This evening I’ve been receiving multiple reports from the owners of large “generic” pages that Facebook is systematically disabling the ability of administrators to post status updates. For example the owner of the Facebook Page, “Sex?” let us know that he is no longer able to post status updates from within his page. There are multiple other Page owners that are now contacting us as well. We’ve received information from a number of individuals which are essentially looking to build cross-promotion networks.
Unfortunately that strategy may be in violation of Facebook’s terms and based on Facebook’s activity this evening, it appears that it doesn’t have long-term viability. Numerous brand managers have complained that generic pages damage their ability to promote their brand as it compete with Facebook. For example Pizza Hut may not have a large following but the “Pizza” page happens to have many more fans. Many of the owners behind these generic pages were using the Pages as a tool to cross promote others.
That capability has now been disabled. Instead the pages can only be used to build communities among the users but not to publish to the feed. There doesn’t appear to be a pattern for which pages are disabled but all of the reports we’ve received so far are from page owners with hundreds of thousands of fans if not millions of fans. What’s clear is that Facebook doesn’t want Pages used as a tool for spamming others just as previously occurred with Facebook groups before restrictions were implemented.
Facebook Pages present a huge promotional opportunity but Facebook doesn’t want the feed distribution to be abused. Right now the company gets a lot of traffic from the search engine optimization provided by Pages so it appears they want to avoid totally disabling all Pages. Instead they are simply opting to disable status updates.
We’re in the process of reaching out to companies that have been affected as well as Facebook and will have more to come on this topic momentarily in the morning.
Update
OraBrush, who recently acquired the generic “Kisses” page which now has well over one million users has had their publishing rights disabled. When you register to create a page, Facebook statest, “Please certify that you are an official representative of this brand, organization, or person and that you are permitted to create a Facebook Page for that subject.” I guess it’s not possible to be an official representative of a page.
Additionally the generic pages are not for brands, organizations, or people, the original things that Pages were created for.
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About time. I try not to join any "generic" fan pages. Some of the stupid ones, like being a fan of "not falling down stairs" got on my nerves. Its meant for companies…. other stuff belongs in groups!
Comment by Facebook User — June 11, 2009 @ 9:04 pm
Please tell me this is true. Allowing generic pages is completely unfair to those who played by the rules and created Pages for their company, brand, etc
Comment by Mike Marshan — June 11, 2009 @ 9:53 pm
"Instead the pages can only be used to build communities among the users but not to publish to the feed."
social media is about "connecting" with people, communities, that is the important bit, if people only want to "broadcast" aka shout at me via the feed then I thank facebook for their wise decision.
engagement is where the money is not broadcasting.
@mikeashworth
Comment by mike ashworth — June 11, 2009 @ 10:23 pm
Looks like OraBrush really got its moneys worth…
Comment by Tom — June 12, 2009 @ 5:05 am
This blows…
Comment by Tim — June 12, 2009 @ 6:58 am
Does this apply to all generic Pages or only Pages wwith 500,000 fans as another blog has reported? It should apply to all generic Pages. A generic Page with 100,000 fans can still be tremendously harmful to a competing small business with its own smaller Page who played by the rules and didn't create a generic Page.
Comment by Mike Marshan — June 12, 2009 @ 8:06 am
It's about time. I got tired of all of the spam coming through my news feeds. I hid most of them. Now it looks as if I don't have to worry about this anymore. Now, if I could only get my friends to stop sending their stupid quiz results through.
Comment by Lesa — June 12, 2009 @ 9:26 am
I strongly disagree with this decision, IF it applies to pages that were created AFTER the ability to feed status updates was enabled.
Sure, if someone joined a generic page long ago, having no idea they'd get status updates, then I understand.
But if they joined after that feature was enabled, and then knew what they were getting into… what's the problem? They knew what they were getting into (or should have, at least), and if they don't want the updates – just hide them!
But going after pages creates AFTER the feed/update was part of the deal, it just makes no sense.
Comment by Facebook griper — June 17, 2009 @ 7:12 pm
I'm so glad that they are doing this. I'm tired of these ridiculous "generic" pages like "flip flops," "summer," "weekends," "sushi."
Please disable them all. I wouldn't mind creating a page for something, too, but since it is generic, I'm following the rules because they state that Facebook could disable the account of a user that does it.
If we are allowed to do it, fine, let us know. Otherwise, put a stop to it.
Comment by Jack — June 18, 2009 @ 4:05 pm
Mudkipz!!!
Herd u liek?
Comment by John — February 10, 2010 @ 1:24 am
bonjour,
j'ai souhaité créer une communeauté sur FB dont la page est " je parle à mon chien … et alors?" et a ma grande surprise FB ma désactivé mes droits ?
que puis je faire?
Comment by julien m — May 15, 2010 @ 5:47 am
I need advice please. I want to create a bunch of pages with industry and suburb in the domain name as per example: Facebook.com/PlumberBuffalo
Facebook.com/PlumberDunkirk
Facebook.com/plumberMiddletown
Facebook.com/plumberLongBeach
I run a plumbing company that services 50 suburbs. I want to have these page names so I can be found in google when someone searches for "plumberSUBURB"
Q: are these page names allowed? Or are they a breach because they are deemed generic?
Each page pertains to my core business and suburb which I service, which makes it relevant so I think it could be ok, but I need clarification on whether these are or aren't classified as generic page names.
Can a page name as such result in my page being banned?
Thank you
Comment by Charles — September 2, 2011 @ 9:43 am
im *mel gibson* (https://www.facebook.com/pages/mel-gibson/30803625180) page owner and im only a big fan who wanted to Honor this man Work. But i was banned to Update my page Status !!!
Note that I DID NOT MISUSED the page or changed its activity !!
please advice
Comment by M. Jou — December 13, 2011 @ 4:06 am