Community Standards

ARCHIVED 2025-12-04, DATE APPROXIMATE · VERSION 20251204_rev01 · COMPARED WITH 20250702_rev01

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2
3Policies
4
5[Community Standards](/policies/community-standards/)[Meta Advertising Standards](/policies/ad-standards/)[Other policies](/policies/other-policies/)[How Meta improves](/policies/improving/)[Age-Appropriate Content](/policies/age-appropriate-content/)
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7- * *
8
9Features
10
11[Our approach to dangerous organizations and individuals](/features/dangerous-orgs-and-individuals/)[Our approach to the opioid epidemic](/features/supporting-communities-opioid-epidemic/)[Our approach to elections](/features/approach-to-elections/)[Our approach to misinformation](/policies/community-standards/misinformation/)[Our approach to newsworthy content](/features/approach-to-newsworthy-content/)[Our approach to Facebook Feed ranking](/features/ranking-and-content/)[Our approach to explaining ranking](/features/explaining-ranking/)[Accessibility at Meta](/features/accessibility-at-meta/)
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14
15Research tools
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17[Content Library and Content Library API](/researchtools/meta-content-library/)[Ad Library Tools](/researchtools/ad-library-tools/)[Other research tools and data catalogue](/researchtools/other-datasets/)
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20
21Enforcement
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23[Detecting violations](/enforcement/detecting-violations/)[Taking action](/enforcement/taking-action/)
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26
27Governance
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29[Governance innovation](/governance/innovation/)[Oversight Board overview](/oversight/overview/)[How to appeal to the Oversight Board](/oversight/appealing-to-oversight-board/)[Oversight Board cases](/oversight/oversight-board-cases/)[Oversight Board recommendations](/oversight/oversight-board-recommendations/)[Creating the Oversight Board](/oversight/creation-of-oversight-board/)[Oversight Board: Further asked questions](/oversight/further-asked-questions/)[Meta's Bi-Annual Updates on the Oversight Board](/oversight/meta-biannual-updates-on-the-oversight-board/)[Tracking the Oversight Board's Impact](/governance/tracking-impact/)
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32
33Security
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35[Threat disruptions](/metasecurity/threat-disruptions/)[Security threats](/metasecurity/security-threats/)[Threat reporting](/metasecurity/threat-reporting/)
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37- * *
38
39Reports
40
41[Community Standards Enforcement Report](/reports/community-standards-enforcement/)[Intellectual Property](/reports/intellectual-property/)[Government Requests for User Data](/reports/government-data-requests/)[Content Restrictions Based on Local Law](/reports/content-restrictions/)[Internet Disruptions](/reports/internet-disruptions/)[Widely Viewed Content Report](/reports/widely-viewed-content-report/)[Regulatory and Other Transparency Reports](/reports/regulatory-transparency-reports/)
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43- * *
44
45Policies
46
47[Community Standards](/policies/community-standards/)
48
49[Meta Advertising Standards](/policies/ad-standards/)
50
51[Other policies](/policies/other-policies/)
52
53[How Meta improves](/policies/improving/)
54
55[Age-Appropriate Content](/policies/age-appropriate-content/)
56
57Features
58
59[Our approach to dangerous organizations and individuals](/features/dangerous-orgs-and-individuals/)
60
61[Our approach to the opioid epidemic](/features/supporting-communities-opioid-epidemic/)
62
63[Our approach to elections](/features/approach-to-elections/)
64
65[Our approach to misinformation](/policies/community-standards/misinformation/)
66
67[Our approach to newsworthy content](/features/approach-to-newsworthy-content/)
68
69[Our approach to Facebook Feed ranking](/features/ranking-and-content/)
70
71[Our approach to explaining ranking](/features/explaining-ranking/)
72
73[Accessibility at Meta](/features/accessibility-at-meta/)
74
75Research tools
76
77[Content Library and Content Library API](/researchtools/meta-content-library/)
78
79[Ad Library Tools](/researchtools/ad-library-tools/)
80
81[Other research tools and data catalogue](/researchtools/other-datasets/)
82
83Enforcement
84
85[Detecting violations](/enforcement/detecting-violations/)
