Yesterday morning Facebook announced changes to their Site Governance documents which as a number of people pointed out removed the ability of users to profit from their status updates. More specifically Facebook states that “you will not use your personal profile for your own commercial gain”. While I’m assuming that this is supposed to be straight forward about selling things through your Facebook profile, part of me wonders why Facebook needed to make this explicit statement.
Haters Call It “Selling Out”
Excuse my slang but is there anything wrong with posting updates that generate revenue? While I believe the intention of this new rule is to block pay-per-tweet-like companies, should it be completely banned? Where do you draw the line? If I am to write a post for example about the new Social Media Marketing program that I just launched through New Media School (had to drop a quick plug), is that posting an update for my own commercial gain?
Ultimately the definition becomes unclear but it’s pretty obvious what Facebook is trying to prevent: companies from launching get rich quick services through your Facebook profile and to prevent people like Jeremy Schoemaker from abusing the system (p.s. I’m not a hater Jeremy). In the world of internet marketing, you gotta try out just about anything but there is definitely a line you can cross (as we’ve seen before).
Goodbye Generic Pages
Facebook has also made a few other adjustments to their Facebook Governance document to clarify their stance on things. The largest that will impact the generic page creators is , “Pages are special profiles that may only be used to promote a business or other commercial, political, or charitable organization or endeavor (including non-profit organizations, political campaigns, bands, and celebrities). ” There were a number of businesses that were being generated around building out different generic Facebook Page verticals.
Honestly I thought the idea was really smart but the biggest issue was that it was ripe for abuse. Consider all the groups that were created prior to the limitations on sending out updates. Facebook is most definitely smart to err on the side of over protection to avoid users getting annoyed. There goes all those questionable business strategies though. Wasn’t that what the internet was built on though?
Welcome Iran!
As we previously wrote, some Iranians had interpreted Facebook’s statement that you couldn’t “use Facebook if you are in a country embargoed by the U.S., or are on the U.S. Treasury Department’s list of Specially Designated Nationals” to mean that Iran was banned. At the time, Facebook clarified to us that they won’t block Iranians, just commercial activity on the site from the country. As such, Facebook has updated the policy to the following:
If you are located in a country embargoed by the United States, or are on the U.S. Treasury Department’s list of Specially Designated Nationals you will not engage in commercial activities on Facebook (such as advertising or payments) or operate a Platform application or website.
So go ahead and welcome all Iranian members! You are free to use the site as you wish … as long as it’s not to make money. If you want to read more about Facebook’s proposed policies. Facebook has also stated that they will be providing a redlined version of the document in the very near future.
![[Inside Social Apps 2012]](http://www.allfacebook.com/wordpress/wp-content/themes/allfacebook2/images/ISA2012_336x100_F_RegisterNow.gif)
![[AllFacebook Stats: Facebook Analytics for Your Business]](http://www.allfacebook.com/wordpress/wp-content/themes/allfacebook2/images/stpro_allfacebookstats.gif)
![[How can Facebook change your business?]](http://www.allfacebook.com/wordpress/wp-content/themes/allfacebook2/images/FMB_A_MAY2011_336x100_F.gif)
Hi there,
Is there any restriction to profit or provide links that can be termed as commercial to the Facebook Groups?
Thanks!
Rgds
Nash
Comment by Nash — August 12, 2009 @ 1:29 am
This is totally hypocritical and completely unmanageable. Facebook wont think twice to use anything you upload but they somehow justify this BS.
Comment by GWoodard — August 12, 2009 @ 3:38 am
Ha funny comment above. They could make money if they wanted. Just charge those nightclub/entertainment promoters to post their events or invite all at once then they'll mostly stop annoying me. It would work everywhere but the uk where the police raid gatherings.
Comment by Dennis pitt — August 12, 2009 @ 7:36 am
Oh, there are plenty of ways to get banned from Facebook!
FB deleted me because a “large group of my friends shared similar physical characteristics”.
I understand it's their platform, but if they claim that users data is really the property of the user, why won't they allow disabled users to opportunity to retrieve their data? Even if it's just a "one-time" access?
They disable users without cause or explanation and users have no recourse.
Comment by Jim Calabrese — August 12, 2009 @ 8:45 am
Facebook must figure if they aren’t making money from their site, no one else can either.
Comment by Sean Stefan — August 12, 2009 @ 9:29 am
What is the difference between advertising an item on your personal website or a self-created business website? All selling is done through Marketplace.
Comment by H Bagshaw — August 12, 2009 @ 10:10 am
hello,
i am not on facebook anymore,but have discovered that i still am!!!how do i do it that if i google my name the fucking old facebook page with my details still appears as if i am still an active face book user?
please help!
best gigi
Comment by gigi garzuly — August 13, 2009 @ 10:53 pm
Most every single real estate agent is in violation of Facebook Site Governance: Statement of Rights and Responsibilities Section 4, Point 2 which as you say states "You will not use your personal profile for your own commercial gain."
If the policy were to be strictly enforced 90% of FB users would be banned overnight!
Comment by Mike Mueller — August 16, 2009 @ 11:43 am
And here I was searching the web for ideas on how to monetize Facebook. Well this news takes the wind right out of my sails!
Invite me as a friend anyway – The more the merrier!
Comment by Cathleena Beams — September 7, 2009 @ 1:57 pm
why am i banded off facebook when i have not done anything m
Comment by paraskevipalmer — April 25, 2010 @ 10:22 pm
facebook sucks @ss. they will not be the big one for long no site has ever been on top long and they too will fail. they make it hard for people like me who makes apps for facebook i make other poeple day better useing facebook not them. they offer only a blank white page. they will fall soon. i wish i can got ther hq aand punch a few of them in her faces.
Comment by christopher stokes — September 5, 2010 @ 9:42 pm
why do people always have to exploit everything for their own personal gain, its a social site not for dweebs to promote their shit!!!!! develop your own site we don't won't your shit promotion on fb
Comment by Keith Smith — December 27, 2010 @ 3:42 am
If I have a fan page and put up 1-2 (different) status updates per day – with link and a message like "CHECK THIS OUT: Right now 50% off this *product_name*." – will that page be banned? Can I loose my regular personal account too? (I've been trying to find a good answer on this for hours now)
Comment by Paul — August 9, 2011 @ 7:22 am