Original Content and Facebook's Policies

Introduction

The fastest way to lose a chance of earning on Facebook is to post content that is not yours. Meta has said it wants to reward original creators and reduce the reach of accounts that mostly repost other people's work. This lesson explains how to stay on the right side of the rules.

Read Meta's current policies yourself, because they change. This lesson is a guide, not a legal opinion.

The simple explanation

Original means you made it or added real value of your own. Re-uploading someone else's work is not original, even if you credit them.

What is usually safe

• Videos you filmed and edited yourself
• Your own writing, ideas, tutorials, reviews and opinions
• Material you have written permission to use, or that has a licence that allows your use
• Reaction or commentary content that adds real new value, while using only small parts and following the rules

What puts you at risk

• Reposting videos, memes or photos from other creators or pages
• Stitching together clips from other people with little change
• Slideshows of stolen images, or videos with ripped audio and music you have no rights to
• Spammy, repetitive posts meant to farm reach
• Misleading or sensational content, such as fake news, false health claims or clickbait that does not match the content
• Re-uploading your own old content again and again without adding anything new

Consequences can include lower reach, losing monetization, content removal and, for repeat problems, losing the page.

Music, images and copyright

Music, film clips and images usually belong to someone. Use music from the library Meta provides for creators where it is allowed for your account, and check what a track can be used for. Do not assume that a song you hear on the radio is free to use. The copyright owner can have your video muted or removed, and repeat claims count against you.

Community Standards

Meta's Community Standards ban things such as hate, harassment, dangerous misinformation, scams and graphic violence. Even a monetized page can lose earnings or be removed if it breaks them. Read the current Community Standards and the monetization policies for creators.

Using AI responsibly

AI can help you write scripts, brainstorm ideas, edit video and make thumbnails, but the same originality and honesty rules apply.

• Do not mass-produce low-quality, repetitive AI videos or posts. This is exactly what platforms try to reduce.
• Add your own knowledge, voice, footage or perspective.
• Do not use AI to fake real people, events, endorsements or news.
• Follow Meta's rules on labelling AI-made or heavily edited media where required, and keep up with changes.
• Check facts. AI can invent them.

A simple originality test

Before posting, ask:

1. Did I make this, or have clear permission?
2. Would it still be valuable if the original source was removed?
3. Does it help, inform or entertain someone in a way they cannot get from a copy?

If the honest answer to any is no, improve it or do not post it.

Try it yourself

List ten ideas for content you could make from your own experience or knowledge. Mark each one that relies on someone else's material, and rewrite it so that your own work is the main part.

Summary

• Original content is made by you or used with permission. Reposting, even with credit, is risky.
• Follow copyright, music and Community Standards rules, or you can lose reach and earnings.
• AI is a helper. Add your own value, check facts, and never fake people or news.