Instagram or Facebook says I violated its rules. What should I do?
The short answer
Read the decision itself: which content or account it names, the rule cited and what changed. A removed post, blocked action, recommendation restriction and account suspension need different responses. If the decision is wrong, use the review offered for that decision.
Source partly reviewed — details
What this answer is based onWhat to do
Before sending a request, save the notice and check what it says. Base your explanation on events and information you can confirm.
- Open the app yourself. Check Account Status on Instagram, or the notice and Support Inbox in Facebook Help. If the account is inaccessible, keep the screen shown after attempting sign-in. Record the reason, affected item, date and any stated deadline.
- Choose the guide that matches what happened. For removed content, open its decision. For a blocked feature or recommendation restriction, read the matching notice. If you see suspended or disabled at sign-in, open the account-appeal guide. Copyright and trademark complaints have separate guides.
- In an available review, identify the specific error and relevant facts. Keep the confirmation. If no button appears, record the exact wording and check the offered Help or support route; a technical report about a broken button is not a submitted appeal.
The situation
Instagram removed your pottery-making video as spam. You filmed it yourself and posted it once. If an appeal is available, identify the video and date and explain those circumstances to show why you disagree with the decision.
More examples
The post remains, recommendations are restricted
Followers can open the post, but Instagram shows a recommendation restriction.
What to do
Open Account Status, read the reason for the recommendation restriction and check the available actions. If a review is offered, make the request about that restriction.
Facebook shows suspended at sign-in
You cannot reach your profile and see an account decision.
What to do
Save that screen and follow any account review steps and deadline offered. If the restriction concerns only a Page, identify the Page in your request; it is separate from your personal profile.
What this answer is based on
Instagram — Account Status and content decisionshelp.instagram.comFacebook — Find your Support InboxInstagram — Recommendation eligibilityInstagram — Disabled accountsFacebook — Suspended or disabled accountsOnly a source excerpt was availableReview details
Source reviewed:
We could read only an excerpt of the official page in search results. The full conditions and exceptions have not yet been checked.
This guide uses excerpts of official Meta Help pages available in search results. We could not check the full page or screens inside an account. Menu labels and available buttons may differ in your app.
Include the guide link, language and wording that needs checking. Add an official source link if you have one. Do not send passwords, login codes or photos of identity documents.
Examples are made up to explain the guidance. Meta decides individual account and content cases.
Sources and related topicsPolicy Graph · Demo in development