86
87[Taking action](/enforcement/taking-action/)
88
89Governance
90
91[Governance innovation](/governance/innovation/)
92
93[Oversight Board overview](/oversight/overview/)
94
95[How to appeal to the Oversight Board](/oversight/appealing-to-oversight-board/)
96
97[Oversight Board cases](/oversight/oversight-board-cases/)
98
99[Oversight Board recommendations](/oversight/oversight-board-recommendations/)
100
101[Creating the Oversight Board](/oversight/creation-of-oversight-board/)
102
103[Oversight Board: Further asked questions](/oversight/further-asked-questions/)
104
105[Meta's Bi-Annual Updates on the Oversight Board](/oversight/meta-biannual-updates-on-the-oversight-board/)
106
107[Tracking the Oversight Board's Impact](/governance/tracking-impact/)
108
109Security
110
111[Threat disruptions](/metasecurity/threat-disruptions/)
112
113[Security threats](/metasecurity/security-threats/)
114
115[Threat reporting](/metasecurity/threat-reporting/)
116
117Reports
118
119[Community Standards Enforcement Report](/reports/community-standards-enforcement/)
120
121[Intellectual Property](/reports/intellectual-property/)
122
123[Government Requests for User Data](/reports/government-data-requests/)
124
125[Content Restrictions Based on Local Law](/reports/content-restrictions/)
126
127[Internet Disruptions](/reports/internet-disruptions/)
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129[Widely Viewed Content Report](/reports/widely-viewed-content-report/)
130
131[Regulatory and Other Transparency Reports](/reports/regulatory-transparency-reports/)
132
133Policies
134
135[Community Standards](/policies/community-standards/)
136
137[Meta Advertising Standards](/policies/ad-standards/)
138
139[Other policies](/policies/other-policies/)
140
141[How Meta improves](/policies/improving/)
142
143[Age-Appropriate Content](/policies/age-appropriate-content/)
144
145Features
146
147[Our approach to dangerous organizations and individuals](/features/dangerous-orgs-and-individuals/)
148
149[Our approach to the opioid epidemic](/features/supporting-communities-opioid-epidemic/)
150
151[Our approach to elections](/features/approach-to-elections/)
152
153[Our approach to misinformation](/policies/community-standards/misinformation/)
154
155[Our approach to newsworthy content](/features/approach-to-newsworthy-content/)
156
157[Our approach to Facebook Feed ranking](/features/ranking-and-content/)
158
159[Our approach to explaining ranking](/features/explaining-ranking/)
160
161[Accessibility at Meta](/features/accessibility-at-meta/)
162
163Research tools
164
165[Content Library and Content Library API](/researchtools/meta-content-library/)
166
167[Ad Library Tools](/researchtools/ad-library-tools/)
168
169[Other research tools and data catalogue](/researchtools/other-datasets/)
170
171Security
172
173[Threat disruptions](/metasecurity/threat-disruptions/)
174
175[Security threats](/metasecurity/security-threats/)
176
177[Threat reporting](/metasecurity/threat-reporting/)
178
179Reports
180
181[Community Standards Enforcement Report](/reports/community-standards-enforcement/)
182
183[Intellectual Property](/reports/intellectual-property/)
184
185[Government Requests for User Data](/reports/government-data-requests/)
186
187[Content Restrictions Based on Local Law](/reports/content-restrictions/)
188
189[Internet Disruptions](/reports/internet-disruptions/)
190
191[Widely Viewed Content Report](/reports/widely-viewed-content-report/)
192
193[Regulatory and Other Transparency Reports](/reports/regulatory-transparency-reports/)
194
195Enforcement
196
197[Detecting violations](/enforcement/detecting-violations/)
198
199[Taking action](/enforcement/taking-action/)
200
201Governance
202
203[Governance innovation](/governance/innovation/)
204
205[Oversight Board overview](/oversight/overview/)
206
207[How to appeal to the Oversight Board](/oversight/appealing-to-oversight-board/)
208
209[Oversight Board cases](/oversight/oversight-board-cases/)
210
211[Oversight Board recommendations](/oversight/oversight-board-recommendations/)
212
213[Creating the Oversight Board](/oversight/creation-of-oversight-board/)
214
215[Oversight Board: Further asked questions](/oversight/further-asked-questions/)
216
217[Meta's Bi-Annual Updates on the Oversight Board](/oversight/meta-biannual-updates-on-the-oversight-board/)
218
219[Tracking the Oversight Board's Impact](/governance/tracking-impact/)
220
221Policies
222
223[Community Standards](/policies/community-standards/)
224
225[Meta Advertising Standards](/policies/ad-standards/)
226
