My Snapchat account disappeared without explanation – Jojo

In an exclusive interview with The Guardian’s IFEANYI IBEH, Jojo, a beloved comedian known for sharing sketches and moments from his daily life on Snapchat, opens up about his shock and frustration following the sudden deactivation of his account. Balancing concern and hope, he reflects on the broader challenges this situation poses for content creators.

Jojo, can you tell us what happened to your Snapchat account?

Honestly, it hit me like a bolt out of the blue. One evening, I tried to log in as usual, and suddenly, I couldn’t access my account. No warning, no explanation. To this day, I have no idea what I might have done wrong.

Have you reached out to Snapchat for clarification, Jojo?

Of course, I immediately contacted their customer service to try and understand, but so far, it’s been complete radio silence. What’s frustrating is that there’s no direct way to speak to someone and resolve the issue.

Snapchat plays a big role in your work as a comedian. How has this deactivation affected you?

Oh, it’s huge! Snapchat was my main platform for testing new ideas, sharing exclusive sketches, and directly engaging with my followers. For me, it’s a space where creativity happens in real-time. Losing that is like losing a direct connection to my audience, and that hurts.

Your fans seem to be rallying behind you. Were you expecting such a wave of support?

Not to this extent! But it’s incredibly heartwarming. As soon as the news broke, they started creating hashtags and sharing messages to demand that my account be reinstated. It really shows how much creators like me rely on these platforms—and how far fans are willing to go to support us.

This situation highlights a larger issue: creators’ dependence on social media platforms. What’s your take on that, Jojo?

It’s definitely a harsh wake-up call. On social media, you can build something for years, and in an instant, it can all disappear without any explanation. You realize how much we’re at the mercy of algorithms and platform decisions. It’s stressful, but it’s also a lesson: we need to diversify and not put all our eggs in one basket.

Despite everything, you seem to remain positive. How do you stay optimistic?

Making people laugh is my job, so I have to keep smiling no matter what. I’m focusing on other platforms to keep creating content for my followers. And who knows—maybe Snapchat will reconsider. In the meantime, I’m staying strong and pushing forward.

Snapchat has yet to respond officially. If you could send them a message, what would you say?

I’d just ask them to understand the impact of their decisions on creators and to open a genuine dialogue. We’re not asking for much—just some transparency and respect for the work we do.

Any final words for your fans, Jojo?

Thank you, thank you, thank you! Your support gives me the strength to keep going. I promise to stay present and to always find ways to make you laugh, no matter what challenges come my way.

For now, Snapchat remains silent in the face of massive public support for Jojo. It remains to be seen whether this groundswell of solidarity will lead to change. One thing is certain: this incident underscores the fragile relationship between creators and the platforms they depend on.