Categories: Ad Guidesblog

Facebook Ad Account Restricted: Health and Wellness industries

Dealing with getting a Facebook Ad Account Restricted? There’s a new tariff in town – and it’s coming for your doctors, med spas, cosmetic surgeons, massage therapists, chiropractors and medical professionals who run Facebook ads.

In the Health and Wellness niche for cosmetic beauty? If you’ve been reading my articles you know:

Facebook is about to release A NEW BAN on Health and Wellness companies and include health and wellness as part of the special ad categories. 

Read the FULL article to avoid getting your med spa, dentistry or medical practice offering cosmetic surgery banned.


Ok let’s chat. You just got a facebook ad account restricted. Mind blown. No answers. And when you reach out to Meta they give you a wall of silence or misinformation. Pretty helpful isn’t it?

I’ve worked with top brands both in my private practice and when I was working at Facebook, or Meta as it’s called now. I helped countless businesses resolving facebook ad account restricted situations. Because I ain’t guessing. I worked at Meta. This ain’t some outdated Help Center article. 

I don’t write filler or fluff but industry-backed solutions. Let’s get into the deets.

Table of Contents

Toggle

Facebook Ad Account Restricted:

Facebook doesn’t approve your advertisements due to violating Facebook’s advertising policies

What Facebook does and what Facebook says are often different leading to facebook ad account restricted issues hitting many of us running ads. When I worked at Facebook, I got a few bans but, I was able to talk to the engineers to get them reversed. You may not be in that position when getting a facebook ad account restricted so let me help with more details.

Why is Health & Wellness Being Targeted?

Meta has been caught in another CA tier scandal, and they’re looking to get ahead of the subsequent lawsuits that they know are inbound.

Last year (2024) Meta LOST a lawsuit against the State of Texas (where I’m at) for A BILLION DOLLAR PAY OUT because they kept stealing biometric data:


Meta is trying to cut down their costs by laying off people, using bots instead of humans to control whether your business can advertise and now, with literally billion of dollars in bills from MANY lawsuits, Facebook has decided to now start banning health and wellness companies and handing out facebook ad account restricted like candy at Halloween.

Sounds like a lot right? Just check out SOME of the many lawsuits Facebook has faced:

Meta has come under increased scrutiny for its advertising tools, especially its tracking pixel, a piece of code that advertisers can place on their websites to track customers’ online behavior, which is then shared with Meta to make advertising campaigns more efficient.

Last year, The Federal Trade Commission brought cases against BetterHelp and GoodRx for allegedly sharing users’ sensitive data with platforms including Meta through the use of tracking pixels. This is what preceded the uptick in health and wellness companies getting a facebook ad account restricted.

In June the FTC and the Department of Health and Human Services warned telehealth providers and hospital systems about the potential dangers of using tracking pixels on their websites.

Sartorius compared the impending loss of signal for the health and wellness category to that of Apple’s iOS 14.5 update in 2021 that, at least temporarily, crushed Meta’s advertising business.

Facebook will punish you for ad policies you can’t even read on their transparency center online because the automations are programmed to flag for much smaller policy violations without notifying you. That’s why you may see a facebook ad account restricted randomly.

It’s a shock seeing things like “Your account is restricted ” and the truth about Facebook restricted ads is that it is not a human making the final decision restricting your ad account.

Even as you’re reading this blog your phone already has notifications for Instagram or Facebook but I guarantee 9 out of 10 times those notifications won’t tell you that you have a restricted account or why it happened.

Feeling stuck in FB Ban prison and worried being a health and wellness business you’ll be there forever?

Well I’m about to knit you a patchwork quilt with a map out of Facebook jail.

Because this is a widespread problem. Folks are looking on reddit, and I’ll tell you what can help – learning more about how Facebook’s bots enforce advertising restrictions, so you don’t get caught and sent to Facebook jail for breaking their rules. Resolving a facebook ad account restricted is very nuanced.

Certain ad policies like Personal Attributes flag they have gutted their website of all images showing you what to beware of.

In fact, this blog has those images on my ultimate guide to personal attributes here. 

Want to save time and money? Just schedule a complimentary discovery call

Up next, I’ll reveal EXACTLY what is happening with Facebook deciding to ban health and wellness businesses and what you need to do to prevent this from happening. 

Facebook Ad Account Restricted: Wellness Update

Often a Facebook ban happens because Facebook already had their eye on you. Getting an ad account restriction on Facebook happens when FB ad policy automations build a character profile of your ad account based on ad approval vs ad rejection basis.

Get too far in one direction for rejections, and the red alert goes out to the bots to shut you down.

Meta is introducing new restrictions for certain categories of websites and apps using Meta Business Tools to ensure compliance with their terms beginning in early 2025.

These changes aim to better manage data sharing and enforce categorization of data sources. Impacted advertisers started to receive notifications starting November 20, 2024, about their data source categorization and any restrictions.

