Facebook has strict policies against posting unoriginal or copied content. Unoriginal content refers to posts, photos, videos, or other media that is not unique or created by the user posting it. There are a few main reasons why Facebook cracks down on unoriginal content:
Protecting Copyright
If a user posts content that they did not create, they may be violating copyright law. For example, posting an image found through Google Images or a long passage copied from another website is illegal. Facebook aims to respect copyrights and will remove posts that use unoriginal content without permission.
Providing Value to Users
Facebook wants to be a platform where people can share meaningful, interesting updates with their friends and family. Reposting or sharing content that you did not make does not provide much value to your connections. Facebook prefers posts that are personalized, unique, and authentic.
Reducing Spam
Spam tactics often involve posting mass duplicated or repurposed content across many profiles. By catching and removing unoriginal posts, Facebook can cut down on annoying spam clogging up the News Feed. This keeps the user experience positive.
Enforcing Community Standards
Part of Facebook’s community standards includes respecting intellectual property and following the proper attribution guidelines. Users who repeatedly post unoriginal content may face restrictions or suspension for violating these rules. Monitoring this activity allows Facebook to uphold its standards.
How Facebook Detects Unoriginal Content
Facebook uses advanced algorithms and automation to identify copied or repetitive content. Some key signals Facebook looks for include:
- Matching image hashes or digital fingerprints – Photos and videos each have a unique hash that stays the same even if the file is altered. Facebook can instantly match this hash against hashes from publicly available sources to detect duplicates.
- Text analysis – Facebook scans text in posts and comments to check for large blocks of duplicated words or passages copied from other sources online.
- Account posting patterns – Accounts that repeatedly post similar content across many Pages or groups in a short time can be flagged for manual review.
- User reports – Users can report posts or accounts to Facebook if they detect copied or stolen content.
What Happens if You Post Unoriginal Content on Facebook?
If Facebook detects you have shared unoriginal content, here are some actions they may take:
- Content Removal – The copied posts, photos, videos, or other media will be immediately removed from Facebook.
- Copyright Warning – You may receive a warning about potential copyright infringement and instructions to only post original content going forward.
- Account Restrictions – If you repeatedly post unoriginal content, your account may be temporarily blocked from posting, commenting, sharing, or other activities.
- Disabled Account – In severe repeat offense cases, Facebook may disable your account altogether for terms of service violations.
How to Avoid Posting Unoriginal Content on Facebook
Here are some tips to steer clear of unoriginal content pitfalls on Facebook:
- Only share photos you took yourself or have explicit permission to post.
- Give proper attribution if you share a quote, meme, or viral post from elsewhere.
- Link back to the original source for any articles or videos you share.
- Only pin websites and domains you own to your profile or Page.
- Avoid repeatedly posting similar updates or recycling old posts.
- Don’t copy and paste blocks of text from other sources.
Examples of Unoriginal Facebook Content
To make it more clear, here are some examples of content that would be considered unoriginal and violation Facebook’s policies:
- Reposting a popular meme that is circulating without crediting the original creator
- Sharing an image from Google Images or Pinterest without licensing it
- Embedding a YouTube video clip without permission from the owner
- Copying paragraphs of text from articles or websites as your own post
- Pasting product descriptions from Amazon as your Page’s Shop section
- Uploading artwork or photos where you don’t own the copyright
Fair Use and Public Domain Content
There are some exceptions where you can share content you didn’t personally create without violating Facebook policies. This includes:
- Fair Use – Quoting or excerpting a portion of copyrighted material for purposes such as education, commentary, or parody may qualify as fair use.
- Public Domain – Content with expired or lapsed copyrights are in the public domain and can legally be shared, such as very old historical photos.
- Creative Commons – Media published under a Creative Commons license allows for reuse under certain conditions defined by the copyright holder.
However, to stay 100% compliant, it’s best to share content only if you own or have explicit rights to it. When in doubt, create and post your own unique updates.
Can Pages Post Unoriginal Content on Facebook?
The rules against posting unoriginal content apply equally to individual profiles and Facebook Pages. Page admins cannot share media they did not create or write posts that copy other sources. The same detection methods and penalties apply if a Page repeatedly posts unoriginal content.
Appealing Unoriginal Content Violations
If your content was removed from Facebook wrongly, you can appeal the decision. Reasons you may want to appeal include:
- You actually do have rights to share the content (e.g. you are the creator or have a legal license).
- Your post was fair use, commentary, or parody.
- The content is in the public domain.
- You gave proper credit and attribution.
To submit an appeal:
- Go to the violation notification or Help Center.
- Click “Request Review.”
- Select the content in violation.
- Explain why you have rights to the content.
- Include supporting documents if possible.
A member of Facebook’s team will then review your appeal and make a final determination. Sometimes providing evidence you have permission to share the content is enough to overturn the violation. But repeated unoriginal posting will still result in account restrictions.
Best Practices for Original Content on Facebook
Here are some tips for creating awesome, engaging original content for Facebook without risking policy violations:
- Post interesting photos you took yourself of your life, travels, and activities.
- Write reviews, commentary, or analysis about products, services, and events you use or attend.
- Share your own artwork, DIY projects, recipes, or other creations.
- Make short videos sharing your knowledge, opinions, and personality.
- Interview friends, colleagues, or clients and share the footage.
- Conduct polls and surveys to spark discussion.
- Go live to showcase your business, host a Q&A, or share an experience.
Creating your own personalized content from scratch takes more time and effort than simply sharing others’ content. But it can be very rewarding, build your brand, and connect with your audience in a more authentic way without any compliance risks.
Conclusion
Posting unoriginal or copied content on Facebook goes against their community standards and policies. You must have the rights to share any photos, videos, text, or other media you publish. Facebook utilizes advanced technology to detect duplicated and repurposed content, and may restrict accounts that repeatedly violate the rules. To keep your account in good standing, exclusively share content you created yourself or have explicit permission to use. With some creativity and effort, you can develop amazing original content to engage your followers without relying on unoriginal sources.