Community Standards
ARCHIVED 2026-01-01, DATE APPROXIMATE · VERSION 20260101_rev01 · COMPARED WITH 20251204_rev01
Full text changes — 20251204_rev01 to 20260101_rev01
COLOUR MARKS THE SEVERITY OF A FLAGGED CLAUSE · + AND − MARK ADDED AND REMOVED
| 1 | - * * | |
| 2 | ||
| 3 | Policies | |
| 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/) | |
| 6 | ||
| 7 | - * * | |
| 8 | ||
| 9 | Features | |
| 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/) | |
| 12 | ||
| 13 | - * * | |
| 14 | ||
| 15 | Research tools | |
| 16 | ||
| 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/) | |
| 18 | ||
| 19 | - * * | |
| 20 | ||
| 21 | Enforcement | |
| 22 | ||
| 23 | [Detecting violations](/enforcement/detecting-violations/)[Taking action](/enforcement/taking-action/) | |
| 24 | ||
| 25 | - * * | |
| 26 | ||
| 27 | Governance | |
| 28 | ||
| 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/) | |
| 30 | ||
| 31 | - * * | |
| 32 | ||
| 33 | Security | |
| 34 | ||
| 35 | [Threat disruptions](/metasecurity/threat-disruptions/)[Security threats](/metasecurity/security-threats/)[Threat reporting](/metasecurity/threat-reporting/) | |
| 36 | ||
| 37 | - * * | |
| 38 | ||
| 39 | Reports | |
| 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/) | |
| 42 | ||
| 43 | - * * | |
| 44 | ||
| 45 | Policies | |
| 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 | ||
| 57 | Features | |
| 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 | ||
| 75 | Research 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 | ||
| 83 | Enforcement | |
| 84 | ||
| 85 | [Detecting violations](/enforcement/detecting-violations/) | |
| 86 | ||
| 87 | [Taking action](/enforcement/taking-action/) | |
| 88 | ||
| 89 | Governance | |
| 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 | ||
| 109 | Security | |
| 110 | ||
| 111 | [Threat disruptions](/metasecurity/threat-disruptions/) | |
| 112 | ||
| 113 | [Security threats](/metasecurity/security-threats/) | |
| 114 | ||
| 115 | [Threat reporting](/metasecurity/threat-reporting/) | |
| 116 | ||
| 117 | Reports | |
| 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/) | |
| 128 | ||
| 129 | [Widely Viewed Content Report](/reports/widely-viewed-content-report/) | |
| 130 | ||
| 131 | [Regulatory and Other Transparency Reports](/reports/regulatory-transparency-reports/) | |
| 132 | ||
| 133 | Policies | |
| 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 | ||
| 145 | Features | |
| 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 | ||
| 163 | Research 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 | ||
| 171 | Security | |
| 172 | ||
| 173 | [Threat disruptions](/metasecurity/threat-disruptions/) | |
| 174 | ||
| 175 | [Security threats](/metasecurity/security-threats/) | |
| 176 | ||
| 177 | [Threat reporting](/metasecurity/threat-reporting/) | |
| 178 | ||
| 179 | Reports | |
| 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 | ||
| 195 | Enforcement | |
| 196 | ||
| 197 | [Detecting violations](/enforcement/detecting-violations/) | |
| 198 | ||
| 199 | [Taking action](/enforcement/taking-action/) | |
| 200 | ||
| 201 | Governance | |
| 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 | ||
| 221 | Policies | |
| 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 | ||
| 233 | Features | |
| 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 | ||
| 251 | Research 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 | ||
| 259 | Enforcement | |
| 260 | ||
| 261 | [Detecting violations](/enforcement/detecting-violations/) | |
| 262 | ||
| 263 | [Taking action](/enforcement/taking-action/) | |
| 264 | ||
| 265 | Governance | |
| 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 | ||
| 285 | Security | |
| 286 | ||
| 287 | [Threat disruptions](/metasecurity/threat-disruptions/) | |
| 288 | ||
| 289 | [Security threats](/metasecurity/security-threats/) | |
| 290 | ||
| 291 | [Threat reporting](/metasecurity/threat-reporting/) | |
| 292 | ||
| 293 | Reports | |
| 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 | ||
| 309 | English (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 | ||
| 315 | Policies | |
| 316 | ||
| 317 | Enforcement | |
| 318 | ||
| 319 | Security | |
| 320 | ||
| 321 | Features | |
| 322 | ||
| 323 | Governance | |
| 324 | ||
| 325 | Research tools | |
| 326 | ||
| 327 | Reports | |
| 328 | ||
| 329 | English (US) | |
| 330 | ||
| 331 | [Home](/) | |
| 332 | ||
| 333 | [Policies](/policies/) | |
| 334 | ||
| 335 | Community Standards | |
| 336 | ||
| 337 | # Community Standards | |
| 338 | ||
| 339 | 1 | The Community Standards outline what is and isn't allowed on Facebook, Instagram, Messenger and Threads. |
| 340 | 2 | |
| 341 | 3 | Introduction |
| 342 | 4 | |
| 343 | 5 | These 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 | 6 | |
| 345 | 7 | Every 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. |
| 346 | 8 | |
| 347 | 9 | Meta 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. |
| 348 | 10 | |
| 349 | 11 | **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.** |
| 350 | 12 | |
| 351 | - * * | |
| 352 | ||
| 353 | 13 | Our commitment to voice |
| 354 | 14 | |
| 355 | 15 | The 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. |
| 356 | 16 | |
| 357 | 17 | Our 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: |
| 358 | 18 | |
| 369 | 29 | We'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. |
| 370 | 30 | |
| 371 | 31 | DIGNITY |
| 372 | 32 | |
| 373 | 33 | We 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. |
| 374 | 34 | |
| 375 | - * * | |
| 376 | ||
| 377 | 35 | Community Standards |
| 378 | 36 | |
| 379 | 37 | Our Community Standards apply to everyone, all around the world, and to all types of content, including AI-generated content. |
| 380 | 38 | |
| 381 | 39 | Each 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: |
| 382 | 40 | |
| 383 | 41 | Content that's not allowed; and |
| 384 | 42 | |
| 385 | 43 | Content 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/) | |
| 406 | ||
| 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/) | |
| 414 | ||
| 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/) | |
| 432 | ||
| 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/) | |
| 436 | ||
| 437 | [Locally Illegal Content, Products, or Services](/policies/community-standards/locally-illegal-products-services/) | |
| 438 | ||
| 439 | [User Requests](/policies/community-standards/user-requests/) |