227[Other policies](/policies/other-policies/)
228
229[How Meta improves](/policies/improving/)
230
231[Age-Appropriate Content](/policies/age-appropriate-content/)
232
233Features
234
235[Our approach to dangerous organizations and individuals](/features/dangerous-orgs-and-individuals/)
236
237[Our approach to the opioid epidemic](/features/supporting-communities-opioid-epidemic/)
238
239[Our approach to elections](/features/approach-to-elections/)
240
241[Our approach to misinformation](/policies/community-standards/misinformation/)
242
243[Our approach to newsworthy content](/features/approach-to-newsworthy-content/)
244
245[Our approach to Facebook Feed ranking](/features/ranking-and-content/)
246
247[Our approach to explaining ranking](/features/explaining-ranking/)
248
249[Accessibility at Meta](/features/accessibility-at-meta/)
250
251Research tools
252
253[Content Library and Content Library API](/researchtools/meta-content-library/)
254
255[Ad Library Tools](/researchtools/ad-library-tools/)
256
257[Other research tools and data catalogue](/researchtools/other-datasets/)
258
259Enforcement
260
261[Detecting violations](/enforcement/detecting-violations/)
262
263[Taking action](/enforcement/taking-action/)
264
265Governance
266
267[Governance innovation](/governance/innovation/)
268
269[Oversight Board overview](/oversight/overview/)
270
271[How to appeal to the Oversight Board](/oversight/appealing-to-oversight-board/)
272
273[Oversight Board cases](/oversight/oversight-board-cases/)
274
275[Oversight Board recommendations](/oversight/oversight-board-recommendations/)
276
277[Creating the Oversight Board](/oversight/creation-of-oversight-board/)
278
279[Oversight Board: Further asked questions](/oversight/further-asked-questions/)
280
281[Meta's Bi-Annual Updates on the Oversight Board](/oversight/meta-biannual-updates-on-the-oversight-board/)
282
283[Tracking the Oversight Board's Impact](/governance/tracking-impact/)
284
285Security
286
287[Threat disruptions](/metasecurity/threat-disruptions/)
288
289[Security threats](/metasecurity/security-threats/)
290
291[Threat reporting](/metasecurity/threat-reporting/)
292
293Reports
294
295[Community Standards Enforcement Report](/reports/community-standards-enforcement/)
296
297[Intellectual Property](/reports/intellectual-property/)
298
299[Government Requests for User Data](/reports/government-data-requests/)
300
301[Content Restrictions Based on Local Law](/reports/content-restrictions/)
302
303[Internet Disruptions](/reports/internet-disruptions/)
304
305[Widely Viewed Content Report](/reports/widely-viewed-content-report/)
306
307[Regulatory and Other Transparency Reports](/reports/regulatory-transparency-reports/)
308
309English (US)
310
311[Privacy Policy](https://www.facebook.com/privacy/policy/)[Terms of Service](https://www.facebook.com/legal/terms/)[Cookies](https://www.facebook.com/privacy/policies/cookies/)
312
313[Transparency Center](/)
314
315Policies
316
317Enforcement
318
319Security
320
321Features
322
323Governance
324
325Research tools
326
327Reports
328
329English (US)
330
331[Home](/)
332
333[Policies](/policies/)
334
335Community Standards
336
337# Community Standards
338
1339The Community Standards outline what is and isn't allowed on Facebook, Instagram, Messenger and Threads.
2340
3### Introduction
341Introduction
4342
343These standards are based on feedback from people and the advice of experts in fields like technology, public safety and human rights. To ensure everyone's voice is valued, we take great care to create standards that include different views and beliefs, especially from people and communities that might otherwise be overlooked or marginalized.
344
5345Every day, people use Facebook, Instagram, Messenger and Threads to share their experiences, connect with friends and family, and build communities. Our services enable billions of people to freely express themselves across countries and cultures and in dozens of languages.
6346
7347Meta recognizes how important it is for Facebook, Instagram, Messenger and Threads to be places where people feel empowered to communicate, and we take our role seriously in keeping abuse off the service. That's why we developed standards for what is and isn't allowed on these services.
8348
9These standards are based on feedback from people and the advice of experts in fields like technology, public safety and human rights. To ensure everyone's voice is valued, we take great care to create standards that include different views and beliefs, especially from people and communities that might otherwise be overlooked or marginalized.
