Facebook’s page publishing authorization policy has caused some confusion among users and page managers. In this article, we’ll take a look at Facebook’s authorization requirements for publishing content to Pages and clarify when authorization is – and is not – needed.
What is Facebook page publishing authorization?
Page publishing authorization refers to Facebook’s requirement that people administering a Page obtain permission from an authorized admin before they can publish content to that Page. This policy was introduced by Facebook to provide Page admins more control over who can post on behalf of their Pages.
Without publishing authorization, a person who is editor, moderator, advertiser or analyst for a Page would not be able to publish posts, respond to comments or messages, create ads, or access insights for that Page. They need explicit permission from a Page admin in order to do those things.
When is page publishing authorization required?
Here are the main scenarios when page publishing authorization is required on Facebook:
- When someone is added as an editor, moderator, advertiser, or analyst for a Page
- When an existing editor, moderator, advertiser, or analyst has their role removed and re-added
- When an authorized profile seeks extended access beyond their current access
Essentially, if a person wants to help manage any aspect of a Facebook Page without being a full admin, they need authorization before they can start posting or analyzing on behalf of that Page.
When is page publishing authorization NOT required?
Publishing authorization is NOT needed in these cases:
- When the original Page admin adds someone else as a Page admin. New admins automatically have full publishing rights.
- When someone is already authorized to publish to a Page and their role does not change. They can continue posting as normal.
- When commenting on the Page’s posts as a normal Facebook user or visitor. Only formal roles require authorization.
So regular users can comment and interact normally with a Page without needing any authorization. And new admins can immediately start posting once they’re added to that role.
How does Facebook page publishing authorization work?
When someone is added to a Page in a publishing role, the existing authorized admin receives a notification asking them to authorize the new person. They can choose to “Confirm” or “Ignore” this request.
- If confirmed, the new person is authorized and can begin managing that aspect of the Page per their designated role.
- If ignored, the request expires after 7 days and the new person remains pending without any publishing access to the Page.
The authorized admin can also cancel a pending request before it expires or remove authorization at any time later on.
Who can authorize publishing to a Facebook Page?
Only existing authorized admins can approve new authorization requests. Here’s a breakdown of who can authorize publishing access:
| Page Role | Can Authorize Publishing |
|---|---|
| Admin | Yes |
| Editor | No |
| Moderator | No |
| Advertiser | No |
| Analyst | No |
So you must be an admin yourself to approve authorization requests from people being added to other roles.
How to authorize new editors, moderators, etc. for a Facebook Page
The process to authorize someone’s publishing access for a Page is simple:
- Add the new person in the Page role you want (editor, moderator, etc.)
- When prompted, click “Confirm” to authorize their publishing abilities
- The new person will now be able to publish Page content based on their designated role
You can repeat this process whenever you add new team members to help manage your Facebook presence.
Why won’t Facebook allow me to publish to a Page without authorization?
If you try to publish to a Page but get an error saying authorization is required, here are some potential reasons:
- You were recently added as an editor, moderator, etc. but the admin has not yet confirmed your request
- The admin removed your publishing access or changed your Page role
- Your authorization expired (must be renewed every 60 days)
- There was a technical issue or bug falsely blocking your access
The best way to resolve this is to contact the Page admin and ask them to verify your authorization status in the Page’s settings. If it was removed by mistake, they can grant access again.
How does the 60 day reauthorization limit work?
For additional security, Facebook imposes a 60 day limit on page publishing authorization. This means:
- Authorization must be actively renewed by an admin every 60 days
- Without renewal, editors/moderators/etc. will lose publishing access after 60 days
- Admins must re-confirm authorization once the 60 day period lapses
This ensures admins periodically review and confirm who has access to post on their behalf. The 60 day clock resets each time authorization is re-confirmed.
In summary…
Here are the key facts to remember about Facebook’s page publishing authorization policy:
- Added editors, moderators, advertisers, analysts must be authorized to publish
- New Page admins don’t need authorization
- Normal users/visitors don’t need authorization
- Only current admins can authorize new publishing access
- Authorization must be renewed every 60 days
Following these rules allows you to bring on collaborators to help manage your Facebook presence while maintaining control as the Page admin. Although the system takes some getting used to, it ultimately gives you final say over who can post and advertise on your Page’s behalf.
Conclusion
Facebook’s page publishing authorization requirements aim to provide Page admins more control over contributors. While the policy has caused some initial confusion, the rules themselves are relatively straightforward once understood. The key is securing authorization when adding new editors, moderators, advertisers or analysts to a Page. Admins can easily grant publishing access to their collaborators as needed. With the proper authorizations in place, organizations can effectively manage their Facebook presence while keeping their brand messaging on track.