January 10, 2025: Meta Officially Announces Enforcement Timeline
and 30-Day Extension Option

Meta has officially announced the enforcement timeline for the additional data sharing restrictions, set to begin between January 13, 2025 and January 20, 2025. This confirms that the rollout will occur in phases, with different data sources being impacted on different dates within this window.

Crucially, Meta is offering a 30-day extension option for advertisers who need more time to adapt. This extension can be requested through a “Request more time” button that will appear in Events Manager starting January 6, 2025. The button will be visible for 7 days, and clicking it will add 30 days to the remaining time before enforcement on that specific data source. It’s essential to act promptly and request the extension as soon as the button appears to maximize the preparation window.

Key Points to Remember:

  • Each data source (pixel or app) has its own extension request. Advertisers must request extensions for each impacted data source individually.
  • Sales representatives cannot see or request the extension. Advertisers must log into Events Manager themselves to check for the button and request the extension.
  • The extension does not affect data source categorization reviews. Advertisers can still request a review of their data source categorization even if they’ve requested an extension.

Meta’s communication emphasizes the importance of reviewing data source categories in Events Manager. This helps Meta determine the appropriate data sharing restrictions and ensures advertisers are prepared for the changes.

The 30-day extension provides a welcome reprieve for advertisers, offering valuable time to refine strategies and ensure compliance before the restrictions are fully enforced.

However, it’s crucial to use this time wisely and proactively adjust campaigns to minimize potential performance disruptions.

December 9, 2024: Timeline Extension and Custom Event Updates

Meta has provided additional updates regarding its data restrictions, including a slight adjustment to the enforcement timeline and more clarity on custom events.

Here’s what’s new:

Timeline Extended:

  • Advertisers will have the option to delay the restrictions by 30 days using a “more time” button available in early January. This pushes enforcement for some campaigns to February 14-21, coinciding with the U.S. administration change in January.
  • This delay offers a brief window for advertisers to refine their strategies and adapt to the new compliance requirements.

Custom Event Naming Rules:

  • Advertisers can still use custom events, but these must now go through a registration process and adhere strictly to Meta’s terms.
  • Fully restricted websites or apps will not be allowed to send custom events at all. This creates additional challenges for healthcare and healthtech advertisers managing campaigns on such platforms.

December 6, 2024: Meta’s Updated FAQs on Custom Events

Meta has released updated FAQs regarding custom events following the enforcement of third-party data restrictions.

Key reminders include:

  • Prohibited Information: Advertisers must not share any prohibited information with Meta, either directly or indirectly.
  • Custom Event Naming Rules: Custom event names must not reflect, imply, or be based on any prohibited information, such as sensitive health conditions or restricted data categories.

December 5, 2024: Updates on Custom Events

  • Custom Events Remain Flexible: Advertisers will retain control over how custom events are used, provided they comply with Meta’s updated policies.
  • Registration Required: All custom events must be registered and cannot share sensitive or restricted data.
  • Advertiser Responsibility: Meta emphasizes that advertisers are accountable for ensuring compliance with these new rules.

December 2, 2024: Insights on Adaptation

Advertisers need to focus on building compliant technical stacks and leveraging tools like CDPs (Customer Data Platforms) and privacy-first workflows. These tools will be critical for maintaining performance under the new restrictions.

November 26, 2024: Expert Roundtable Highlights

  • Deep Funnel Events Eliminated: Meta confirmed that healthcare organizations will no longer be able to optimize campaigns using deep-funnel conversion events. Without adjustments, most healthcare campaigns on Meta could become ineffective.
  • Shift in Messaging on Custom Events: Meta’s language around custom events is changing, with responsibility for restricting sensitive data being placed squarely on advertisers.

What you need to know:

Meta will categorize data sources (websites/apps) based on topics such as health, wellness, financial services and politics, as special ad categories.

Advertisers whose websites/apps fall into restricted categories may face partial or full limitations in data sharing

This includes that CAPI will not work for these categorized brands after the move.

From Meta:

“This means that all events from your website or app will not be shared with Meta, or will be subsequently removed when received (if it’s sent server-side, for e.g., CAPI), through any of our Business Tools. Please note that this change may impact your campaign performance. The impact you may observe to your campaigns will depend primarily on if and how you are currently using standard events.”

By the way, fun fact, did you know Facebook considered going ad free at one point?

Facebook considered ad-free subscriptions after the Cambridge Analytica scandal

 

Per the Verge, apparently after the Cambridge Analytica data scandal broke in 2018, things got bad enough for Meta (then Facebook) that Mark Zuckerberg had to face Congress to try to explain what had happened. The focus on how much data Facebook had on everyone, including “shadow profiles” for non-Facebook users, was enough to shake financial markets and, eventually, prompt a public apology tour from Mark Zuckerberg.

Now we’ve learned from a slide presented April 17th 2025 at FTC v. Meta during former COO Sheryl Sandberg’s testimony that the company’s board of directors considered offering ad-free Facebook subscriptions as part of its response to the backlash. With users realizing that the company’s “free” services were paid for by their own data, maybe offering a way to pay for more privacy could change the narrative.

