Paid Activism and Facebook

I have two updates on weird things. 

First, I was just invited to the activist summit. So this is happening. I don't know why I expected that to take longer, but from filling out the interest form to getting the official invite, it took, like, two days. 

Second, Facebook. I am having some real problems with Facebook right now. As some of you are well aware, I run ads on Facebook. Most of my traffic gets here thanks to those ads. I have an ad currently running which is a continuous campaign, and as far as I know, it is still running. A "post boost" ad just stopped running this morning.

But about a week ago I tried to boost another post and was told the ad was rejected. Because I am posting political content I am required to prove I am not a Russian bot or something. OK, easy enough. I understand they are covering their own butts, so I went along and began the process. 

It requires me to submit a photo of my state ID or passport, and to submit residency information. A code is mailed to my home, which I then type in to prove my residence, which is, in fact, in the United States. That step has been completed and has been marked as accepted. 

I am having trouble with the ID. I don't own a passport, so my only option is my state ID. I submitted pictures, front and back.

It was rejected. Too much glare. Weird, since the apps I deliver with accepted it just fine.

Submitted again. Edges weren't clearly visible. 

Long story short, I have now taken 12 photographs of my ID, front and back, and submitted them with each one being rejected. I just submitted an appeal because this is getting ridiculous. The ID is clearly readable. There is no glare. The edges are visible. 

Now, it could be that they don't like that my state doesn't put much on the back of the ID. There is nothing I can do about that, it's how the state does the ID. But there is a lot of blank space on the back. Or, it could be that my ID isn't a "real ID" because I opted to not go through that process. I don't use the airport, I don't go on military bases, and there is no real reason for me to jump through hoops to get this real ID. It is, however, a real state issued driver license. 

I did submit an appeal to the last rejection and literally said that the ID is clearly readable with visible edges and that I cannot afford a professional photographer to photograph my ID. 

Now, I promise you, I am not a Russian bot or Russian spy. I've never been to Russia. I've never worked for the Clintons. And you've heard my voice on videos... I have a blended NJ/NC accent. 

However, I'm not sure what this is going to mean for the Facebook page. If they continue to reject my ID, I won't be able to run ads, which will, of course, lower my reach by a lot. I'm alright with that. I can advertise elsewhere. I am hoping it doesn't end up with them shutting the page down. If it does, I am elsewhere. You can always bookmark this page. There's also Twitter and Minds. 

​Social media is a crazy place. 

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