Social media platforms have extensive guidelines, policies, and terms of service that users must follow. However, many people unintentionally break these rules. Getting punished for violations can result in content removal, account suspensions, or even permanent terminations.
Let‘s explore 21 common ways people unknowingly violate social media guidelines:
1. Using a Stock Photo as a Profile Picture
Twitter prohibits accounts that intend to mislead others. Using a random stock photo rather than your real photo can get flagged as a fake account. While not definitive proof, it‘s one signal Twitter‘s algorithm uses to detect spam and fakes.
2. Entering the Wrong Birthdate
Facebook‘s community standards forbid providing false information, including incorrect birthdates. If you lied about your age to sign up early or for other reasons, you risk losing your account if discovered.
3. Using an Incorrect Name
Similarly, Facebook requires users to provide their authentic name – the one friends use in real life. Using an alias or fake name violates their misrepresentation policy. Failing to show ID matching your account name could result in termination.
4. Attempting to Use a URL as a Username
Some platforms no longer allow domain names or URLs as usernames. Instagram‘s terms explicitly forbid this without written consent. Trying to set a URL as your username will likely trigger an error.
5. Not Logging In for Extended Periods
Twitter requires users to login and tweet at minimum once every 6 months. Prolonged inactivity may result in permanent deletion due to their inactive account policy.
6. Creating Multiple Personal Accounts
Facebook permits only one account per person for personal use, though you can have unlimited pages and groups. Getting caught with two or more personal accounts risks losing both through policy violation.
7. Using the Pinterest Wordmark
Pinterest‘s brand guidelines strictly control use of their wordmark and logos. Only their badge is approved for use. Despite availability on sites like Canva, the official wordmark remains off-limits.
8. Selling Likes, Mentions, or Retweets
Twitter prohibits inflating metrics through coordination or purchasing likes/retweets. Offering social media promotions to trade follows or tweets qualifies as artificial engagement, violating their policy.
9. Allowing Multiple Contest Entries Per Person
Pinterest contests must limit participants to just one entry each. Their community guidelines forbid contests allowing more per person.
10. Not Stating the Platform Doesn‘t Endorse Your Contest
Facebook mandates that promotions on pages, groups, or events clearly state no sponsorship or endorsement from Facebook. Failing to include the required disclaimer violates policy.
11. Requiring Friends Tags for Contest Entries
Asking users to tag friends in exchange for contest entry leverages personal connections for promotion, which Facebook prohibits. Keep entries confined within your page or group only.
12. Running Raffles or Lotteries
Facebook doesn‘t allow pages, groups, or events to facilitate raffles or chance-based contests without explicit permission. Raffles meeting legal definitions of gambling or lottery face potential fines or criminal charges.
13. Creating New Accounts After Suspensions or Bans
Most platforms forbid creating fresh accounts to evade punishments doled out to your original profile. Twitter details an extensive ban evasion policy outlining all prohibited circumvention tactics.
14. Sharing Others‘ Content Without Permission
All social platforms require proper licensing for reused content. Downloading and reposting videos, images, or other media without permission risks copyright strikes, removal, or account penalties.
15. Incentivizing Positive Reviews for Compensation
Facebook doesn‘t allow pages or groups to solicit inflated or false reviews in return for free products or payment. Besides policy violation, fake reviews damage integrity and consumer trust.
16. Participating in Follow Trains
Twitter explicitly prohibits reciprocal inflation of followers through coordinated efforts like follow trains. These schemes artificially inflate stats in ways defined as platform manipulation.
17. Buying or Selling Accounts
Purchasing or selling Twitter usernames and accounts falls under artificial inflation rules. The practice allows buyers instant followings and finances sellers at the platform‘s expense.
18. Copy-Pasting Comments
Instagram discourages repetitive comments as part of their spam policy. While commenting itself boosts engagement, pasting duplicate comments comes off as fake and may risk violations.
19. Wishing Harm on Others, Even in Jest
Most platforms have anti-bullying and harassment policies allowing suspensions for threatening physical harm. What you see as joking may still qualify as policy violation to others.
20. Repeated, Unwanted Contact
Facebook provides extensive criteria defining harassment, including unwanted communication directed at those who‘ve declined contact. Persisting despite objections often violates guidelines.
21. Assuming You Have an Inalienable Right to a Social Media Presence
The terms of service across all major platforms reserve their right to ban users for any reason. Social networks remain private enterprises under no obligation to serve every prospective user. Their house, their rules.
Reviewing a platform‘s rules can feel tedious, but remains worthwhile for avoiding violations that could undo years building an audience. Protect your access by staying aware of guidelines that govern acceptable use of each community you join.
What potential violations do you see happening often online? Have you ever faced moderation for crossing the line? Share your thoughts and experiences around social media policy pitfalls!