Here are a couple of takeaways:

  • Paid monthly subscription offering that allows users to experience Facebook (and potentially our other apps) without ads.
  • Goal: Provide an advertising ‘opt out’ and address the meme: ‘if you are not paying for a service, you are the product.’

Instead of launching the subscription, the company outlined plans to reduce the amount of data it made available to outside developers. Meta eventually launched an ad-free subscription option in 2023, but only in the European Union. The “pay or consent” model has still drawn criticism from regulators over Meta’s implementation, and last November, it cut the price of the subscription by 40 percent.

Welp. Well, for the advertisers reading this, and businesses relying on Facebook ads to drive profits, let’s be thankful we still get a chance to support our families with ads. But, what happens when the ban hammer strikes?

Facebook Ad Account Restricted: what does it mean and what to do
R

I’ve seen folks banned for how they phrased their shipping and handling policies. It was a skincare company, so they had to watch out for getting hit with the Personal Attributes flag.

TLDR: In essence what is happening is Meta is trying to make sure they are following HIPPA laws with pixel data and wanting to prove for future law suits that they did their due diligence.

And this new – yet to be officially announced to the public at the time of this blog – Facebook policy, is applying Personal Attributes flag to pixel data.

When you get your advertising access restricted it means the Facebook bots found something big or small somewhere in your funnel against policy.

Ready to stop guessing and stop losing money and time? Click here for a complimentary discovery call.

I’ve worked side-by-side with the software engineers at Meta, and offer better answers on this topic than many blogs you’ll find after googling facebook ad account restricted. All white hat.


How will you find out if you’re affected?

It’s important to remember Meta is a big company, and there’s a lot of contradictory info because, and I know from working there, Facebook’s teams don’t communicate with each other very well. For example….

If you’re in health and wellness: Advertisers will be informed via email, Ads Manager, and Events Manager about impacted ad sets and events

If you are classified as this category, you’ll see it in your Events Manager under pixels, and then manage data source category. If you are under health and wellness it will appear there.

So, it’s vital to understand how the Facebook bots flag ads and ad accounts.

If you’re like my client Jack Randall, President of Social Flight, you’re tired of beating your head against the wall trying to guess why Facebook has shut you down, and want answers faster.

“Trevor helped me successfully diagnose exactly why my ad account was disabled, and helped me frame out a plan to move forward.” 👍🏻

Click here, to schedule a discovery call.

Facebook Ad Account Restricted:

Why does Facebook say my advertising access is restricted?

It can be one thing that gets you a facebook ad account restricted after it’s removed you’re good, or it could be a series of smaller actions over time Facebook’s automations have logged and determined, overall, you are deliberately choosing not to follow policy.

Other times it could be a log in issue, a bank issue, or a business model conflict if the automations flag your ads as belonging to a banned business model (like MLMs). Make sure to read my blog on removing ad account restrictions here. 

Given all the lawsuits….Meta has faced legal issues with false or misleading claims in advertising, so Facebook or Meta is trying to improve transparency and reduce false advertising. 

The rollout of the new Facebook event categorization timing matched with the the large rise in class action suits against CPG brands this past year.

Meta keeps getting sued for breaking wire tapping and HIPPA laws and now…

Meta is covering their own butt, by making sure you are banned faster if you send pixel data back with PHI info that Meta can get sued for sharing 

This is in essence just an expansion of the Personal Attributes facebook ad policies that say you can’t target Facebook users too specifically. Now, this is being expanded to Event Manager and the Facebook pixel. 

Appeal a Facebook ad account restricted

What does it mean to have a Facebook ad account restricted? Well, it’s like having a bullseye on your back – and the machines Facebook uses will attempt to reinforce their initial judgement that you are against their rules.

When you get a Facebook ad account restricted, Facebook offers you a chance to appeal first. But, if instead of appealing you rush to resubmit the same ad with the same violations in it, it can lead to disabling your Facebook Business Manager too.

If someone else on your BM is in hot water with FB that can roll over on you too, because Meta will hold you responsible for another person’s facebook account restricted if you share the same BM. It’s tough, but there is a path to ban-free ads here.

Free eBook: Top 5 Reasons Agencies Fail at Facebook

Facebook Ad Account Restricted: Violations & HIPPA


If your Facebook account is restricted from advertising, it may hurt your ability to earn money in the future, so you’ll want to make sure your overall track record is in the black not the red. That means more approved ads than rejected. If your facebook account’s restricted it was done by bots.

So real talk, Facebook is getting sued for wiretapping charges and violating health data.

This is the section of the HIPPA laws that Facebook keeps breaking, leading Facebook to recategorize Personal Attributes flag to apply to the pixel data of the Health and Wellness industry – for violating privacy of PHI – 

You are able to check in Events Manager what is classified as health and wellness condition, under Settings, then Manage Data Source Categories. if you are in one of the restricted categories, you can’t optimize for purchase anymore.

Facebook Ad Account Restricted – What’s Changing


With a Facebook account restricted from advertising you may get the flagged for talking about the pain points of your med spa’s patients too personally.

