Getting a post rejected on Facebook can be frustrating. There are a few common reasons why Facebook may reject a post:
Your post contained prohibited content
Facebook has rules about what type of content is allowed on their platform. Some prohibited content includes:
- Nudity or sexual content
- Hate speech, threats, or bullying
- Graphic violence
- Copyright violations or unauthorized use of someone else’s content
- Misinformation or false news
- Clickbait or sensational content
- Spam
If your post contained any of this prohibited content, that is likely why it was rejected. Facebook’s content moderators are always reviewing posts and will remove anything that violates their Community Standards.
Your post contained false or misleading information
In addition to banning hate speech and threats, Facebook also cracks down on false news and misinformation. This includes posts that:
- Make false claims
- Promote conspiracy theories
- Contain demonstrably inaccurate data
- Misrepresent or distort facts
Facebook works with independent fact-checkers to review posts and tag misinformation. If your post was flagged by fact-checkers as misleading or false, that could be why it was rejected.
Your post was spam or contained clickbait
Facebook aims to provide a positive user experience and limit low-quality content. Posts may get rejected if they:
- Are repetitive/mass posted across groups
- Are posted too frequently
- Use attention-grabbing headlines with no meaningful content
- Direct people off Facebook with no or little value
These types of “clickbait” or spam posts clutter up feeds and provide no real value to readers. Facebook will reject them to maintain the quality of the platform.
Your post contained unauthorized or infringing content
You cannot share content that you do not have rights to post. Some examples of infringing content:
- Reposting an article or video without permission
- Using someone else’s images or artwork without credit
- Sharing copyrighted material like movie clips, sports broadcasts, etc.
Facebook respects copyrights and will reject posts that use protected content without authorization. Make sure you have rights to anything you share.
You violated Facebook’s ad policies
If your post promoted a product, business, or service, it may have been considered an unpaid ad. Facebook has strict ad review policies that prohibit:
- Ads for illegal, regulated, or dangerous products
- Misleading claims about health benefits or weight loss products
- Promotions involving deceptive practices
- Low-quality, disruptive, or negative engagement bait ads
Review Facebook’s ad guidelines carefully if your rejected post was an unofficial advertisement.
Your account or post violated other Facebook policies
In some cases, a post may be rejected because the associated account violated Facebook rules. For example:
- Using a fake or duplicate account
- Pretending to be someone else
- Abusing tagging or @mentions
- Creating multiple accounts to get around a block
Posts associated with rule-breaking accounts are more likely to get rejected, even if the post itself did not contain prohibited content. Make sure your account is following all Facebook policies.
It was an accidental or automated rejection
With millions of posts created each day, an occasional mistaken rejection can happen. Reasons may include:
- A flaw in the automated moderation system
- An incorrect decision made in human review
- Unclear policies leading to inconsistent enforcement
- A bug in the review process
If you believe your post was rejected in error, you can appeal the decision and ask Facebook to review it again. Mistakes do happen, although Facebook aims to minimize them.
How to avoid post rejections in the future
Here are some tips to help avoid getting your posts rejected again:
- Carefully review Facebook’s Community Standards and follow all policies.
- Avoid posting graphic, explicit, dangerous, or hateful content.
- Fact check information and don’t spread misinformation or clickbait.
- Only share content you created or have permission to use.
- Follow all Facebook ad policies if promoting a product or business.
- Use your authentic identity and do not misrepresent yourself.
- Be thoughtful about tagging people and don’t spam.
Putting some extra care into reviewing your posts before publishing can help avoid rejections. But know that even following all the rules, mistakes can happen. If you believe your post was wrongly rejected, you can appeal the decision.
How to appeal a rejected post
If you think your post was incorrectly rejected, you can request a review from Facebook:
- Click on the notification you received about your post being taken down.
- Select “Request Review.”
- Explain why you believe your post should not have been removed.
- Wait for Facebook to re-review your post.
- If rejected again, you can submit another appeal explanation.
Keep your appeal concise and focused on why the content does not actually violate Facebook policies. Be polite. Hostile or vague appeals are less likely to be successful. With patience and persistence, many wrongly rejected posts are restored.
Conclusion
Understanding Facebook’s rules and closely reviewing your posts is the best way to avoid rejections. But if you believe your post was mistakenly taken down, don’t hesitate to appeal the decision. With care and attention to the policies, you should be able to successfully share your voice on Facebook.
Key Reasons for Facebook Post Rejections
| Reason | Example Violations |
|---|---|
| Prohibited content | Nudity, hate speech, graphic violence |
| False information | Misinformation, conspiracy theories |
| Spam/clickbait | Repetitive posts, sensational headlines |
| Copyright violations | Reposted articles, unauthorized images |
| Ad policy violations | Misleading health claims, negative engagement bait |
| Account policy violations | Fake accounts, pretending to be someone else |
| Mistakes | Flaws in review system, human error |
Tips to Avoid Future Rejections
| Tip | Details |
|---|---|
| Review policies | Carefully read Facebook’s rules and standards |
| Vet content | Avoid posting graphic, dangerous, or hateful material |
| Fact check | Don’t spread misinformation or clickbait |
| Verify permissions | Only share content you have rights to use |
| Follow ad rules | Comply with all Facebook ad policies |
| Use authentic identity | Don’t misrepresent yourself on your account |
| Be thoughtful about tagging | Don’t spam or abuse mentions |
Appealing a Rejection
| Step | Action |
|---|---|
| 1 | Click on post rejection notification |
| 2 | Select “Request Review” |
| 3 | Explain why post should not be removed |
| 4 | Wait for Facebook to re-review |
| 5 | Submit additional appeals if needed |