Do you have problems with Facebook ad approval?
Read the Facebook Ad Policy for the full details, but I created this post to help simplify the Facebook ad guidelines as a go-to reference.
It is a lot easier to prevent problems than deal with the consequences. In this case, the consequences can be a cancellation of your Facebook ad or termination of an account.
Facebook ads are reviewed before getting approved to show on both the Facebook or Instagram platforms. Facebook makes sure the ad complies with its ad policy. It can up to twenty-four hours to get an ad approved.
Continue reading for what Facebook looks over when reviewing the ad, common problems Facebook encounters, Facebook ad prohibited content, other Facebook ad guidelines, and how to troubleshoot when your Facebook ad account was disabled for policy violation.
Facebook Ad Guidelines | Reviewing the Ad
- Images
- Text
- Targeting
- Positioning
- Landing page content
Facebook Ad Problem Areas
Personal Attributes
Race
Religion or philosophical beliefs
Age
Sexual orientation or sexual behavior
Gender identity
Disability or medical condition
Financial status or information
Voting Status
Membership in a trade union
Criminal record
Name
Adult Content
Sexually suggestive content or explicit content
Brand Usage
Ads should not represent Facebook
Facebook brand assets should not be modified in any way (such as changing the design or color)
Facebook wants to maintain a positive experience for users, but Facebook ads are still needed for the revenue it brings in to support the platform.
Facebook Ad Prohibited Content
This section covers what is not allowed in Facebook ads:
Prohibited Content
Avoid violating Facebook’s community standards (authenticity, safety, privacy, and dignity values)
Illegal products or services
Discriminatory practices
Tobacco and related products
Drugs and drug-related products
Unsafe supplements
Weapons, ammunition, or explosives
Adult products or services
Adult content
Third-party infringement
Sensational content
Personal attributes
Misinformation
Controversial content
Non-functional landing page
Cheating and deceitful practices
Grammar and profanity
Nonexistent functionality (features that do not work)
Personal health (“before-and-after” images)
Payday loans, paycheck advances, and bail bonds
Multilevel marketing
Penny auctions
Misleading claims
Low quality or disruptive content
Spyware or malware
Automatic animation
Unacceptable business practices (scamming)
Circumventing systems (techniques to bypass the ad review process)
Prohibited financial products and services
Sale of body parts
Vaccine discouragement
Restricted Content
Alcohol
Dating
Online gambling and gaming
Online pharmacies
Promotion of over-the-counter drugs
Subscription services
Financial and insurance products and services
Branded content
Ads about social issues, elections or politics
Disclaimers for ads about social issues, elections or politics
Cryptocurrency products and services
Drug and alcohol addiction treatment
Cosmetic procedures and weight loss
Social casino games
Other Facebook Ad Guidelines
Video Ads
Disruptive content (flashing screens)
Entertainment-related restrictions (you can request written permission from Facebook for mature audience ads)
Lead Ads
Questions should not reflect the following:
Account numbers
Criminal history
Financial information
Government-issued identifiers
Health information
Insurance information
Political affiliation
Race or ethnicity
Religion
Sexual orientation
Prefill questions
Trade union membership
Usernames or passwords
Targeting
Discrimination
Custom audiences terms (do not sell or transfer your custom audience information)
Positioning
Relevance
Accuracy (clearly represent the company, product, service, or brand being advertised)
Related landing pages (the ad’s text needs to match what is being promoted on the landing page)
Facebook Ad Account Disabled for Policy Violation
Because of advertisers that make Facebook unsafe, the Facebook ad policy has many rules to follow. If your Facebook ad was disabled for a policy violation, take your time looking into the solution. You will either end up editing your ad or submitting a review for Facebook ad approval.
Facebook will consider an advertiser unsafe to advertise on their platform if you have repeated violations.
Edit Your Ad
Check your email from Facebook
Edit ad according to the instructions from the email
Appeal the Decision
When you think Facebook made a mistake, you can submit a review: https://www.facebook.com/accountquality.
Final Thoughts
I tried my best to simplify the Facebook ad policy. If you can remember anything, remember this: do no ask for sensitive information, use any offensive text, or misleading messages.
For the detailed Facebook ad guidelines, here is the link: https://www.facebook.com/policies/ads/.
Tell me about a time your Facebook ad was rejected and what you did to fix it to get approved in the comments below!
FAQ
Why am I being charged for a Facebook ad?
If you know you did not create an ad in your Ads Manager account, your account may have been hacked.
Change your password to your Facebook account.
Report to Facebook. Click the down arrow (upper right-hand corner on your Facebook homepage) >> Help & Support >> Report a Problem. Check the status of your report in Help & Support >> Support Inbox.
How do I accept Facebook ad policy?
You will receive a notification to accept the Facebook ad policy before you can publish an ad in Facebook Ads Manager.
Can you say you in a Facebook ad?
It depends on how you use it.
Facebook will reject your Facebook ad if you point out personal attributes. Personal attributes include an individual’s personality trait or characteristic.
