Facebook’s New Video Policy: What It Means for Content Creators

The world is embracing online video content like never before, with nearly every social media platform shifting its focus toward video to keep up with TikTok’s dominance, with Facebook being no exception. In a recent announcement, Facebook stated:

“Any new live broadcasts can be replayed, downloaded, or shared from Facebook pages or profiles for 30 days, after which they will be automatically removed from Facebook.”

While this may seem like a drastic change, Facebook has introduced a grace period. Before your archived live videos are deleted, you’ll receive a notification via email and through the Facebook app, giving you 90 days to transfer your content.

In the same blog post, Facebook states that:

 “these changes will align our storage policies with industry standards and help ensure we are providing the most up-to-date live video experiences for everyone on Facebook.”

Previously, live videos remained on content creators profile and would remain there indefinitely unless manually removed. This meant that live streams could be used as permanent posts for engagement and monetization. Meta, Facebook’s parent company, has cited, among other reasons, storage management as one of the reasons for the policy shift. Since live videos consume significant data storage, automatic deletion will help streamline Facebook’s infrastructure. Facebook also aims to encourage fresh content which aligns with the increasing trend of ephemeral content. As well as this, privacy considerations were also cited.

This is not so drastic when you consider that Twitch, one of Facebook Live’s biggest competitors, stores past broadcasts for 60 days for Twitch Partners, Affiliates, and Prime streamers. Those using the regular streaming content only have their past live videos for 14 days.

It has been said that perhaps Facebook is using the change as a way to further push Reels, as it notes that users have the option to convert some of their favourite moments from their live videos into Reels in order to keep them on the page.

Should We Be Concerned?

According to a Wyzowl[1] survey of video marketers, Facebook was the second most popular platform for video distribution,  behind YouTube, and ranked second most effective after YouTube. While this update may feel like a major shift, data suggests that most videos receive the majority of their views within the first 30 days, after which engagement significantly declines.

The Takeaway: Time to Diversify

For marketing purposes, Facebook and YouTube remain powerful platforms, but this new policy is a wake-up call for content creators. Relying solely on Facebook Live may no longer be sustainable. Instead, creators should explore alternative platforms that offer better longevity, dedicated streaming, and content storage solutions.

In reality, this change might not be the disaster it seems. Facebook Live has long struggled with viewer retention, as audiences face distractions from notifications and other content within the app. A platform designed exclusively for streaming could provide a more focused experience and ensure your content remains available beyond 30 days.

Now is the time for creators to rethink their video strategy, before their content disappears.

[1] https://adamconnell.me/facebook-video-statistics/