Error 403 is a common error message that can appear when trying to share content on Facebook. It indicates that Facebook’s servers have blocked access to the content you are trying to share for some reason. There are a few potential causes of the 403 error on Facebook shares:
1. The content is blocked by Facebook
One of the most common reasons you may encounter the 403 error is that the content you are trying to share goes against Facebook’s Community Standards or has been reported and blocked. For example, Facebook will block links to content that contains nudity, hate speech, bullying, or other types of abusive content. If you try to share this type of blocked content, you will see the 403 error message.
Facebook uses automated systems and user reports to detect policy-violating content. If their systems flag your content as potentially violating their rules, you may be blocked from sharing it. This helps Facebook enforce their content policies and prevent abusive or offensive content from spreading.
2. The content is seen as spammy or deceptive
Facebook also works to prevent spam and deceptive content from being shared in order to protect users’ experience. Links to websites or posts that appear to be clickbait, false news, advertisements disguised as articles, or other misleading content may also trigger 403 errors.
Their systems look for signs that content is spammy, sensational, or untrustworthy in order to limit low-quality links. Things like exaggerated headlines, content scraped from other sources, or posts that seem to be going viral inauthentically can cause the 403 error for spam.
3. The domain is blacklisted by Facebook
In some cases, Facebook blacklists entire domains from being shared on their platform. This usually happens when a website is found to frequently host content that violates Facebook’s policies.
Domains that are known sources of spam, plagiarized content, fake news, or other policy-breaking material may be completely banned. Trying to share posts from these prohibited sites will trigger the 403 error message.
4. There is a technical issue
Less commonly, the 403 error on Facebook shares can also occur due to technical problems. Issues like server errors, glitches, or temporary platform problems may sometimes get misinterpreted as policy violations.
These types of technical issues are usually temporary. Trying again after some time has passed may allow the content to be shared if it was blocked due to a technical glitch.
How to fix a 403 error on Facebook share
If you encounter a 403 error when trying to share something on Facebook, here are some troubleshooting steps you can try:
- Double check that the content does not violate Facebook’s Community Standards. Remove any elements that are abusive, spammy, or misleading.
- If sharing a link, examine the destination website to ensure it is not blacklisted or known for policy-violating content.
- Try sharing the content again after some time has passed. Technical glitches may resolve on their own.
- Consider submitting an appeal to Facebook if you believe the content was blocked in error.
- Edit or remove any elements identified in Facebook’s error messages as problematic before trying to share again.
With some adjustments to ensure you are following Facebook’s policies, you should be able to resolve 403 errors and share your content successfully.
When is the 403 error on Facebook share particularly common?
The 403 error can pop up more frequently during certain situations:
- Launch of new content policies – When Facebook rolls out new community standards, their systems become stricter at enforcing them, leading to more 403 errors as old content gets newly flagged.
- Platform bugs and outages – Glitches happening during site issues can sometimes mistakenly trigger 403 errors until the problems are resolved.
- Viral controversial content – Trending or hot-button topics that push policies limits often get heavily reported, causing more 403 take-downs.
- Contested elections and events – To limit misinformation, Facebook cracks down harder on sharing during major world events.
- Spam campaigns – Once spammers are detected, Facebook aggressively blocks their content, resulting in more 403 errors.
Being aware of when Facebook tends to enforce errors more aggressively can help you troubleshoot 403 problems faster.
Common examples of content that gets the 403 error
Here are some common things people attempt to share that regularly get blocked with a 403 error by Facebook:
- Nudity or sexually explicit content
- Graphic or violent content
- Hate speech, threats, or bullying
- Terrorism-related content
- Clickbait or exaggerated headlines
- Misinformation, fake news, or conspiracy theories
- Scams, spam, or other deceptive content
- Plagiarized or scraped articles or posts
- Dangerous individuals and organizations
- Phishing links
Knowing the types of materials frequently flagged can help you avoid running into 403 errors by screening the content you attempt to share.
