MANILA, Philippines — In a moment perhaps as rare as the passing of the Haley's Comet, the world's largest social networking site, Facebook, shut down Thursday afternoon for about half an hour, leaving the world wondering.
http://t.co/f0LTaTa3mp is currently down. We'll be updating you with @PhilstarNews stories here on @twitter
— Philstar.com (@PhilstarNews) June 19, 2014
As of posting time, Facebook has not yet issued an official statement to explain the unexpected downtime, but Philstar.com readers have a few theories.
Some Filipino users have very probable explanations, such as server overload, a DDOS attack or the California-based company's upgrading efforts.
Facebook, however, has tens of thousands of servers for its billion-strong active users around the world. It also normally announces impending upgrades that may cause some features to be disabled.
@PhilstarNews @facebook Server Overload?
— Kyle Nathan Fazonela (@Caesar_Nathan) June 19, 2014
@philstarnews @facebook DDOS attack. :D
— D B C (@PrincessaDBC) June 19, 2014
@PhilstarNews @facebook upgrading :) hahaha
— kelly john biasong (@kellybiasong) June 19, 2014
@PhilstarNews @facebook Maybe it was the new slingshot chat app?
— WhiteChocolateHills (@WCHResort) June 19, 2014
Others smell something fishy going on.
@PhilstarNews - Possibly a marketing strategy/testing? Or massive social media research of some sort. #FacebookDown61914 #TwitterSaysHello
— Faith (@maluFAITH) June 19, 2014
“@PhilstarNews: Any theories on why @facebook is experiencing errors? #facebookdown†maka-Ginebra or maka-Miami si @facebook ? #joking
— Thania (@TeeCee0822) June 19, 2014
@PhilstarNews @facebook na virus ang FB
— dest (@dest3168) June 19, 2014
A few are also blamed Facebook's failure to developments in Sandiganbayan where an arrest warrant is impending against Sen. Ramon "Bong" Revilla, Jr., linked to the multi-billion peso government funds embezzlement.
“@PhilstarNews: Any theories on why @facebook is experiencing errors? #facebookdown†hindi po kinaya ang circus sa Senado.
— Thania (@TeeCee0822) June 19, 2014
@PhilstarNews @facebook sabotage by the revilla camp! hahaha. seriously, it's just a glitch in their system and the site will be up again.
— Gem Agudo Cabreros (@G_A_Cabreros) June 19, 2014
@PhilstarNews @facebook they can't handle too many comments coming in about the Sandiganbayan ruling?
— jo t. romero (@romerojo) June 19, 2014
And perhaps one of the the wildest theories of all?
@PhilstarNews @facebook It's because of Alien Invasion !!! Fvck !!
— Rod Oww Yow (@rodowwyow) June 19, 2014