Facebook and Instagram Crashed, So the Police Had to Tell People Not to Call Emergency Services

Triple-zero chill.

As if to demonstrate the vice-like grip it has on all of our lives, Facebook and its many apps, including Instagram, went down for a few hours this morning, sending everyone into a spiral of disconnected panic, scrolling furiously against their blank white feeds.

Most social media users spent the time productively: meme-ing the hell out of the crash on their still-operating rivals Snapchat and Twitter.

THE ACCURACY 💀😂😂😂! #facebookdown #facebookcrash #instagramdown #instagramcrash pic.twitter.com/sjNmqRJBTb

— Nonchalant_By_Nature (@TymeWaits4No1) March 13, 2019

Others, however, took it to the extreme, with Queensland Police having to request people stop calling the Emergency Services line, AKA triple-zero (000).

Witness the bemusement of Sunrise presenter Natalie Barr as she shares the warning.

Unfortunately, we couldn't find any evidence that people had specifically called emergency services, but apparently this is a thing Queensland Police in particular have to deal with a lot.

However, there’s a twist in the story you may not have seen coming!

See, some people out there seriously rely on Facebook—in particular, Messenger—as their primary mode of communication. So, when Facebook goes down, people can find themselves suddenly untethered from the world around them. And though you should always use triple-zero instead of Facebook Messenger when there's an emergency, in this particular instance, that's doubly true.

Don’t forget, there are plenty of other online services and helplines to call if you need someone to speak to. Check them all out here.

If you or anyone you know needs help, support is available now. Call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800.

Header Image: 20th Century Fox