Facebook Jail… Until the 30th: A Lesson in Algorithms, Intentions, and Community

By OG Strain

Well… here we go again.

If you’re reading this, I’m currently doing a short stint in Facebook jail—not for thirty days, not indefinitely—but until January 30th. Long enough to be inconvenient. Short enough to laugh about later. And just long enough for Facebook’s algorithm to remind me who’s really in charge.

Here’s what actually happened.

I recently published an article in the public Plug’s Pages Magazine Facebook group covering cannabis events and expos happening throughout 2026 across the Northeast—New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and beyond. It was a resource-driven piece, meant to help people plan ahead, connect, and stay plugged into the regional cannabis scene.

When I posted the article, I tagged several people—not for recognition, not for clout—but because I genuinely believed they would be interested in the information. Event organizers, industry folks, community members. People who live this space and benefit from knowing what’s coming.

So far, so reasonable.

Where I went wrong is what came next.

I then shared that same post—with all the tags still attached—into ten different groups. Normally, this is never an issue when the post is untagged. I’ve done that countless times. But this time, because those same tags were carried into ten group shares, Facebook interpreted it as repetitive tagging—and down came the hammer.

Algorithm logic: flawless.
Human logic: questionable.
My mistake: undeniable.

This wasn’t spam. It wasn’t promotion for promotion’s sake. It was one oversight—a mistake I’ve never made before—and Facebook responded the only way it knows how: instantly and without nuance.

Lesson learned.

Why I’m Writing This

While my ability to post freely is temporarily restricted, The Plug’s Pages Magazine does not stop. The articles are still being written. The information still matters. And the community still deserves access to it.

So I’m asking for a little help.

I’m looking for a few volunteers who are willing to help publish Plug’s Pages Magazine articles once a day in the group until my restrictions lift on January 30th.

Good news: Messenger still works.
If you’re willing to help, hit me up directly.

This isn’t about attention or ego—it’s about keeping a community resource active while Facebook makes me sit quietly and reflect on my tagging decisions.

Respect and Appreciation

Anyone who’s been part of this community knows this isn’t the first time you’ve stepped up—and every time you have, you’ve done it without hesitation.

That level of support isn’t normal online. It’s rare. And it’s the reason The Plug’s Pages Magazine continues to exist and grow.

So yes, I’m asking again.
And yes, I appreciate it more than I can properly articulate in a single article.

Facebook may restrict an account—but it can’t restrict a community that understands intent, values information, and shows up for one another.

Thank you for reading.
Thank you for understanding.
And thank you, as always, for having my back.

— OG Strain
The Plug’s Pages Magazine