- Scroll down for directions on what to do to protect your account
- Add 2-step verification
- Close your open sessions
- Most importantly, remember to LOGOUT!
“Facebook Jail” is an unofficial term for when Facebook temporarily or permanently restricts an account for violating its Community Standards. It is not a real jail but a restriction on a user’s ability to engage with the platform.
Common reasons for “Facebook jail” include Account restrictions that are typically caused by violating Facebook’s rules, which are enforced by algorithms and human moderators. Common infractions include:
- Posting harmful or objectionable content: This includes nudity, hate speech, graphic violence, or threats.
- Spamming: Posting too frequently, sending excessive messages or friend requests within a short time, or using bots for engagement can be flagged as spam.
- Spreading misinformation: Sharing misleading or false information, particularly concerning public health or elections, can trigger action from Facebook.
- Using fake profiles: Maintaining an inauthentic or imposter profile is a violation of Facebook’s rules.
- Infringing on intellectual property: Sharing content that is not original or properly credited is against the platform’s policy.
What happens in “Facebook jail”? The severity and duration of the restrictions depend on the violation.
- Temporary restrictions: A user’s account may be restricted for a few hours, several days, or up to 30 days. This may prevent a user from posting, commenting, liking, or sending messages.
- Permanent blocking: For severe or repeated violations, Facebook may permanently disable an account, making recovery nearly impossible.
- Other consequences: Businesses and brands that rely on Facebook can suffer significant setbacks to their marketing and sales if they lose access to their account.
What to do if your account is restricted. If you find yourself in “Facebook jail,” here is what you can do:
- Check your support inbox: The first step is to review any notifications from Facebook to understand the reason for the restriction. The company will not usually notify you by email.
- Wait out the suspension: For temporary restrictions, you may just need to wait until the ban period is over. Trying to work around the ban by creating a new account can lead to more serious penalties.
- Appeal the decision: If you believe the restriction was a mistake, you can file an appeal with Facebook. This can be done by clicking “Request Review” on the restriction notice.
- Delete flagged content: If the restriction was based on a specific post or comment, you may need to remove it.
How to Avoid Future Facebook Jail.
- Log in to your Facebook account
- In the upper right corner of your computer browser or the upper left corner of your mobile device…
- Click on your head on the computer / click on the 3 little horizontal lines on your mobile device
- Scroll down to the bottom
- Go to your Settings & Privacy
- Click or Tap on Privacy Center > Click or Tap Privacy Checkup
- Tap on your account
- Tap the orange box “Who Can See What You Share” > Tap Continue
- Tap on and Set All of your Profile Information to “Only Me”
- Your Birthday can be “Friends”
- THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT > At the Very Bottom of Profile Information > Under Friends and Following > Who can see your friends list to “ONLY ME” and Who can see the people, pages, and lists you follow to “Friends”
- When you are finished, click Next
- Under Audience > Who can see your future posts > Change all to just “Friends”
- Click Next
- Under Tagging > This is Very Important > Set Who can see posts you’re tagged in “Only Me”
- When you’re tagged to “Only Me”
- Review tags to ON
- Tap Next
- Tap Next
- Review Another Topic
- Now Tap the Purple “How People find You”
- Tap Continue
- Tap “Friends of Friends” Under Who Can Send You Friend Requests
- Tap Next
- Under the Blue Facebook Security > I highly recommend turning on 2-step verification with either the Google Authenticator App or an SMS code to your cell phone
- Also under Password & Security > Go to Where you’re logged in >
- Tap each account > Go through each one that is older than this week > Select It > And at the bottom Tap “Select devices to log out”
- You can set up Login Alerts
- Unfortunately, if you have a Facebook Business Account, the settings must be set to Public – but your personal account controls your business account.