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To keep running a page with a ‘large audience,’ Facebook wants proof of where you live

Published Aug 10th, 2018 11:34PM EDT
Facebook page managers
Image: Shutterstock

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Anyone who manages a Facebook page that has a “large audience,” which is the somewhat nonspecific language Facebook uses in a new blog post today, has some new rules coming down the pipe that they’ll have to follow if they want to keep running their page.

One of those new requirements? You’ve got to prove to Facebook where you live.

“In April, we announced plans to help ensure these connections are authentic and more transparent,” the post explains about the new rules, which are also coming to Instagram. “Today we’re introducing Page publishing authorization starting with people that manage a Page with a large audience in the US. We’re also adding primary country location and Page merge details to the Page Info tab we introduced in June.”

People who manage these pages that have significant followings are going to be asked to complete an authorization process in order to keep posting on their page. A step that no one should be surprised about the origin of, with Facebook’s continued fight against fake news and the like.

That process will ask page admins to secure their account with two-factor authentication and to also confirm where they live by proving their primary country location. They’ll do that via turning on location services on their mobile device.

“If a Page manager requires authorization,” Facebook explains, “they’ll receive a notice at the top of their News Feed to begin the process. This should only take a few minutes to complete. People won’t be able to post on their Page if they don’t complete the process. Enforcement will follow shortly this month.”

Going forward, Facebook also plans to add a section called “People Who Manage This Page.” It will surface the primary country locations that Pages are managed from.

If you manage a page and get a notification from Facebook about needing to undergo this authorization, Facebook is going to also give you a deadline. If you don’t complete the process before the deadline, Facebook explains, your Page’s default setting for posting, liking and commenting will change from your Page to your personal profile.

“Our goal is to prevent organizations and individuals from creating accounts that mislead people about who they are or what they’re doing,” the company says. “These updates are part of our continued efforts to increase authenticity and transparency of Pages on our platform.”

Facebook isn’t saying for the moment how big of a following a page must have for these requirements to be triggered. But this is certainly one more step in a race to catch sketchy actors and misuse of the platform, which has also included shutting down pages and zeroing in on misuse ahead of elections, as the company announced in recent weeks.

Andy Meek Trending News Editor

Andy Meek is a reporter based in Memphis who has covered media, entertainment, and culture for over 20 years. His work has appeared in outlets including The Guardian, Forbes, and The Financial Times, and he’s written for BGR since 2015. Andy's coverage includes technology and entertainment, and he has a particular interest in all things streaming.

Over the years, he’s interviewed legendary figures in entertainment and tech that range from Stan Lee to John McAfee, Peter Thiel, and Reed Hastings.