Having multiple Facebook accounts is common for a variety of reasons. Some people want to separate their personal and professional lives, while others want anonymous or roleplay accounts. However, Facebook’s terms of service officially prohibit people from maintaining more than one personal account. So is it wise to create a second Facebook profile?
Why Would You Want Multiple Facebook Accounts?
There are a few key reasons why someone might want multiple Facebook accounts:
- Privacy – Keeping personal and professional contacts separate
- Anonymity – Having an account that’s not tied to your real identity
- Roleplaying/Fandom – Accounts for specific personas or fandoms
- “Throwaway” accounts – Secondary accounts used for temporary purposes
- Owning pages/groups – Facebook only allows one account per page/group
- Testing – Developers may need multiple test accounts
For many people, the desire for privacy is one of the biggest motivations. Having colleagues, employers, clients, and extended family members as Facebook friends can feel invasive. A secondary “private” account just for close friends and family is appealing.
Others like the ability to anonymously join groups and follow pages without it being tied back to their real identity. This allows more freedom to express opinions or follow controversial figures.
Roleplaying and fandom accounts are popular as well – users can create profiles for fictional characters or personas. And some people want disposable “throwaway” accounts for posting in forums or groups temporarily.
Is It Against Facebook’s Rules?
Facebook’s Terms of Service explicitly prohibit users from creating multiple personal accounts:
You will not create more than one personal account.
So technically, having a second account for personal use goes against Facebook’s rules. Business Pages and ad accounts are permitted, but more than one personal profile risks violation.
Risks of Multiple Personal Accounts
Breaking the rules brings certain risks, including:
- Account suspension or bans
- Posts/pages/groups being deleted
- Restricted account access
- Loss of data/contacts
Facebook regularly scans for duplicate accounts and may require you to verify your identity if they suspect you have more than one. Refusal to comply could get both accounts disabled without warning.
Tips for Managing Multiple Accounts
If you do decide to create a second personal profile, here are some tips to reduce your risk:
- Use different email addresses and phone numbers for each account
- Do not friend the same people on both accounts
- Avoid linking accounts or tagging between accounts
- Use different photos on each profile
- Don’t have both accounts open at the same time
- Limit profile information and posts on secondary accounts
Basically, you’ll want to make the accounts appear as disconnected as possible. Also, don’t use your secondary profile to harass others, spread misinformation, or otherwise violate Facebook’s policies.
Alternatives to Multiple Personal Profiles
If you want to keep your personal and professional lives separate on Facebook without violating the rules, some alternatives include:
- Using Facebook’s Lists feature to categorize friends
- Creating a Facebook Page for your professional identity
- Using Facebook Groups for subsets of contacts
- Maintaining professional contacts on LinkedIn instead
You can also limit the audience for individual posts and be selective about accepting friend requests. For anonymous browsing, consider using an alternative account just to follow pages/groups or link to your main profile.
Should You Create a Second Account?
Here are some quick pros and cons to weigh when deciding if you should have multiple personal Facebook profiles:
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| – More privacy/separation of contacts | – Violates Facebook’s terms |
| – Ability to anonymously interact | – Risk of account suspension |
| – Customized accounts for different uses | – Difficult to manage multiple profiles |
| – Own pages/groups requiring personal profiles | – Could lose data/contacts if banned |
Ultimately, the risks may outweigh the rewards for most personal users. While Facebook’s rules are clear, enforcement can be inconsistent. But know that having multiple accounts leaves you vulnerable to penalties.
The Bottom Line
Here are some key takeaways on whether you should create multiple Facebook accounts:
- Multiple personal profiles go against Facebook’s Terms of Service
- It’s risky – Facebook may suspend or disable accounts
- Be cautious sharing connections/info between accounts
- Consider Facebook features like Lists or Groups instead
- Pages, ad accounts, and developer test accounts are permitted
- Weigh your needs against the potential consequences
In most cases, a single personal Facebook account plus optional Pages and Groups make the most sense for everyday users. But if you rely on maintaining multiple profiles, take precautions to minimize detection.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is having a backup Facebook account allowed?
No, Facebook does not allow multiple personal accounts even if one is considered a “backup”. It violates their Terms of Service.
Can you get banned for having a fake Facebook account?
Yes, using fake or inauthentic accounts goes against Facebook’s policies. If discovered, both your real and fake accounts could get banned.
Does Facebook allow multiple accounts for couples?
No, couples are not exempt from the 1 personal account per person rule. Joint couple accounts are discouraged by Facebook.
Can I use my personal account for business too?
Yes, you can use your existing personal profile for some business purposes. But Facebook recommends eventually converting to a Business Page as your presence grows.
Is it OK to have a new Facebook account after deactivating old one?
If you permanently deleted a previous account, it’s generally fine to start fresh. But you can only have one active personal account at a time.
Having multiple personal Facebook accounts is a tricky area, and opinions are mixed on whether the benefits outweigh the risks. Consider your specific needs and priorities, and tread cautiously if pursuing more than one profile.