In the world of digital content creation, losing access to your social media account isn’t just an inconvenience—it’s a full-blown crisis.
One would even equate it to misplacing your entire career portfolio. And for Shorn Arwa, this nightmare became her reality when she lost access to her verified Instagram account with a whopping 239,000 followers back in February 2023,
Imagine being locked out of the very platform that had helped propel you into the limelight, your cash cow… and being forced to start again.
Picture this: a top-tier content creator, now back to square one, trying to rebuild an audience in an industry where numbers often determine opportunities. It wasn’t just an account—it was years of blood, sweat, and perfectly curated aesthetics.
Recounting her ordeal, she shared, “February of 2023 | lost my phone in South Africa, since it was my only trusted device I couldn’t log back into Instagram. I tried all the internet gurus but nothing happened, spent so much money trying to get it back but nothing worked. I had to start a new account from scratch and that meant I lost jobs coz no company wants an influencer with zero followers. It was so painful and sad but I just never gave up.”
For two years, Shorn tried everything. Password resets, customer service emails, tech experts—nothing worked. And with every failed attempt, the sting of lost opportunities deepened.
Her Instagram wasn’t just about followers; it was her brand, her career, and her connection to an audience that had grown with her.
“I knew one day I would get this account back. I know to most it’s just an account like any other, but to me, it was what brought me to the light. I had crazy attachment to it. All the hard work, all the struggle, all the story times started with this account.” The mother of one ecstatically shared as she celebrated her win.
The road to recovery wasn’t easy. Starting over meant rebuilding from zero—zero engagement, zero sponsorships, zero visibility. For an influencer, that’s like a musician waking up one day and realizing all their songs have been erased from the internet.
But despite the setbacks, Shorn kept pushing. She continued creating content, engaging with her audience, and refusing to let circumstances dictate her destiny. And then, the moment she least expected arrived.
While up late trying to soothe her restless baby, a random thought hit her: “Try logging in and see. At 3 AM, bleary-eyed and exhausted, she took a chance.
“Aaaaaand after 2 years, I got it back—the same month I lost it. I can’t believe it.”
Her Instagram account was back. Just like that. Two years of frustration, gone in an instant.
by HANNIE PETRA