10
11349**Please note that the US English version of the Community Standards reflects the most up to date set of the policies and should be used as the primary document.**
12350
13### Our commitment to voice
351- * *
14352
353Our commitment to voice
354
15355The goal of our Community Standards is to create a place for expression and give people a voice. Meta wants people to be able to talk openly about the issues that matter to them, whether through written comments, photos, music, or other artistic mediums, even if some may disagree or find them objectionable. In some cases, we allow content-which would otherwise go against our standards-if it's [newsworthy](https://transparency.meta.com/features/approach-to-newsworthy-content) and in the public interest. We do this only after weighing the public interest value against the risk of harm, and we look to international human rights standards to make these judgments. In other cases, we may remove content that uses ambiguous or implicit language when additional context allows us to reasonably understand that the content goes against our standards.
16356
17357Our commitment to expression is paramount, but we recognize the internet creates new and increased opportunities for abuse. For these reasons, when we limit expression, we do it in service of one or more of the following values:
18358
19## AUTHENTICITY
359AUTHENTICITY
20360
21361We want to make sure the content people see is authentic. We believe that authenticity creates a better environment for sharing, and that's why we don't want people using our services to misrepresent who they are or what they're doing.
22362
23## SAFETY
363SAFETY
24364
25365We're committed to making Facebook, Instagram, Messenger and Threads safe places. We remove content that could contribute to a risk of harm to the physical security of persons. Content that threatens people has the potential to intimidate, exclude or silence others and isn't allowed on our services.
26366
27## PRIVACY
367PRIVACY
28368
29369We're committed to protecting personal privacy and information. Privacy gives people the freedom to be themselves, choose how and when to share on our services and connect more easily.
30370
31## DIGNITY
371DIGNITY
32372
33373We believe that all people are equal in dignity and rights. We expect that people will respect the dignity of others and not harass or degrade others.
34374
35### Community Standards
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36376
377Community Standards
378
37379Our Community Standards apply to everyone, all around the world, and to all types of content, including AI-generated content.
38380
39381Each section of our Community Standards starts with a "Policy Rationale" that sets out the aims of the policy followed by specific policy lines that outline:
40382
41383Content that's not allowed; and
42384
43385Content that requires additional information or context to enforce on, content that is allowed with a warning screen or content that is allowed but can only be viewed by adults aged 18 and older.
386
387[Coordinating Harm and Promoting Crime](/policies/community-standards/coordinating-harm-publicizing-crime/)
388
389[Dangerous Organizations and Individuals](/policies/community-standards/dangerous-individuals-organizations/)
390
391[Fraud, Scams, and Deceptive Practices](/policies/community-standards/fraud-scams/)
392
393[Restricted Goods and Services](/policies/community-standards/regulated-goods/)
394
395[Violence and Incitement](/policies/community-standards/violence-incitement/)
396
397[Adult Sexual Exploitation](/policies/community-standards/sexual-exploitation-adults/)
398
399[Bullying and Harassment](/policies/community-standards/bullying-harassment/)
400
401[Child Sexual Exploitation, Abuse, and Nudity](/policies/community-standards/child-sexual-exploitation-abuse-nudity/)
402
403[Human Exploitation](/policies/community-standards/human-exploitation/)
404
405[Suicide, Self-Injury, and Eating Disorders](/policies/community-standards/suicide-self-injury/)
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407[Adult Nudity and Sexual Activity](/policies/community-standards/adult-nudity-sexual-activity/)
408
409[Adult Sexual Solicitation and Sexually Explicit Language](/policies/community-standards/sexual-solicitation/)
410
411[Hateful Conduct](/policies/community-standards/hate-speech/)
412
413[Privacy Violations](/policies/community-standards/privacy-violations-image-privacy-rights/)
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415[Violent and Graphic Content](/policies/community-standards/violent-graphic-content/)
416
417[Account Integrity](/policies/community-standards/account-integrity/)
418
419[Authentic Identity Representation](/policies/community-standards/authentic-identity-representation/)
420
421[Cybersecurity](/policies/community-standards/cybersecurity/)
422
423[Inauthentic Behavior](/policies/community-standards/inauthentic-behavior/)
424
425[Memorialization](/policies/community-standards/memorialization/)
426
427[Misinformation](/policies/community-standards/misinformation/)
428
429[Spam](/policies/community-standards/spam/)
430
431[Third-Party Intellectual Property Infringement](/policies/community-standards/intellectual-property/)
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433[Using Meta Intellectual Property and Licenses](/policies/community-standards/meta-intellectual-property/)
434
435[Additional Protection of Minors](/policies/community-standards/additional-protection-minors/)
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437[Locally Illegal Content, Products, or Services](/policies/community-standards/locally-illegal-products-services/)
438
439[User Requests](/policies/community-standards/user-requests/)