Beware of Chrome Extensions Automating Posts to Facebook Groups
Ever since Meta announced the removal of third-party tools from Facebook groups, many in the direct sales industry have been frantically searching for alternative ways to continue their automated group posts.
Some have even resorted to using Chrome extensions or bots to automate posts to Facebook groups as a means to bypass the new rule by Facebook.
But beware, the use of these tools not only violate Facebook’s policies, they likely infringe on the ethical guidelines of direct sales companies and are also deceptive, unlawful and fraudulent.
Some have asked us if we’re going to create a new tool to help them keep posting automatically into their Facebook groups, but our answer is a big “NO.”
Here’s why and why you shouldn’t use one either: It’s against Facebook policy.
It’s against Facebook policy for us to develop an app that does that, and it’s against Facebook policy for you to use such an app.
CinchShare is a trusted partner of Facebook, and has been an approved Facebook Marketing Platform Partner for over 10 years. We will never break their rules or violate their platform policies.
Facebook’s API is the ONLY approved way for apps to connect with Facebook
We know that understanding social media platform rules can be challenging. That’s why we’re here to help.
Meta has clear guidelines for how third-party apps and extensions can interact with its platform. These guidelines are outlined in their Platform Terms and Developer Policies, which all developers and businesses must abide by.
In the Development Terms and Policies , Meta clearly states:
“Abide by our Policies and Terms of Service by accessing data only through the Platform APIs.”
The policy then goes on to read, “Platform APIs are the only allowable means to access data programmatically…Using other tools and techniques to circumvent the protections we’ve placed on Platform Data constitutes a violation of Facebook’s Terms of Service and does not align with users’ privacy expectations.”
Simply put, developing and using tools that automate actions on Facebook without the use of Facebook’s API, are in direct violation of Facebook’s policies.
Facebook’s Terms of Service and Community Standards- What you need to know!
The Terms and Service and Community Standards agreements are something that you, as a Facebook user, agreed to upon creating your Facebook profile. In each agreement there is a reference where using a browser extension to automate posts or other actions is a violation of Facebooks policy.
- As a user you may not access or collect data from Facebook Products using automated means (Facebook Terms and Service 3.2.3)
- Facebook does not allow the use of its services and will restrict or disable accounts or other entities (such as pages, groups, and events) if you: Create or use an account by scripted or other inauthentic means (Account Integrity and Authentic Identity)
If you are an admin of a community on Facebook, your own account, groups and pages can get in trouble if you’re connected in any way to a tool that breaks Facebook’s rules. This includes suggesting or supporting the use of apps that automate browser activity.
So, what does this mean for you…
Potential Consequences of Breaking Rules and Violating Facebook’s Policies
It’s crucial to understand the implications of using browser extensions for automated Facebook group posts.
By doing so, you’re accessing the Facebook product using automated means outside their API, which is against Facebook’s policy. If you use an extension to extract your group member data (even when you have the rights to access it), you’re using automation to collect data from the Facebook product – once again, this breaks their policy.
Breaking Facebook’s rules by using unauthorized Chrome extensions could result in your Facebook account being blocked, suspended, or even permanently deleted. This could also affect any connected business pages and groups, which could be permanently disabled if you’re caught violating Facebook’s rules. Such a violation is more than just a breach of rules; it’s a fraudulent act that could put your entire Facebook account, business, and livelihood at risk, particularly if Facebook considers legal action.
Facebook’s Platform, Facebook’s Rules It’s Facebook’s platform and Facebook makes the rules. And Facebook’s new rule says no outside tools can be used with Facebook groups. Period. Full stop!
Notice the big companies? They are abiding by the rules. They have removed Facebook groups and are now directing customers to use Facebook pages, just like we are.
Bottom line, if you use a tool that accesses Facebook through any means other than their official API, then you are using a tool that is breaking the rules and violating Facebook’s policies, and therefore breaking Facebook policies yourself.
Using Chrome extensions to post in Facebook groups poses a risk not just to your Facebook account, but to your business as a whole. Conduct your business ethically. Don’t risk your Facebook account or your business by trying to cheat and find a way around Facebook’s new rule.
Please be aware and don’t let the developers or users of these unapproved browser extensions and tools mislead you.
If you’re a coach, leader, or consultant in the direct sales industry and want to ensure you are ethically conducting business on Facebook and other social media platforms, feel free to reach out to us at support@cinchshare.com.
If you are a Facebook user and you see any misuse of the platform by using an unapproved browser extension please report it.