If you’re like, I know this..What’s changing? How does this relate to getting a facebook ad account restricted?

Starting around January 6–13, 2025, Meta is introducing big changes to how it handles ads for health and wellness brands. Businesses in this category will no longer be able to share key event data with Meta, particularly affecting the ability to optimize for events like “Purchase” and other lower-funnel events.

How do I know if my brand is affected?

You’ll receive emails, and in-product notifications in Ads Manager and Events Manager about which ad sets and events are impacted.


Read the ultimate guide on what to do if you’re hacked while running Facebook ads or want to prevent this from happening here.

How Serious are Personal Attributes bans?



You see those images above? These used to be on Facebook’s ad policy website to show you exactly WHAT NOT TO DO. So why the F@#$%&! did they DELETE the THING YOU NEED TO KNOW in order to NOT GET BANNED?

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Facebook has stripped their policy site from showing these clear examples of what they do and don’t allow.

But I got your back and will continue to provide them for more transparency on Facebook ad policies in this little archive of my FB policy blog. Speaking of which let’s talk about the NEW ad restrictions for health and wellness

Facebook ad account restricted Meta Event Manager Data Source

If you’re in health and wellness or cosmetic beauty, your Facebook Business Manager may be at risk too after getting a facebook ad account restricted. Or even from your pixel data.

Check your data source category in Meta Events Manager: Data Sources > Settings > Manage Data Source Categories. (Meta’s help article here for How to manage data source categories in Meta Events Manager).

I’ve seen a series of quick thoughtless actions lead to a facebook ad account restricted before. And now is the time when you have to be extra diligent.

Types of data source restrictions

  1. Core Setup Restrictions. Limits on the sharing custom parameters and parts of your store’s URLs after the domain.
  2. Partial Event Restriction. Affects specific mid- and lower-funnel events (like “Purchase”), aka you can no longer track lower-funnel conversion events. To adapt, focus on upper-funnel events like Awareness or Engagement to keep targeting and optimization effective.
  3. Full Event Restrictions. In some regions, Meta may fully restrict all event tracking. This means Events Manager won’t support campaign optimization in those areas. If this happens, you might need to adjust or pause campaigns as performance could decline.

How to check your core setup:

How to manage data source categories in Meta Events Manager

From Meta:

“To manage data source categories in Events Manager:

  1. Go to Meta Events Manager.
  2. Click the Data sources icon in the left menu of the page.
  3. Select the name and ID of your data.
  4. Click the Settings tab at the top of the page.
  5. Scroll to the Manage data source categories section. You may not see the Manage data source categories section if your data sources are not in any of the categories. Learn about data source categories.
  6. Click Manage.
  7. Check your data sources, categories and statuses.
    • If you think your data source is categorized accurately, you can click Confirm.
    • If you think your data source is not categorized accurately, click the arrow next to the Confirm button and select Request review. You’ll see a message that says that you’ve successfully requested the review.
    • If you’ve already requested a review of your data source category, click View details to see more information.

If you requested a review, you’ll be notified through email of our decision.”

OK so take a look at your Meta Events Manager, the clunky af interface we are all forced to use to create pixels and CAPI -all just to overcome Tim Cook’s hurtful move with the iOS 14 update from Apple that nearly killed FB ads- open Meta Events Manager:

Then check your settings and SCROLL DOWN to check your CORE Setup:


2025 Roll Out of New Health & Wellness FB Policies

Meta Timeline & Review Process

When Meta reviews your ad account and decides on if they are branding you with a facebook ad account restricted, they will only use the site and how the product is marketed on the site to guide their enforcement decision on these matters.

You won’t be able to submit additional documentation as the domain will be the source of Facebook’s automations decisions.

Meaning, your website will make or break your ability to avoid or prevent a Facebook ban, due to these newly expanded Personal Attributes facebook ad policies to protect PHI data per HIPPA laws. 

There is a 30-day cooldown period in between review attempts and as far as timelines for enforcement are concerned, please see below.

  1. Jan 6th-13th: Rolling notifications – we will give advertisers (on a rolling basis) 7 days to click a “more time” button in Events Manager to get additional 30 days if they need it to address these changes.
  2. Jan 14th-21st : For businesses, who have NOT requested more time. The “more time” button will be gone, and the additional restrictions will be applied for advertisers who did not use this button. Advertisers will receive an email informing them restrictions are now active for their data source. For clients, who HAVE requested for more time.
  3. Feb 14th – 21st: The additional restrictions will start for advertisers who did use the “more time” button. Advertisers will receive an email informing them that restrictions are now active for their data source.

Facebook ad account restricted:Things we don’t know yet

  1. Not all health & wellness brands are equally affected. Meta will only utilize the site and how the product is marketed on the site to decide. So the criteria is not very clear.
  2. Little information on how the events will be restricted from technical side. What information in tracking will be restricted and how will they be restricted technically.

Here’s an example of the type of messages Meta is sending Health and Wellness brands to prepare for the upcoming wholesale ban fest:

Facebook ad account restricted: How can I stay ahead of Meta’s restrictions?

