I received an urgent email from someone who messed up on Facebook big time. I warned this person that they were in violation of the Facebook Terms of Service Agreement. Here’s what I received from them.
“Just got shut off from fb I have two pages one a friend page and the other a like page. The message said to convert my friend page because I am in violation but every time I try I can’t seem to do it and as a result, I no longer have access to my like page that I am hosting a draw on for tomorrow. Can you call me ####### please, I’m desperate.” [Personal ID parts removed]
Fortunately, we had previously set up another Admin for the Facebook Page. They had forgotten that this had been done earlier. This was their way to the Facebook Page. I saw this person posting the next day on their Facebook Page.
So what had this person done that was in violation of the Facebook Terms of Service?
Here’s some information on what Facebook does not permit on a Facebook Profile [personal account]:
- You will not post unauthorized commercial communications (such as spam) on Facebook.
- You will not use your personal timeline primarily for your own commercial gain, and will use a Facebook Page for such purposes.
- You will follow our Promotions Guidelines and all applicable laws if you publicize or offer any contest, giveaway, or sweepstakes (“promotion”) on Facebook.
Facebook Terms of Service – Screenshot
Needless to say, this person did not have a leg to stand on in regards to getting his Profile back. When Facebook tears down a Profile for violating their Terms of Service, they write further in the terms: “If we disable your account, you will not create another one without our permission.”
So what can we learn from this example?
- If you use your Facebook Profile [personal account] for business, it will get pulled down by Facebook. All the equity that you have built there will be gone in one brief moment.
- If you have a Facebook Page and you are the only Admin, you will lose access to your Facebook Page.
- If you are having a contest, you had better check the rules for THAT day. They change without notice.
- Getting any type of help from Facebook will take time; even if they reply at all. When you break their rules, they will respond appropriately to you.
I hear people talking all the time that Facebook won’t catch them. Well sports, it can happen to you without notice.
For all those people doing the right thing on Facebook, keep on going. For those who are taking chances, your time will come. How ugly the mess is will entirely depend on what you have previously done. If you are in violation of Facebook’s Terms of Service, fix the mess before Facebook shuts you down. Sooner or later, like the RCMP, Facebook will get their man, or woman.
Do the right thing from the start and focus on building for success in business.
