Have you ever tried running Facebook Ads for your business? If you did so, you're well aware that you cannot promote certain items on this platform. Advertising restricted and banned products on Facebook can get your Ads disapproved.

The platform has certain guidelines when it comes to the Ads it allows, and as a business owner, you have to follow them without fail. But if you're planning to run Facebook Ads for the first time, you should be well aware of the things that you can advertise on this platform.

Want to know what these products are that you can advertise? Read this post!

Products You're Not Allowed to Promote on Facebook

Honestly, the list of banned and restricted products is pretty massive, but we have mentioned some of the important ones that you can advertise on this platform. Take a look!

3rd Party Infringement

Facebook Ads that violate the rights of a 3rd party will get taken down or disapproved by the platform automatically. 3rd Party violations can get you legal issues, and that's why it will be much better if you don't sell products that you assume are branded or copyrighted until you have a trade contract from the corresponding party.

Surveillance Camera and Equipment

You can certainly install surveillance equipment in a commercial or residential area, but advertising it on Facebook is a complete no-no. You cannot promote all surveillance equipment, which includes cell phone trackers, spy cams, etc.

Yes, many companies are interested in selling these items to the general public, which is completely fine, but you cannot advertise them on Facebook.

Tobacco Products

Facebook will not allow you to promote tobacco-related items on its platform, which includes the following:

• Tobacco Pipes
• Electronic Cigarettes
• Chewing Tobacco
• Cigarettes
• Rolling Papers
• Cigars
• Hookah Lounges
• Vaporized Tobacco Delivery Equipment
• Hookahs

Apart from that, the platform enables Ads that advertise groups or blogs related to tobacco. You can also advertise tobacco-related things like anti-smoking campaigns, rehabilitation programs, e-books, etc.

Religious, Derogatory Personal, and Personal Content

Facebook will ban all those Ads that promote hate against the users. The platform will not allow Ads to attack an individual's:

• National Origin
• Race
• Language
• Sex
• Martial Status
• Gender Identity
• Creed
• Religious Affiliation
• Sexual Orientation

If your ads promote hate against the above-mentioned things, your ad account will get flagged, and the ad will be disapproved.

Penny Auctions

These types of auctions can pull in people by making them believe that they purchase products like designer handbags, iPads, iPhones, and other goods at a reasonable price. However, the thing that enterprises don't disclose is that you have to spend money to bid.

Many individuals will pay money, and only the one who has the highest bid will receive the final product. Facebook has already announced that Ads should not promote bidding fee auctions, penny auctions, and other bidding models on the platform.

Binary Options

Facebook will ban all financial services and products linked to false practices. You will not be allowed to do the following:

• Agreement for Different Trading
• Binary Options
• Initial Coin Offerings

Short-Term and Payday Loans

On Facebook, you can promote the following types of loans:

• Short-term Loans
• Payday Loans
• Bail Bonds
• Paycheck Advances

If you try to promote any of these loans, your ad will get taken down or disapproved by the platform.

Illegal Automobile Modification Products

Promoting Ads on illegal automobile modification items is completely banned on this platform. Although there are many products, here are some of the common ones:

• Super Dark Tint
• Radar Detectors
• Modified Taillights and Headlights
• Loud Exhaust
• Under-Body Neon Lights

Face Masks

There was a high demand for face masks because of COVID-19. With the demand, the price of these face masks also saw an increase. Facebook has allowed advertisers to promote face masks, which protect the mouth and nose, but they come with restrictions.

You can promote the cotton masks but not the medical-grade ones. It's important to make sure that you don't post Ads that give out incorrect information about COVID-19.

Explosives and Weapons

Facebook will not let you run Ads that advertise weapons, such as:

• Weapons for Self-Defense
• BB Guns
• Tasers
• Ammunition
• Explosives
• Pepper Spray
• Firearms
• Knives
• Paintball Gun
• Fireworks

Facebook will also flag your Ads if they are connected to the landing pages where weapons can be purchased. You can include pictures of weapons in your ads, but they should not point at the users who view them.

Adult Products

Facebook Ads must not contain any type of pornography, excessive sex, or nudity. But you are allowed to promote adult products that mainly focus on contraception or family planning. 

