How to Tell If Someone Is in Facebook Jail: Complete Guide

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Know what it means to be in FB jail and how to get out
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Do you want to know what happens when you're in Facebook jail? This is another term for your account being disabled or banned. You'll know you're in Facebook jail if you can't access your account or if you have limited posting power. Luckily, there are plenty of ways to get out of Facebook jail (and prevent it). Here's how to tell if someone is in Facebook jail, how to avoid it, and how to appeal to Facebook to free your account with tips from social media security expert Naveh Ben Dror.

Top Signs of Facebook Jail

  1. No posts, comments, or likes for a long time.
  2. Being blocked from logging into the account.
  3. Unable to message other users.
  4. Unable to create new posts.
  5. Unable to like posts.
  6. Name doesn't appear in the search.
Section 1 of 8:

What is Facebook jail?

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  1. According to Ben Dror, this is synonymous with being blocked, banned, or even shadow-banned. When you're in Facebook jail, you most likely won't be able to make posts, interact with others, upload photos , or use Facebook Messenger . [1]
    • In some cases, usage of your entire account will be blocked. This means you won't be able to log in at all.
    • You can land yourself in Facebook jail for going against Facebook's Community Standards. This includes spam, falsified account information, inflammatory behavior, misinformation, and hate speech.
    • Bans can last from 24 hours to 30 days, depending on the extent of the offense. You'll be notified when you can access blocked features again. In serious cases, your account may be terminated fully.
    • When you're in Facebook jail, you can wait out the ban, send an appeal , or create a new account .
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Section 2 of 8:

Why does Facebook put accounts in jail?

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  1. Facebook jail helps prevent abuse and violations of guidelines. These temporary bans can stop abusive accounts and content from reaching other users. "Facebook jail" puts these accounts on a temporary ban to ultimately protect vulnerable members of the community.
Section 3 of 8:

Checking If You're in Facebook Jail

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  1. If you can't access your account with the correct information, your account is likely locked.
  2. Facebook will send you a notification on each count against the Community Standards along with the ban period. [2]
    • You'll see Account restricted in red along with the timeframe of your ban below it.
  3. Try to post to your timeline, a page, or a group.
    • Your account is locked if you receive the pop-up: You can't post right now .
  4. If you're blocked from commenting on or liking a post from another Facebook user, your account is restricted.
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Section 4 of 8:

Checking If a Friend Is in Facebook Jail

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  1. If your friend hasn't uploaded a post to their timeline in days or even weeks, Ben Dror suggests this could mean their account is restricted.
    • If you want to see the exact time of a post, click the date to be redirected to the post's individual page.
  2. If you noticed that your friend has stopped sharing or liking your posts, this could be a sign they're in Facebook jail. If they usually interact with your posts, a sudden silence could mean they don't have the ability to do so anymore.
  3. In some cases, your friend's account may have been banned temporarily or permanently. You won't be able to find their page in the search or in your friend's list.
    EXPERT TIP

    Naveh Ben Dror

    Social Media Security Expert
    Naveh Ben Dror is a Social Media Security Expert and the CEO of Spikerz based in Tel Aviv, Israel. Naveh and his team provide social media protection for content creators, businesses, and enterprises. His professional background is in international brand marketing and e-commerce. Naveh received both his Bachelor of Law and MBA from Reichman University.
    Naveh Ben Dror
    Social Media Security Expert

    Enter your friend's full name when searching. Type in one letter at a time, and see how long it takes for them to pop up. If you write the whole name and still don't see them, this can show that they might be in Facebook jail.

  4. Find an old post that has a comment from your friend. If you can't click on their name to be redirected to their profile, this could mean their account has been deactivated.
  5. Since you're unable to see their personal notifications, ask if they received any notices from Facebook about the length of their ban. In most cases, they'll get a notification of their account restriction along with the time they need to wait until the restriction lifts.
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Section 5 of 8:

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  1. 1
    Sharing adult material. As per Facebook guidelines, users are not allowed to share any explicit material, including nude photos or videos. If an account is caught doing this, it will be banned.
  2. 2
    Sending hate messages. This includes any posts with hate speech and threats towards any member or group on Facebook.
  3. 3
    Spamming other users. If you're constantly sending unwanted messages to other users through DMs, they can report you for spamming. Your messaging permission may be revoked for some time, or you may be banned.
  4. 4
    Posting plagiarized or fake content. If you post someone else's content, they may report you for plagiarism. Similarly, if you post content with falsified information, your account may be flagged by other users and get banned.
  5. 5
    Posting excessively. This applies to groups, pages, and other profiles. If you post too frequently, Facebook may flag your account as a bot or spam account.
  6. 6
    Incorrect payment methods. If you try to make a transaction through Facebook using a fraudulent card or incorrect information, this can mark the transaction as suspicious. If the payment is flagged, you may be put in Facebook jail.
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Section 6 of 8:

How long is Facebook jail?

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  1. Facebook jail length depends on your violation. If you have a temporary ban, it can take up to 30 days to get your account back. However, if you were banned permanently for an offense, it is nearly impossible to reactivate your account.
    • Whether you were temporarily or permanently banned, you can try sending an appeal to Facebook to reinstate your account.
Section 7 of 8:

Avoiding Facebook Jail

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  1. As per Facebook's rules, you are not allowed to use a personal Facebook page solely for business purposes. You can use it to grow your brand and share more about your business, but this cannot be the only subject of your personal profile page. [3]
  2. If you set schedules for posts, you can avoid posting too much at a time. [4] This may be considered spam by Facebook, and your account will get flagged. Vary the lengths between your posts to ensure your account doesn't raise suspicion. Even if you aren't spamming, you'll still need to send an appeal to get your account unlocked.
  3. Mass reports from other users—even false reports—can disable your account. If you suspect specific users are reporting you for false claims, block them.
  4. When you post the same link on multiple pages and posts, Facebook may automatically disable your account for spam. If you're sharing a link to promote your business, consider shortening the URL .
  5. Most images from Google are likely copyrighted. You'll need explicit permission to use those images. Otherwise, your post can be taken down and your account can be reported. [5]
    • To avoid this, create original images or use content that is clearly stated free for personal use.
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Section 8 of 8:

Sending an Appeal

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  1. 1
    Log into your Facebook account. When your account has been suspended or disabled, you'll receive an email. You must send the appeal directly from your account.
    • When you log in, you'll see We suspended your account or We disabled your account .
    • You have 180 days to appeal the decision to suspend or disable your account. If you miss this deadline, your account may be lost permanently.
  2. 2
    Click Appeal . If you don't see this button in your Facebook account, look for the email sent by Facebook. Click or tap Appeal at the bottom of the email instead.
  3. 3
    Enter your reason for the appeal and submit it. If you think you've been wrongfully suspended or banned, enter the reasons why. Be as detailed as possible.
    • In some cases, you may need to upload your ID for verification purposes.
    • Your appeal will be sent to Facebook and considered for a review.
  4. 4
    Wait for a response. You can check your account status by logging back into Facebook on the app or website and checking your support inbox .
    • If Facebook finds that your account was wrongly disabled, they will restore access.
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      Expert Interview

      Thanks for reading our article! If you’d like to learn more about social media, check out our in-depth interview with Naveh Ben Dror .

      References

      1. ↑ https://www.facebook.com/help/103873106370583/?helpref=related_articles
      2. ↑ https://www.facebook.com/help/103873106370583/
      3. ↑ https://www.facebook.com/help/337881706729661/
      4. ↑ https://www.facebook.com/help/389849807718635/
      5. ↑ https://transparency.meta.com/policies/community-standards/

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