Facebook has strict rules about what type of content is allowed on its platform. These rules are in place to help protect users and create a safe environment. Understanding Facebook’s content policies can help you avoid having your posts, photos, videos or account disabled for violating the rules. Here is an overview of the major categories of content that are not permitted on Facebook.
Graphic Violence
Facebook prohibits any content that depicts graphic violence, whether in written, image or video form. This includes, but is not limited to:
- Depictions of violence against humans or animals
- Footage of violent physical abuse or torture
- Videos of killings or brutal beatings
Some specific examples of graphic violence that are not allowed include:
- Footage of beheadings
- Photos of mutilated body parts
- Videos of mass shootings or terrorist attacks
Facebook understands that some users may share graphic content to raise awareness of issues, but there are limitations to ensure users’ safety. Some exceptions may be made for graphic content shared for educational, documentary or artistic purposes.
Sexual Content
Facebook prohibits sexual content to prevent the exploitation of users. This includes, but is not limited to:
- Depictions of sexual acts such as intercourse or masturbation
- Exposed genitalia, including close-up images
- Pornography or any sexual fetish content
- Digitally-created sexual content
- Content offering or asking for sexual services
Nudity is allowed on Facebook to some extent if not sexual in nature. But close-ups of fully nude buttocks and genitals, sex acts, and female nipples are not allowed.
Hate Speech
Facebook prohibits direct attacks on people based on their race, ethnicity, national origin, disability, religious affiliation, caste, sexual orientation, sex, gender identity or immigration status. This includes:
- Dehumanizing speech such as comparing people to animals or insects
- Mocking someone’s appearance related to disability or disease
- Violent threats against people or places of worship
- Denying the occurrence of historical or recent violent events
- Statements supporting inferiority or exclusion of protected groups
While criticism of immigration policies is allowed, claiming immigrants are inferior or spread diseases is not. Attacks on concepts, institutions, ideological groups or public figures are generally allowed, unless targeting protected groups.
Harassment and Bullying
Facebook does not tolerate harassment, intimidation or bullying against individuals or groups. This includes:
- Repeatedly contacting someone who does not wish to be contacted
- Making threats of physical harm or criminal acts
- Posting sensitive personal information to blackmail or harass
- Sharing intimate photos to shame someone
- Engaging in stalking behaviors
While people can criticize public figures, they cannot credibly threaten others or coordinate harm against them. Comments meant to degrade, mock or shame anyone based on protected characteristics are considered harassment.
False News
Facebook works to reduce the spread of false news and misinformation on its platform. This includes:
- Fabricated stories presented as news reports
- Doctored photos or videos designed to mislead
- Conspiracy theories claiming victims are actors
- Misrepresentation of census data or statistics
Satire and parody content is allowed if it does not deliberately seek to mislead and confuse people. But any content presented to intentionally deceive users violates Facebook’s policies.
Spam
Facebook prohibits spam content, which is defined as:
- Repetitive content with little or no meaningful added value
- Content focused on misleading clickbait headlines
- Mass messages posted in quick succession
- Scams, phishing attempts, or links to malware/viruses
- Nonsense content that obscures more relevant information
Automated bots and excessive posts of the same content are viewed as spam. Facebook aims to maximize meaningful engagement and limit low-quality content.
Illegal Activities
Facebook prohibits promoting or documenting criminal or otherwise illegal activities. This includes:
- Depictions of human trafficking or prostitution activities
- Instructions for selling or making illegal drugs
- Promoting poaching or trading of endangered species
- Showing vandalism against property
- Documenting terrorist acts or recruitment
While newsworthy exceptions may be made, Facebook removes content focused on facilitating or coordinating future criminal acts on its platform.
Regulated Goods
Facebook restricts unauthorized content promoting or selling regulated goods. This includes:
- Sales of firearms, ammunition or explosives
- Trading prescription pharmaceuticals
- Promoting the sale of marijuana or hard drugs
- Facilitating the sale of endangered animals
- Trafficking organs from living donors
Lawfully marketed firearms and medical drugs may be allowed in certain contexts, but require thorough review by Facebook’s content moderation team.
Intellectual Property Violations
Facebook honors intellectual property rights and does not allow unauthorized use of copyrights, trademarks, patents or trade secrets. This includes:
- Uploaded copies of copyrighted books, articles or publications
- Selling counterfeit versions of trademarked products
- Distributing pirated music, movies or television shows
- Posting undisclosed patented inventions or technologies
Fair use exceptions allow commentary, parody, news reporting and educational content. But reproducing substantial portions of copyrighted work requires explicit permission.
Circumvention of Technologies
Facebook does not allow promoting methods to bypass its platform restrictions and enforcement mechanisms. These include:
- Providing technical information on how to illegally hack accounts
- Describing ways to artificially increase distribution for banned content
- Posting code exploits that can crash apps or damage devices
- Sharing pirated software cracks or license key generators
Discussing security vulnerabilities or bugs responsibly with Facebook allows issues to be resolved. But facilitating abuse is prohibited.
Misrepresentation
Facebook aims to provide an authentic social experience and does not allow misrepresentation of identity, purpose or origin. This includes:
- Impersonating individuals, groups, or organizations
- Operating deceptive accounts on behalf of businesses
- Coordinating inauthentic behavior including fake likes or shares
- Representing media outlets without authorization
Satirical impersonation accounts are allowed, provided they comply with other policies and indicate they are not authentic.
Conclusion
Facebook’s content policies aim to create a safe, trusted and authentic community. While the rules limit certain types of content, they protect free expression that does not compromise these principles. Understanding what you can and cannot share will help avoid issues on Facebook.