Can I share someone else's Facebook video?

Sharing videos is a great way to spread interesting, funny, or meaningful content on Facebook. However, before sharing a video that someone else posted, it’s important to consider whether you have permission to do so.

Is it legal to share other people’s Facebook videos?

In most cases, it is legal to share someone else’s public Facebook video. When users post content publicly on Facebook, they are granting Facebook permission to share and distribute that content on their platform. However, that does not necessarily mean they are giving you, as another individual user, permission to share it elsewhere.

It becomes an issue if you download the video and re-upload it to your own account or another platform without permission. Even if you give the original poster credit, you may be violating copyright law by reproducing and distributing their content without consent.

What does Facebook’s Terms of Service say about sharing videos?

Facebook’s Terms of Service do not explicitly prohibit re-sharing public videos posted by other users. However, they do state that you are responsible for the content you post and that you must have the legal right to post any content you share.

So while the Terms of Service do not outright ban re-sharing videos, you could get in trouble if the original content owner decides to issue a copyright takedown notice against your re-post. The best practice is to get permission before re-sharing videos to avoid any potential issues.

How can I legally share someone else’s Facebook video?

Here are some safe ways to share other people’s Facebook videos without infringing on copyrights:

Use Facebook’s built-in sharing features. You can share a video to your own Timeline, in a Facebook group, or through Messenger without downloading and re-uploading it.
Ask the original poster for permission to share the video elsewhere and make sure to credit them.
Only share very short clips under fair use provisions for commentary, criticism, etc.

Download and re-upload the video ONLY if the creator has expressly given permission to do so in their post.

What are the risks of sharing a Facebook video without permission?

There are a few potential risks to be aware of if you share a video without the proper rights:

Copyright infringement – The original creator could issue a DMCA takedown notice resulting in the video being removed from your account. Repeat offenses can lead to account termination.

Loss of trust – Sharing without permission, even with credit, can damage relationships and credibility.
Financial penalties – In rare cases, copyright holders can take legal action seeking financial damages for unauthorized use.
Facebook penalties – Facebook may limit your reach or take other actions if you regularly post copyrighted content.

How can I get permission to share someone else’s Facebook video?

If you want to share a Facebook video outside of the platform, it’s best to ask the creator for permission. Here are some tips:

Comment on the original post politely asking if you can share the video on your website/channel etc. Explain why and how you would share it.
Send the creator a direct message or email if there is no public commenting option.

Only share the video if the creator explicitly states you can. A lack of response does not imply consent.
Credit the original creator by name and include a link back to their Facebook post or page.
If they decline permission, respect their decision and do not re-share the video.

What type of Facebook videos generally cannot be shared?

There are certain types of Facebook videos that would almost always require direct permission from the creator before sharing:

Private videos – Videos shared only with specific people or friend lists on Facebook.
Live streams – Broadcasting someone’s live video stream would require permission.

Paid content – Videos behind a paywall or part of a paid service.
Child-focused videos – Extra care should be taken when sharing videos featuring minors.

In addition, videos containing sensitive, illegal, or confidential information should not be shared without considering the privacy implications.

Is it OK to share Facebook videos to other social platforms?

It depends on the platform’s terms of service. For example:

YouTube – You generally cannot re-upload full Facebook videos to YouTube without permission, as it violates YouTube’s Terms of Service.
Twitter – Re-sharing clips and links to Facebook videos is permitted as Twitter allows embedded video content.

TikTok – Downloading and re-uploading Facebook videos could violate TikTok’s community guidelines.

When in doubt, stick to only sharing Facebook videos through Facebook’s built-in sharing tools or get explicit permission from the creator first.

Can I get in trouble for sharing videos marked as public on Facebook?

Just because a video is public on Facebook does not mean you automatically have permission to download and re-share that exact video file elsewhere. Even public videos are still the copyrighted property of the creator.

You are less likely to run into issues if you properly credit the creator and share the video through Facebook’s tools. But re-uploading or heavily repurposing public videos without permission could still result in copyright notices or loss of trust from the community.

What are some best practices for video sharing on Facebook?

Follow these best practices when it comes to sharing videos on Facebook:

Only upload and share videos you have directly created or have explicit permission to use.

Credit original creators prominently if you have permission to share their content.
Use Facebook’s built-in sharing tools like links and embeds whenever possible.
Ask creators for consent before downloading and re-sharing videos to other platforms.

Review platform guidelines carefully before re-sharing content across social media.
When in doubt, just link to the original video rather than re-uploading full copies.

Can I share Facebook videos on a monetized YouTube channel?

You cannot legally take someone else’s Facebook video and directly re-upload it to a monetized YouTube channel without permission. This violates both YouTube monetization policies and Facebook’s Terms of Service.

YouTube requires creators to own all content on monetized channels. And Facebook prohibits re-sharing others’ content behind a paywall. So monetizing someone else’s full video could lead to copyright strikes.

You may be able to feature short clips under fair use provisions with commentary and critique. But otherwise, avoid re-sharing monetized full videos from Facebook without explicit permission.

What are some alternatives to sharing downloaded videos?

Instead of downloading and re-uploading videos without consent, consider these alternatives:

Using Facebook’s embedded video or share link options.
Reposting just a very short clip for commentary under fair use provisions.
Writing a text post summarizing the key points of the video and linking back to it.

Creating your own original video inspired by the themes and topics covered.
Interviewing or collaborating directly with the creator to produce new co-created content.

The safest approach is to only share content you have directly created or been granted permission to use. When in doubt, link out rather than re-post full videos.

Can I get in trouble for sharing my own Facebook videos?

You have full permission to share videos that you have exclusively created and posted yourself on Facebook. The only exceptions would be:

Videos containing other people’s copyrighted content – You may need permission to re-share if your video includes significant portions of copyrighted material like background music.
Videos subject to privacy restrictions – If your videos feature private details about others, you may need permission to share in some contexts.

Videos with NDA or confidential information – Any sensitive, proprietary, or classified content should only be shared according to contractual agreements.

Provided your self-created videos avoid these caveats, you can freely download, edit and share your original Facebook videos across platforms. Just be sure to comply with each site’s re-sharing and content policies.

Can I share Facebook videos on Instagram?

You can directly share Facebook videos to Instagram Stories or in an Instagram feed post through Facebook’s cross-posting tools. However, downloading and re-uploading videos may violate Instagram’s Terms of Use if you do not have rights to the content.

Instagram only allows sharing videos that you have permission to use. Avoid downloading and re-uploading other users’ Facebook videos directly to Instagram without consent to avoid potential copyright issues.

Conclusion

Sharing videos can help content go viral, but it’s important to respect creators’ copyrights. Always get direct permission before re-posting full Facebook videos elsewhere. Use built-in sharing tools, embed links, or post brief fair use clips instead of downloading and re-uploading without consent.

With permission and proper attribution, sharing Facebook videos can expand your reach. But unauthorized use can damage relationships and even lead to legal penalties. When in doubt, link out. Consider collaboration over unapproved re-sharing.

By following best practices, crediting creators, and respecting copyrights, you can share content on Facebook in a legal, ethical way that benefits both viewers and original posters alike.

Platform	Can you re-share Facebook videos?
YouTube	No, not directly without permission
Twitter	Yes, using embeds and links
TikTok	No, re-uploads may violate guidelines
Instagram	Only using built-in cross-posting tools