Mistakes to avoid when trying to fix a 403 error
When trying to troubleshoot a 403 error on Facebook, here are some mistakes to avoid:
- Reposting the same content repeatedly – This may trigger more blocking
- Editing the post but leaving in policy-violating elements
- Appealing without removing problematic content first
- Trying to share content using another account or page you manage
- Sharing on Facebook groups or messenger if your profile/page is blocked
- Using third-party apps or services to try to re-share blocked content
- Attempting to share content to your friends’ profiles or pages
- Spamming Facebook’s support channels to complain
- Trying to find workaround technical exploits to unblock content
Doing any of these may result in even more aggressive blocking from Facebook rather than resolving your 403 issues.
Steps to successfully appealing a 403 error on Facebook
If you believe your content was wrongly blocked by the 403 error, you can submit an appeal to Facebook. Here are the steps:
- Review the content thoroughly and remove/edit anything that violates policies, even minor issues.
- Locate the sharing block notification from Facebook, which should indicate what caused the 403 error.
- Click “Request Review” – this opens an appeals form.
- Explain clearly why you believe the content was blocked in error.
- Provide context showing the content is appropriate for Facebook.
- Emphasize if you edited the content to comply with all policies.
- Submit the appeal and wait for Facebook’s response – this can take over a day in some cases.
- Do not attempt to reshare the content while appeal is pending.
With a precise, policy-compliant appeal explaining why the block was mistaken, you have a good chance of getting the 403 error overturned.
Why you should avoid trying to circumvent a 403 block
It is not advisable to try shortcut methods to get around a 403 error, such as:
- Using proxy sites or VPNs to share blocked links
- Creating duplicate Facebook accounts
- Editing posts to sneak blocked content through review
- Technically modifying blocked content to evade detection
- Sharing blocked posts as images to avoid link scanning
Attempting to circumvent blocks this way can lead to:
- Extended or permanent blocking of your Facebook account
- IP address blocks that also affect other accounts
- Facebook disabling any applications used to evade enforcement
- Legal action if violating laws against hacking or spamming
It’s best to always go through proper channels for appealing blocks to avoid severe consequences from trying to circumvent Facebook’s rules. Persistently trying to reshare inappropriate content despite blocks will signal to Facebook that your account lacks good intentions.
Tips to avoid 403 errors when sharing on Facebook
Here are some tips to follow to minimize running into 403 blocking errors when posting content on Facebook:
- Familiarize yourself thoroughly with Facebook’s Community Standards and posting guidelines.
- Evaluate any content for policy compliance before sharing.
- Avoid sensationalized headlines and choose link titles carefully.
- Check links for any history of spam or policy violations.
- Use original credible sources and properly attribute any reused content.
- Add context and clarity to controversial posts to avoid misinterpretation.
- Report any abusive or misleading content you see to improve Facebook.
- Appeal blocks promptly and respectfully if you believe they made a mistake.
Proactively keeping Facebook’s rules in mind with your posting habits can limit risks of hitting share limits.
What to do if your account is completely blocked from sharing
If your account receives enough 403 errors, Facebook may completely disable your ability to post or share content for a period of time. If this happens:
- Avoid trying to post around the block as this can increase the disabling duration
- Check carefully for any notification from Facebook explaining the reasons for blocking
- Remove any old content that may have violated policies to clean up your profile
- Submit polite appeals requesting the block be lifted after reviewing policies
- Wait patiently for the disabling period to expire if appeals are rejected
- Reflect on what content may have broken rules and improve posting habits going forward
With a constructive mindset and willingness to learn from mistakes, most accounts can recover from sharing blocks. Temporary disables are intended to give you a chance to reset and engage positively.
Conclusion
Error 403 on Facebook share can be frustrating, but is generally fixable. Carefully examining your content, avoiding policy violations, and submitting clear appeals can help resolve 403 blocking issues. With enhanced posting habits that follow Facebook’s standards, you can avoid further problems and develop a trusted presence on the platform.