1. Review your brand’s classification

Check your Events Manager to see if your website or app is flagged under a restricted category.

  • Common categories include health, wellness, financial services, politics, and other sensitive topics.
  • If you’re wrongly categorized, file an appeal immediately.

2. Clean up your website/ads claims

Avoid exaggerated statements related to solving health or medical conditions like “cure certain disease” or “heal certain symptoms.” Keep it truthful and compliant.

3. Leverage first-party data for long-term success

Through first-party data, you can create custom events to track lower-funnel events using neutral custom event names.

Continue tracking lower-funnel conversion events through custom events instead of standard events.

It’s a good idea to start testing a custom event strategy now to stay ahead. Meta has stated that properly registered and compliant custom events will still work for optimization, even with these new restrictions.

Example of custom events tracking implemented to avoid FB bans:

Standard Event

Custom Event

Purchase

jetskishaman_Target

Add Payment Info

jetskishaman_API

Initiate Checkout

jetskishaman_CKO

Add to Cart

jetskishaman_ATC

Lead

jetskishaman_SUB

You can then continue optimizing for the lower-funnel conversion event using custom events instead of standard events.

Do this by switching all lower-funnel customer conversion events as the conversion target in your Ads Campaign.

While planning for conversion optimization using upper-funnel standard events, e.g. Page View, View Content, Search.

The downside of this option is losing insights into ad performance on conversions and the inability to optimize for conversions.

4. Monitor enforcement closely.

Keep in mind, it will be an increasingly regulated area. Any policy changes may results in technical adjustments.

If you have any questions – and want to recover from or prevent a facebook ad account restricted, simply schedule a discovery call with me here. 

Facebook ad account restricted: About core setup

Here’s the sneaky way Facebook is announcing these changes – which you’d never know about without blogs like mine.

It’s a rando article not spelling out the simple truth: Meta will ban you for the wrong standard events that implicate Personal Attributes, and violate HIPPA laws by sharing PHI data.

Instead of just TELLING you this, Meta HIDES this info within a blurb About Core Setup 

At Meta, we have restrictions around the kinds of information businesses can share with us through our Meta Business Tools. We don’t want or permit advertisers to use the Meta Business Tools to share information about people that is not allowed under our Meta Business Tools Terms. This includes information that may be considered sensitive (including any information defined as sensitive under applicable laws, regulations and applicable industry guidelines), or information that is otherwise not allowed under our terms.

Core setup is a set of data restrictions that can be applied to a Meta Business Tool by you or by Meta. There is an option in Meta Events manager that you can use to turn on data restrictions for the Meta Business Tool you are using.

Core setup restricts the transmission of custom parameters and anything in a URL following the domain.

While not a substitute for your own compliance mechanisms, core setup’s data restrictions can help prevent the sharing of information that may not be allowed under our Meta Business Tools Terms.

Types of data that are restricted for Meta Business Tools with core setup’s data restrictions

The kinds of information that are restricted for Meta Business Tools with core setup applied are:

  • Custom parameters: Standard parameters are fields that we have predefined for advertisers to include with their events. For example, value and currency parameters for a purchase event, or the content_id parameter for a view content event. If your parameter is not on the list of standard parameters, it’s considered a custom parameter. Learn about standard and custom parameters.
  • Anything in a URL after the domain: For example, the URL https://jaspersmarket.com/clothes/summer/dresses?item=10 would be shortened to “https://jaspersmarket.com/”.

Facebook ad account restricted: Core Data

What core setup’s data restrictions mean for you

If you’re using a Meta Business Tool that has core setup’s data restrictions applied, you may see limitations to the following advertiser experiences:

Custom audiences may not work as expected

Custom audiences may not work as expected if they rely on custom parameters or anything in a URL after the domain:

  • Custom audiences that rely on custom parameters or URLs in their rules can’t be prefilled and may take longer to populate or not be available.
  • Custom audiences can’t be created and won’t update if they contain device rules, or aggregation values along with custom parameters or URLs.

Go to Audiences to review and update custom audiences.

Facebook ad account restricted: Ads may be affected

Your ad sets may be effected if a custom audience decreases, or can no longer be updated because your Meta Business Tool is in a core setup. You can either update your custom audience or create a new one for your ad sets. Go to Audiences to review and update custom audiences.

Events Manager information may change

Information may be unavailable in Meta Events Manager and other surfaces. For example, custom parameters and anything in a URL after the domain. This includes Sampled activities and the test events tool. Go to Meta Events Manager to learn more.

Facebook ad account restricted: Advanced Matching

Automatic advanced matching may be unavailable

Automatic advanced matching may not be available if your Meta Business Tool is in a core setup.

If automatic advanced matching is unavailable, you can set up advanced matching manually instead. Learn how to set up advanced matching manually on Meta for Developers.

-Here’s MY note on that, from the desk of Trevor W Goodchild: 

Go into your pixel setting for auto advanced matching, it’s auto turned on if you’re in health and wellness niche, turn it off.

