Facebook has fixed a bug that caused the social network to send automatic friend requests to users when they visited any profile. The bug was first reported on Friday, and Meta apologized for the inconvenience it caused.
“We fixed a bug related to a recent app update that caused some Facebook friend requests to be sent mistakenly,” a Meta spokesperson said. “We’ve stopped this from happening and we apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused.”
The bug generated equal amounts of amusement and confusion. Many users quickly pointed out that the technical oversight temporarily made it impossible to “Facebook stalk” other users. More worryingly, some found that Facebook sent friend requests to people they were trying to block.
Fb is legit adding randoms if you click on their profile.
Got a screen record here.@facebook wtf?!#Facebook #glitch #facebookadd pic.twitter.com/S7lxPhQU6F
— Bavid Mcjavid (@bavidmcjavid) May 12, 2023
The bug comes at a time when Meta is facing a number of challenges. The company has been under fire for its handling of user data, and it has also been losing users to rival platforms like TikTok. In addition, Meta is facing increasing scrutiny from regulators around the world.
The bug is a reminder that even the largest and most sophisticated tech companies are not immune to technical problems. It is also a reminder of the importance of data privacy and security.