You work hard to build up your social media presence – growing your following, putting out engaging content, networking with others. The last thing you want is to have it all taken away because you unintentionally violated the platform‘s guidelines.
Unfortunately, it‘s all too easy to cross the line without even realizing it. Social networks have lengthy, complicated, and ever-evolving terms of service. Keeping up with all the rules is a job in itself.
However, you can‘t afford to remain ignorant of the guidelines. Violating them, even by accident, can lead to warnings, temporary suspensions, or even a permanent ban that loses you access to your account and audience.
To help you stay in the clear, here are some of the most common social media guideline violations I see people making every day. Make sure you aren‘t guilty of any of these in 2024 and beyond!
1. Misrepresenting Your Identity
One of the quickest ways to get on a social network‘s bad side is to misrepresent who you are. This includes:
- Using someone else‘s name, photo, or personal info
- Impersonating another person, brand, or entity
- Posting misleading or false info in your bio/profile
- Providing an incorrect location or birthdate
Some people do this intentionally to deceive others. But you could also violate this policy accidentally, like using a stock photo of a person for your profile pic or putting a fake age because you think it‘s funny.
Social networks want users to represent themselves authentically to foster trust and transparency. Even seemingly harmless fibs about your identity can get you in trouble. Always be honest and upfront about who you are.
2. Maintaining Multiple Accounts
Most social platforms only allow you to have one personal account. Creating multiple accounts, even for legitimate reasons, is not allowed.
For example, you can‘t have one Facebook account for friends/family and a separate one for business. You can‘t create a new Twitter handle because you don‘t like your username anymore. You can create new Pages or channels, but not additional main accounts.
Some people still get away with multiple accounts by using different emails and devices. But if you get caught (and many do), you risk losing all your accounts permanently. It‘s not worth the risk.
3. Letting Accounts Become Inactive
Here‘s a violation many people don‘t know about – letting your account sit dormant for too long. Most social networks have an inactive account policy and will deactivate or even delete your profile after an extended period of no login or posting activity.
For example, Twitter will remove your account if you don‘t log in at least once every 6 months. For other platforms, the inactivity threshold may be a year or longer.
But the point is, you can‘t just create an account and abandon it indefinitely without consequences. Even if you have no plans to post, you should still log in periodically to keep the account active. Otherwise, you may find it shut down unexpectedly.
4. Inappropriate Usernames and Profile Info
Your account username and the info you put in your bio/profile is subject to guidelines too. Using inappropriate, offensive, or trademarked terms can get you in trouble.
For example:
- Profane, explicit or hateful words in usernames
- Contact info like emails or phone numbers in bios
- Using brand names/logos you don‘t have rights to
- Links to adult content or illegal activities
Social networks prohibit this type of inappropriate profile content to maintain a safe, welcoming environment for all users. Even if you think it‘s okay or funny, avoid anything vulgar, hateful, or legally questionable in your usernames and bio. Keep it clean and professional.
5. Selling or Buying Engagement
With how important engagement is for social media success, it‘s tempting to take shortcuts like buying followers or paying for likes/shares. But this is a big no-no that can get your account banned.
All social platforms prohibit the selling, buying, or trading of any type of fake engagement. This includes:
- Purchasing followers, likes, comments, etc.
- Using bots or click farms to inflate metrics
- Participating in "engagement pods" or reciprocal schemes
- Offering engagements in exchange for money or services
If you‘re caught engaging in this kind of manufactured engagement, it‘s grounds for immediate suspension or termination. Only build your following and engagement organically through legitimate tactics. Taking the easy road is never worth risking your entire account.
6. Running Contests/Competitions Incorrectly
Giveaways and contests are popular ways to engage audiences on social media. But many promotions actually violate the platform‘s guidelines for acceptable contests. Some common mistakes:
- Requiring people to share or tag others to enter
- Allowing multiple entries per person
- Not including disclaimers about sponsor associations
- Offering prizes that violate the terms (e.g. weapons, alcohol)
Each social network has specific rules you must follow to run a contest that complies with their guidelines. This includes restrictions on entry methods, prize types, disclosures, and more.
Always carefully review and follow the rules for promotions on each platform. Otherwise, your fun contest could backfire and put your account at risk. When in doubt, consult a lawyer to ensure you meet legal requirements.
7. Violating Intellectual Property
Sharing content from other creators is common practice on social media. But you must be careful not to violate anyone‘s intellectual property rights in the process. Types of violations may include:
-Posting images, videos, music etc. you don‘t own
-Failing to give proper attribution for others‘ content
-Using trademarked logos, slogans or designs without permission
Just because something is publicly shared online doesn‘t mean it‘s free to repost however you like. The original creator still owns the rights.
Before reposting any content, get explicit permission and follow any attribution instructions. If you‘re not sure, create your own original content instead. Getting slapped with a DMCA takedown is not fun.
8. Incentivized or Fake Reviews
Reviews and testimonials are powerful forms of social proof. But incentivizing or faking them is a big no-no that violates guidelines. This may include:
- Offering freebies/discounts in exchange for positive reviews
- Posting fake reviews about your own products/services
- Hiring people to leave false reviews on competitors
- Pressuring customers to remove negative reviews
Don‘t try to bribe, trick or force people into saying good things about you online. It‘s unethical and can get both you and the reviewer penalized by the platform.
Focus on providing great customer experiences that inspire authentic reviews instead. Anything fabricated will eventually be sniffed out and cast your brand in a negative light.
9. Spammy Behavior
Spamming is one of the quickest ways to annoy your followers and tick off the social networks. Most platforms have strict anti-spam policies that prohibit things like:
- Sending mass amounts of unsolicited DMs
- Posting repetitive comments or mentions
- Repeatedly sharing the same links
- Using irrelevant hashtags just to get exposure
- Tagging people in posts they aren‘t in
A good rule of thumb: if you‘re posting the exact same thing over and over, or contacting people who didn‘t ask to hear from you, it‘s probably spam.
To avoid crossing the line, focus on quality over quantity. Craft genuine interactions and share thoughtful, original content. Bombarding people will only hurt your brand and put your account at risk.
10. Bullying, Threats and Harassment
All social platforms have a zero tolerance policy for bullying, threats, hate speech, and harassment. Some examples of unacceptable behavior:
- Sending abusive messages or comments
- Encouraging others to bully someone
- Revealing someone‘s personal info without consent
- Repeatedly contacting someone who asked you to stop
- Threatening violence or promoting self-harm
You‘re responsible for how you treat others on social media, even if you think you‘re just joking around. If your words could make someone else feel unsafe or attacked, don‘t post them.
Keep your interactions positive and respectful. If you witness harassment or threats, report it to the platform immediately. There‘s no room for cyber bullies.
The Bottom Line on Social Media Guideline Violations
Social media is an amazing tool for connecting with others and growing your brand. But that privilege comes with the responsibility of following the networks‘ rules.
The guidelines are there to keep the platforms safe and enjoyable for everyone. Violating them doesn‘t just put your account at risk – it degrades the overall experience for other users too.
Ignorance is no excuse. It‘s up to you to understand and abide by each platform‘s terms of service. Audit your own social media habits and make sure you‘re staying squeaky clean.
Fortunately, most guideline violations are completely avoidable with common sense and good online etiquette. Focus on being authentic, considerate, and respectful in all your social media interactions. When in doubt, err on the side of caution.
With the right approach, you can build an engaged social media community without running afoul of any guidelines. Stay on the platforms‘ good side and keep enjoying the benefits of social networking!
Now that you know what not to do, check out these other helpful guides for what you SHOULD do to succeed on social media:
[Links to other relevant blog posts]