When advertising contraception, the Ad should highlight all the main features of the product instead of sexual enhancement or features; otherwise, it will get disapproved.

Fake Follower Services

Facebook will take down the Ads of companies that sell fake website traffic, engagement, and followers to people. The platform will disable your Ad account if you constantly try to promote such services.

Politics

Facebook does not allow advertisers to promote anything about politics, which includes events and campaigns. You can only run political ads after the platform approves them. Even though these Ads are normally allowed by Facebook, they will get flagged or removed if it doesn't comply with the guidelines.

Drugs and Drug-Related Items

Have you come across ads on Facebook for prescriptions or drugs? No right? It's because the platform does not allow these types of Ads. Facebook does not allow ads that advertise the use and sale of recreational, prescription, or illegal drugs.

This also includes Ads that promote drug delivery methods or drug-related paraphernalia. However, the platform allows ads linked to CBD only when they are mixed with heavy stipulations.

Counterfeit Products

Experts have provided evidence that nearly 25% of the product-based Ads on the platform are linked to websites that promote the sale of fake items. Facebook has become pretty strict on such matters and will block all those Ads that fall under this section.

Dating

Ads related to dating are not permitted on Facebook. But to make sure your ads are allowed to run on the platform, you have to follow the policies. At times, you might also have to get pre-approved by Facebook to run the Ads.

Gambling

Facebook will allow you to promote things related to gambling, but only some of them. For instance, "You can post Ads about the casinos but cannot promote online gambling."

Online Pharmacies

Facebook allows advertisers to run Ads on online pharmacies. However, the platform will not allow Ads that promote pharmaceutical drugs.

Cannabis

Even though Cannabis is legal and is used for many medical and recreational purposes, Facebook will not let you promote it. You cannot use cannabis products like rolling papers, bongs, etc.

Fake Documents

Many forgers look for a way to expand business from windowless vans and dark alleyways. But they will face plenty of issues if they try to do so on Facebook. The platform will ban all ads based on fake documents like immigration papers, passports, college degrees, etc.

Health Products

The online sector is growing at a rapid pace, and businesses will gain plenty of success by running Ads on Facebook. But when promoting health products on this platform, you should remember certain things.

Facebook will take down all those Ads that display "before and after" pictures" or pictures that contain unlikely or unexpected results. Your ads should not asset things that can negatively impact the users' body image.

You must also make sure that your Ads on weight loss or health products target people who are over 18 years of age.

Controversial Products

Facebook has prohibited all controversial products from its advertising section. Adverts or products that are related to controversial symbolism, imagery, or subjects will get rejected by the platform automatically.

Unregulated Supplements

The supplement industry will boom to $278 billion by 2024. But just like many health products, there are some regulations that will affect them, especially when you want to sell these products.

It can get pretty complicated when you try to sell these products across the globe because many nations have their own set of laws on such health products. This becomes pretty clear why Facebook has banned the promotion of these products, as they might cause more harm than good.

Alcohol

Ads on alcohol are allowed on Facebook, but you have to follow the local laws. For instance, In the UK, the legal age to consume alcohol is 18, but in the United States, it is 21. But there are some nations that will not allow the promotion of alcohol.

Lottery

You can advertise on Lottery on Facebook, but it comes with certain restrictions. You can run Ads on government lotteries as long as their targeting abides by the law.

Malware and Spyware

You can run Ads on malware like computer viruses and spyware, such as mobile tracking devices and spy cams on Facebook.

Body Parts

It's completely illegal to sell human body parts, and Facebook will not allow people to post Ads on them as well. If you come across the term "Organic Organs," well, it basically means the illegal sale of organs.

Recreational Medicines

Advertisers are not allowed to run Ads on narcotics and recreational medicines on the platform.

Reproductive Health

You can run Ads based on reproductive health on Facebook, but there are some limits.

Subscription Services

Facebook bans Ads on subscription services that include these conditions:

• Free Salary Conversion Bill 
• Automatic Renewal
• Negative Options

Ending Post

When you run Ads on products that are banned by Facebook, your Ad will be taken down automatically. This post covers only some of the products that the platform has banned, but you will find the complete list under the "Ad Policies or Guidelines" section of Facebook.