anywhere according to my device which tracks where I have logged in from.

Another thing that is angering me is scammers and fake profiles.

I am a huge fan of Robbie Williams, and I am being honest when I say I spoke to him and became friends with him on social media, even though I haven't got him on my friends list.

My husband was with Rob at the time, and he can confirm we are among his 'best friends.'

Rob's words, not mine!

There are many different profiles under Rob's name across social media.

I have dealt with and reported quite a few.

When Rob first reached out, it was under his official profile, some years between 2014 and 2020.

My husband left work in 2020.

When Rob first reached out to me, it didn't go too well because I had problems believing it was him due to trying to get rid of another fake profile who was stalking me under his name, and able to come back under many other names at that time.

So, I want to apologize to Robbie Williams for that, because I fired many questions which gave him a headache.

Eventually, we were chatting, and he is one of the nicest people I have ever chatted with.

Allow me to explain...

My husband was looking after my wonderful friend in a healthcare setting at the time. Healthcare settings have a strict policy where their staff are not allowed to release certain information due to confidentiality rules. Therefore my husband wasn't allowed to confirm straightaway that Rob had tried to contact me.

I was left in limbo for a long time, so thanks Rob and my lovely husband Jonathan for that!

(I have permission to mention Jonathan in this story).

I understand that social media wants to keep everyone's accounts safe, but these fake profiles and scammers always come back under different names, even after they have been reported; yet I can prove myself with a passport in safer ways than a selfie.

I use X and there are many fake profiles on there.

I have a blue tick on X because I paid for my subscription there.

I have never had a problem, even though it gets a bad name. I have many friends and contacts on the site, and I feel safe there.

I forgot my password today, and X could deal with it straightaway with no problems, although I did change my picture so I'm waiting for my tick back.

I'm starting to not want to use Facebook anymore as I don't feel their site is safe enough, particularly their verification methods.