Share
All caps, trigger words and empty promises—these are a few ways a Facebook post can get flagged as a scam. Do you know how to keep your content from getting banned?
Understanding and following Facebook’s community standards are crucial for ensuring your posts stay visible on your page and in the newsfeed. These standards help maintain a safe and respectful community for all users.
Here is a breakdown of what you can and cannot post, mainly focusing on potentially problematic content like scam posts.
You Can Post:
- Personal updates: Share your life events, thoughts and experiences.
- Educational content: Posts that help raise awareness or educate others about relevant issues.
- Community engagement: Sharing events, general conversations and supportive messages that foster connection and support.
You Cannot Post:
- Scams and fraud: Content that misleads users or promotes deceptive practices.
- Misinformation: False information that could harm individuals or groups, particularly in health or safety contexts.
- Hate speech: Attacks based on race, ethnicity or other protected characteristics.
To illustrate the differences between compliant and noncompliant content, let’s examine two posts.
1. Compliant Scam Post (raising awareness)
“Scammers may call threatening disconnection of your service, demanding immediate payment. Hang up and call [XYZ Utility] directly to check the status of your account.”
Why it’s compliant: This post raises awareness about a specific scam tactic without making exaggerated claims or soliciting action inappropriately. It provides valuable information to help users protect themselves.
2. Noncompliant scam post (flagged for violations)
“CALL US NOW BEFORE YOU LOSE YOUR ELECTRICITY! We PROMISE you won’t be a VICTIM of disreputable companies! This is your LAST chance to secure your service—don’t miss out!”
Why it gets flagged:
- Use of all caps: The phrase “CALL US NOW” uses all caps, which are often interpreted as shouting and aggressive solicitation.
- Trigger words: Words like “victim” and “disreputable” indicate potential fraud and victimization.
- Call to action: The directive “Call us BEFORE YOU LOSE YOUR ELECTRICITY!” pressures users and includes all caps and an exclamation mark, making it more likely to be flagged as a solicitation.
- Promises: Using “We PROMISE” suggests a lack of credibility and raises concerns about misleading claims.
- Urgency and investment language: Phrases like “LAST chance” can create unnecessary panic, resembling scam tactics.
Key Phrases to Avoid
When creating your posts, be aware of phrases that could trigger a flag:
- Investment guarantees: “Risk-Free” or “Guaranteed Results”
- Urgency: “Don’t Miss Out!” or “Offer Ends Soon!”
- Pressure language: “Immediate Action Required!”
Navigating Facebook’s community standards can be complex, but knowing the rules helps you create engaging and compliant content. Avoiding deceptive language and aggressive calls to action is vital for maintaining a trustworthy online presence and assuring your posts won’t be removed from the platform. For more detailed information on Facebook’s policies, visit its community standards.