Facebook is Not Banning All Livestreamed Music
The Claim
As of Oct. 1, 2020, Facebook will ban livestreams and videos on their products that “create a music listening experience.”
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Emerging story
In September 2020, a Facebook Terms of Service update, set to take effect on October 1, 2020, became the subject of controversy when users interpreted it to mean that livestreaming music would be banned from the site. Some exact wording from Facebook’s music guidelines is as follows:
“You may not use videos on our Products to create a music listening experience. We want you to be able to enjoy videos posted by family and friends. However, if you use videos on our Products to create a music listening experience for yourself or for others, your videos will be blocked and your page, profile or group may be deleted. This includes Live.”
The phrase “listening experience” in particular seems vague and therefore exploitable and ripe for controversy.
Misbar’s Analysis
Misbar’s investigation into this claim reveals it to be false. The oft-quoted section of Facebook’s music guidelines quoted above is not in the September 2020 update at all, but has been in effect since 2018. The September 2020 update does not change Facebook’s music guidelines regarding livestreaming. Here is an excerpt from a September 11 Facebook blog responding to the controversy and reiterating what is and is not permitted on the site:
- Music in stories and traditional live music performances (e.g., filming an artist or band performing live) are permitted.
- The greater the number of full-length recorded tracks in a video, the more likely it may be limited.
- Shorter clips of music are recommended.
- There should always be a visual component to your video; recorded audio should not be the primary purpose of the video.
As Facebook users may know, these are the same guidelines that have been in place since 2018.
