Facebook Messaging Glitch

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
1

For the past 2-3 years a close friend has been sending me private messages via Facebook. The messages are nearly always text with an attached link to someone else’s post on FB, or to a reel video.

This has worked flawlessly for years, until 2-3 weeks ago when her messages started arriving as “Attachment Unavailable.” Since then some of her messages have arrived normally, but most of the time they don’t. I can’t see a pattern.

During all the time above, we’ve both been using Windows 11, Firefox for me, Chrome for her. Neither of us has made any changes to our computers, OS, or browser, that we’re aware of.

Google searches haven’t borne any fruit, and FB help doesn’t seem to lead anywhere. Does anyone here have any insights?

2

Can your friend send the same links to a different friend to see if the same links are screwed up or not for the other person?

What happens if they re-send the same links?

3

Usually “Attachment Unavailable” means the post is not public. If the OP marked it for friends only, you can’t see it if you are not their friend.

4

This seems to be the most likely cause. Your friend may be getting content from someone or some group that doesn’t allow wide sharing.

5

[quote=“hajario, post:2, topic:1012603, full:true”]
Can your friend send the same links to a different friend to see if the same links are screwed up or not for the other person?[/quote]

Come to think of it, she often FB messages her husband (Same house, same wifi, different computer, also Win 11 using Chrome); He says the AU glitch has happened to him with a couple of her messages, but I don’t know if they included the same links as “mine.” I’ll ask her to send identical messages to the two of us.

I’m embarrassed I didn’t think of this. We’ll find out.

Another one I’ll be asking. I suspect this is in fact the answer.

Thanks all!

6

Facebook changed the formatting of URLs recently in a way that breaks sharing them for older versions of FB. Try updating FB and Messenger to the latest versions.

(Oh, wait, Windows. Never mind. But I had a similar problem with the Android version.)