Products Banned On Social Media: A List For Every Channel
There are products banned on social media. So while social media ads are often a great way to get a brand’s products or services in front of the right people, not all products or services can be advertised.
Products banned on social media
I’ve gone through the ad policies for Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin, Pinterest, Snapchat and YouTube and extracted everything that’s prohibited.
If you’re in the business of selling one of these products or services, you’re out of luck when it comes to promoting them via social media ads.
Facebook & Instagram
1. Illegal, prescription, or recreational drugs
2. Tobacco products and related paraphernalia
3. Unsafe supplements, as determined by Facebook in its sole discretion
4. Weapons, ammunition, or explosives
5. Adult products or services (except family planning and contraception)
6. Fake documents (academic degrees, work permits, passports, etc)
7. Memorabilia promoting offensive, violent or hateful groups or actions
8. Alcoholic beverages such as wine, beer and spirits
9. Tobacco products or cigarettes
10. Drugs, illegal substances and related products
11. Weapons, firearms, ammunition, fireworks, or any other violent products or services
12. Sexual or adult content (escort services, massage or pornography)
13. Sexual or adult products or services (sex toys, strip clubs, international bride services)
14. Dating services
15. Ringtones and video games
16. Illegal downloads of software, media, or other copyrighted content
17. Gambling, sweepstakes and virtual currency
18. Scams or pyramid schemes
19. Occult pursuits (fortune telling, dream interpretations and individual horoscopes)
20. Endangered species and furs
21. Adult products and services
22. False documents
23. Healthcare
24. Illegal activity
25. Illicit drugs and drug paraphernalia
26. Imitation or counterfeit goods
27. Badware and hacking
28. Online gambling and lotteries, or games of skill
29. Online pharmacies, prescription drugs and supplements
30. Products from endangered or threatened species
31. Tobacco
32. Weapons and explosives
33. Weight loss products and services
Snapchat
34. Adult products and services (other than contraceptives)
35. Cigarettes (including e-cigarettes), cigars, smokeless tobacco, and other tobacco products
36. Products or services that bypass copyright protection, such as software or cable signal descramblers
37. Products or services principally dedicated to selling counterfeit goods or engaging in copyright pirac
38. Get-rich-quick or pyramid schemes or offers or any other deceptive or fraudulent offers
39. Illegal or recreational drugs or drug paraphernalia
40. Counterfeit, fake or bootleg products, or replicas or imitations of designer products
41. Firearms, weapons, ammunition, or accessories
42. Securities alleged insider tips
43. Any illegal conduct, product, or enterprise
44. Adult or sexual products and services
45. Drugs and drug paraphernalia
46. Endangered species products
47. Illegal products and services
48. Spyware and illegal hacking
49. Tobacco and tobacco accessories
50. Unauthorized ticket sales
51. Weapons and weapon accessories
YouTube
52. Counterfeit products
53. Recreational drugs, psychoactive substances, equipment to facilitate drug use
54. Weapons, ammunition, explosive materials and fireworks
55. Tobacco products
56. Sale or trade of endangered species
57. Hacking software
58. Services designed to artificially inflate ad or website traffic
59. Fake documents
60. Academic cheating services
In addition to these prohibited products, there are also many other restricted products. Always check each channel’s guidelines before planning an ad campaign. You can find links to them below.
Facebook + Instagram: Advertising Policies
LinkedIn: Advertising Guidelines
Pinterest: Advertising Standards
Snapchat: Advertising Policies
Twitter: Ad Policies
YouTube: Ad Policies