It will try to match name, and email, first name – all of which is determined to be non compliant with this new policy

Facebook ad account restricted: Pixel

Meta Pixel catalog updates

Adding items to your catalog via Meta Pixel may no longer work. You can add items to your catalog manually instead. Learn about ways to add items to a catalog.

Custom events need to be reviewed

Review custom web, app, and offline events that are sent through the Meta Business Tools. During your review, you choose which events to confirm and which events to block.

You should only confirm custom events if the event data follows the Meta Business Tools Terms, you intend to send the custom event to Meta, and the event data is formatted correctly.

You may use custom events that you confirm for advertising purposes such as in ad campaigns, custom conversions, and custom audiences. Learn how to review custom events in Meta Events Manager.

Reasons why core setup’s data restrictions may be turned on for a Meta Business Tool

Core set up data restrictions may be turned on for the Meta Business Tool for one of the following reasons:

  1. Meta has determined that the data source falls under a data source category that requires core setup’s data restrictions. Learn more About data source categories in Meta Events Manager.
  2. You received multiple notifications that data you’re sharing potentially goes against the Meta Business Tools Terms. Learn how to review blocked parameters in Meta Events Manager.
  3. You have turned on core setup’s data restrictions in Meta Events Manager. Learn how to turn data restrictions on and off in Meta Events Manager.”


OKaaaaaaay….so this basically means IF YOU SEE Core Set Up Data restrictions turned on, navigating to the Meta Events Manager’s settings as described above, it means YOU ARE ON THE RADAR and may be shut down soon if your standard events are sending PHI data back to Meta, as this violates HIPPA laws. 

Facebook ad account restricted: Method

How do I unrestrict my Facebook ads? Facebook ad account restricted tips


A good practice for preventing a facebook ad account restricted is to audit your funnel for potential flags and remove them, making everything compliant BEFORE submitting ads to Facebook to review.

And you don’t want a facebook account restricted because you simply DID NOT PREPARE. So you see that image above? CUSTOMIZE your CAPI for custom events and SWITCH to Custom Conversions.

It pays to be informed of what Facebook is doing as it effects industries at large, like Facebook’s recent ad policies on selling CBD on Facebook. You need to stay current to avoid Facebook accounts restricted from advertising.
Want to stop guessing about FB ad bans and PREVENT that massive loss of money and time?

Schedule a discovery call here, now.

Why is my Facebook ad account restricted?

Now, it is not your fault that you don’t understand the policies – Facebook is clear as the vision of a serious scotch drinker after the 4th glass. But, most likely your Facebook ad account is restricted because of a few words in your ad copy, privacy policy or the creative you chose.

Given my history of working with thousands of ad agencies both while I was working AT Facebook and in my own practice, I have stats on which ad policies are triggered the most in specific niches. Like personal attributes flags being higher in weight loss niches, or MLM flags being higher in the start-a-biz online vertical.

Understanding how YOUR specific niche interacts with Facebook ad policy automations is KEY to staying out of Facebook jail and avoiding a facebook account restricted.

Facebook ad account restricted: Ad rejections

Action Items for Expert Ad Buyers

1.Determine whether this will affect your brand

  • Health & wellness categories is defined as: “associated with medical conditions, specific health statuses, or provider/patient relationships (for example, a patient portal or wellness tracker for depression)”
    • Per a Meta rep, most health supplement brands will not be affected, unless it is a prescription or for a specific disease, etc.
    • If you are a health & wellness-adjacent brand/product, be on the lookout to be flagged and be ready to appeal
  • Financial services categories are defined as: Provides financial tools, consultation and/or services, consumer credit reports
  • Politics is defined as: Is associated with members of a specific political party, political position or contains topics related to a political issue
  • Other categories affected include: Unsuitable content (Contains topics related to unsuitable content, including content that violates our Community and Advertising Standards (examples include hate speech, violence and illegal activities)), and any ads having to do with race, religion, sexuality, gender identity, nationality, trade unions, or personal hardship
  • Per Meta, this list is not exhaustive and may evolve over time

2. Review Categorization in Events Manager:

  • Ensure clients’ data sources are correctly categorized
  • If miscategorized, request a review through Events Manager immediately

3. Adjust Campaign Strategies:

  • Shift focus to upper-funnel events (e.g., awareness, engagement, traffic) for audience targeting and optimization
    • Brand awareness for these brands
  • Explore alternative standard events to replace restricted ones (e.g., Landing Page Views, ViewContent, Donate, App Install, Search).

4. Optimize for Non-Restricted Events:

  • Focus on leveraging non-restricted standard events for better campaign performance.

5. Avoid Misuse of Custom Events:

  • Do not create custom events that mimic restricted events to bypass restrictions.

6. Communicate Changes to Clients:

  • Educate clients on the impact of these changes and how their campaigns may need adjustment.
  • Help them understand restrictions and the rationale for any new strategies.

7. Monitor Notifications:

  • Keep an eye on Ads Manager and Events Manager for updates on ad sets, events, and categorization status.

