The “Ad May Not Run” notification can be a frustrating hurdle for many attempting to set up ads on Facebook. I’ve been running Facebook Ads consistently since the beginning of this year, and every ad I’ve created has triggered this warning. Let me guide you through fixing it and understanding its causes.
The “Ad May Not Run: Potential Policy Issue” warning indicates that either your ad’s text, destination URL, or the action in your ad contains content that could potentially violate Facebook’s Terms and Conditions. In my case, all my ads were straightforward, promoting items such as cars for sale or website design services, with the destination link set to WhatsApp or my website. My website is simply a platform for website design services, nothing remotely harmful, yet this warning persisted.
The good news is that I managed to resolve this issue, and I even created a video about it, which you’ll find below. But before I delve into the solution, let’s explore some common reasons why you might encounter this warning:
1. Ad Content Violations: If your ad contains prohibited content such as pornography, harmful material, or dating-related content like matchmaking services or fortune telling, Facebook will flag it. Even if your ad redirects to a website with such content, you’ll receive the “Ad May Not Run” warning. Consider revising your ad content accordingly.
2. Audience Age Restrictions: Targeting an audience under 18 years old may trigger this warning, especially in regions with strict regulations regarding the content viewable by minors. Adjusting your audience targeting to include users above 18+ can help you Fix “Ad May Not Run: Potential Policy Issue” On Facebook Ads, and remember to consider regional variations in content restrictions.
3. Target Countries Restrictions: Sometimes, the warning may persist due to specific targeting settings. For instance, I encountered this issue when targeting certain Scandinavian countries for WhatsApp replies. Removing or adjusting the targeted countries resolved the issue for me. Similarly, you can modify the desired action in your ad, such as directing users to a website instead of WhatsApp replies.
4. Website Content Violations: If your website contains content that violates Facebook’s policies, such as dating services or illicit substances, ads directing users to such sites will trigger the warning “Ad May Not Run: Potential Policy Issue”. However, keep in mind that Facebook may flag the warning even for redirects to platforms like Instagram or YouTube. It could be a Facebook glitch rather than an issue with your website’s content which you can just ignore.
It’s crucial to note that in most cases, the “Ad May Not Run” warning is not indicative of problematic content but rather a glitch on Facebook’s end. Despite encountering this warning in all my ads this year, I’ve found that once the ad is published, it runs smoothly without any issues. If the warning persists, consider adjusting your ad content or audience targeting as suggested. Once the “Publish” button is active, proceed with publishing your ad, and it should run as intended.