8. Prepare for Potential Campaign Declines:

  • Proactively strategize to minimize impact, especially for campaigns reliant on restricted events.

If you’ve read my Common Mistakes to Avoid When Advertising on Facebook you found out the hidden clues in FB warnings  – that you may need an expert to decode into everyday language.

Just like my clients, the social media marketing agency for Wu-Tang ClanWu-Tang Clan discovered, there are micro flags in ad copy and landing pages that have to be removed first before attempting to appeal or relaunch a brand with Facebook.

Want the same white glove treatment navigating Facebook shutdowns?

Click here, to schedule a discovery call to avoid getting a disabled Facebook ad account.

Facebook ad account restricted: Trust the right answers

A big hurdle to overcome with dealing with a Facebook ad account restricted is who to trust online. Most articles you’ll read come from outsiders, who have not worked at Meta and are shaking a Magic 8 ball to come up with best guesses.

Even worse, chatting in to Facebook ad support, you talk to people who don’t seem to understand your questions. I’ve heard stories from clients who got in a worst ban after talking to Facebook ad support before finding my blog.

And Facebook has a spotty track record for providing reliable advice on how to solve a facebook account restricted.

I’ve heard some people say that Facebook ads aren’t worth using anymore and don’t turn a profit yet…

Every week my calendar is booked with calls from businesses running high converting ads on Facebook making hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars.

So, while Nas may have rapped that Hip Hop is Dead (with the recent beef with Kendrick Lamar and Drake you know hip hop is alive and kicking) Facebook certainly isn’t dead either.

Per Sprout Social, Facebook is the third most visited website following Google and YouTube, respectively. This puts it ahead of other leading platforms like Twitter and Instagram.

The platform boasts 3.065 billion active users on a monthly basis.

This makes it the most used social media platform worldwide.

In 2023, Facebook’s total ad revenue amounted to $135 billion, up from $116 billion the previous year.

Don’t leave money on the table just because you don’t understand the way the bots flag for policy, I can help you there.

Is your Facebook ad account already disabled? Don’t get ripped off! Read How to Recover Facebook Ad Accounts now!

Just like my client Dr. Emi benefited from my funnel audits for compliance, you can too. It all starts with a free discovery call here. By the way, Dr. Emi was just featured on the Today Show on NBC.  

(In a rush? Skip the line with prepaid funnel audits with VIP Access).

Learn more

Learn more about the appeal process: when appealing keep in mind you’re chatting wit outsourced workers who have a goal of getting more chats per day than increasing real resolution rate.

They will try to shut you down every step of the way. I can help you navigate these hurdles, and get the best chances you can have for making an appeal if you have contacted me fast enough after a ban. 

Beyond that window, the chances get slimmer. But you do have other options if your goal is to get Facebook ads live again and not just trying to recover old disabled ad accounts.

What if you had a guarantee that your ads were compliant before they went live on Facebook?

Keep reading for these answers and more: 

Facebook Ad Account Restricted Solution

Ad agencies: tired of getting the silent treatment from Facebook when all you want to do is get your Facebook ads live and revenue in the door?

I’m a Facebook ad policy specialist who worked at Facebook and I’m trusted by high level brands that take accuracy and results seriously.

I can show you how to resolve FB bans even if Facebook ad support is useless to resolve ad account restrictions.

Don’t lose any more money from Facebook bans and schedule your call with me now.

Don’t take my word for it, let my clients tell you what it was like working with me:


It shouldn’t be a mystery on what to do to recover from a ban. I strive for customer satisfaction, being a business owner myself.


My clients have included the social media marketing agencies of Tony Robbins, Harv Eker, and Dean Graziosi. How much is it costing you to have a disabled Facebook ad account? Talk today. 



I’m featured on the Queen of Facebook Mari Smith’s Marketing Essentials Course.

If you want to skip the line before this offer ends, immediately secure expert-level Facebook consulting. Book a call with me now!


If you’re ok with waiting a bit longer, and entering the waitlist to see if you’re eligible – Schedule a call or contact me via email.

Top 10 FB Ad Swipe File

Unlock the Top 10 Facebook Ads That Are Working Right Now — For Just $9.97

Get Yours Here

Train  ChatGPT  to  Think  Like  Your  Business—in  Under  10  Minutes

In this video course you’ll learn how to teach ChatGPT to think like your business, using a simple template anyone can reuse for marketing, sales, or strategy.

Stop getting generic AI output.

This quick training shows you how to “prime” ChatGPT to act like your strategist or marketer—with just one reusable prompt template.

No coding. No plugins. Just a smart system you can use today.

Learn More here

How  to  Use  ChatGPT – AI  Made  Simple,  No Tech  Skills  Needed

Want a book instead of a video course on getting ChatGPT to make your business more money?

This is a beginner-friendly guide that shows you how to get real business value from ChatGPT—no coding, no complex setup.

Discover how to write better prompts, get smarter answers, and work faster today. Copy and paste prompts that get you quick success are included.

Learn More Here

Ad Account Restricted Facebook FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How to fix ad account disabled on facebook and How to advertise content unrestricted on Facebook

Your first step should always be to stop active ads running with the same copy as the rejected ad, then audit your funnel for flags, and appeal using the strategy outlined in the appeal section of the FAQs

2. How to enable my disabled facebook ad account

If you have a spare ad account in your Facebook Business Manager that you can run ads from, feel free to. BUT, identify the micro and major flags FIRST, so as not to repeat the same mistake. 

Ready to Finally Make the Money You Need in the Hours That Work for You & Your Family? Don’t miss out,Learn More here.

3. How to appeal a disabled facebook ad account

As far as how to appeal a disabled Facebook ad account, you’ll get 48 hours to make your appeal. The best strategy is to communicate to Meta | Facebook that:

A. You understand WHY you were banned.
B. You are committed to following the policies from here on out.
C. You have identified and REMOVED the offending content from your funnel.

You can also get some top tips on facebook ad policy in this complimentary eBook: Top 5 Reasons Agencies Fail at Facebook

4. how to get disabled ad account up and running

Depending on how long your ad account was disabled, sometimes, if your appeal is written correctly, the appeal itself CAN potentially get you reactivated, if you understand to communicate with Facebook ad support correctly. 

5. How Many Policy Violations Before Account is Shut Down?

Typically, it’s a 1 to 10 ratio. For every single rejected ad that you get, you’ll want 10 Facebook ads that are approved. After a pattern of behavior is established by machine learning, from Meta’s automations, you may spiral rapidly into Facebook jail if your ratios aren’t correct. 3 consecutive ads getting rejected risks your ad account getting disabled. But, it also depends on how severe the ban is. 

And, if this still all seems too confusing, your clients are yelling at you to get ads live to bring in money, simply schedule a complimentary Facebook discovery call here

6. How to remove restriction on facebook ad account

As far as removing a restriction on a Facebook ad account, if we’re talking about a disabled ad account, well, you can rehabilitate your funnel and then appeal, possibly getting it reactivated if you do this SMART (I have methods that work if you’re in the appeal window). But as far as removing a restriction from Facebook ads, see the previous FAQ answer: you need to get in a positive approval-cycle ratio.

7. how long does facebook take to review restricted ad account

Now, ask yourself, is it an election year? Have there been over 20,000 Meta employees laid off? Did you word your appeal using specific language Facebook ad support can and will respond better to? These are the factors in play. Typically, you get an answer within a week. If you have a more severe ban or are in the special ad categories, you may get an answer faster but it won’t be one you like. Severe bans end up as permanent restrictions and they deliver that ban hammer faster than other lighter Facebook ad policy restrictions. 

8. how to fix your access can’t be reinstated because too much time has passed since we restricted your account

In a situation like this, your recovery options depend on what is banned:

a) Facebook Ad Account
b) Facebook Business Page
c) Facebook Business Manager
d) Facebook profile

So, each one may have a different recovery option, depending on your situation, and type of ban it is, as well as your particular niche or business’s vertical, and the health of the accounts before the ban. Want to get a pathway to get Facebook ads live? Schedule your complimentary discovery call here.

9. How To Get Your Disabled Facebook Ad Account Back 

First, let me also address: personal and emotional attachments to disabled ad accounts. I’ve worked with tons of Fortune 500 level companies, and the amount of hair pulling and FML-ing over ONE ad account being disabled, is incredible. Sometimes, it’s faster, and cheaper, to just start a new ad account, and relaunch, rather than recover a tainted asset.

That being said, the same answer applies here to the instructions above, for appeals

10. How to unblock your Facebook ad account

Now, unblocking an ad account, may be possible if you get in fast enough with the right kind of messaging to Facebook ad support. While they are the gatekeepers, and don’t have any real power, they CAN talk to the right folks who, if you word your appeal right, can unblock your Facebook ad account. And of course, if you need next-level assistance, I’m always available to chat and see if it’s a good fit here.

Check out the LinkedIn post as well.

Trevor W. Goodchild

Share
Published by
Trevor W. Goodchild
2 months ago

Recent Posts

How to advertise content unrestricted on Facebook tips & AI Update to Meta

Are you asking how to advertise content unrestricted on Facebook? Dealing with getting a Facebook…

2 days ago

How to Remove a Restriction on a Facebook Ad Account Now

Searching for how to Remove a Restriction on a Facebook Ad Account? I've worked at…

1 week ago

How to advertise content unrestricted on Facebook & Improve Content

Are you asking how to advertise content unrestricted on Facebook? Dealing with getting a Facebook…

2 weeks ago

How to Remove a Restriction on a Facebook Ad Account New

Searching for how to Remove a Restriction on a Facebook Ad Account? I've worked at…

3 weeks ago

My Facebook ad account restricted fix

Looking for a solution to Facebook ad account restricted? There are so many ways to…

1 month ago

Is Deepseek Better Than Chatgpt​

Let's discuss the AI chatbots out there and think about Deepseek versus ChatGPT. There are…

1 month ago