Meta has introduced a powerful new feature designed to help creators keep control of their original work: Facebook Content Protection. This tool automatically scans Facebook and Instagram for unauthorized reposts of your Reels and gives you clear options to track, block, or release each match.
If you're a creator dealing with repost accounts, aggregator pages, or AI-generated lookalikes, this update can significantly improve how you protect your content and retain credit.
Below is a detailed breakdown of how the tool works and how you can use it effectively.
What Is Facebook Content Protection?
Facebook Content Protection is an automated system that continuously scans Meta platforms for Reels that resemble your original uploads. Once enrolled, every Reel you post to Facebook becomes protected automatically.
Behind the scenes, Meta uses the same matching technology from Rights Manager, comparing both full and partial matches to detect:
Reposts
Cropped clips
Edited copies
Partial duplicates
Whenever a match is found, you'll get an alert directly in your Professional Dashboard.
How Facebook Detects Reposts
Once your Reel is protected, Facebook's system compares uploads across Facebook and Instagram using:
Visual similarity
Partial clip matching
Metadata
Audio or transcript matching (Meta hints this may be part of the process)
This ensures you get notified not just for full reposts, but also for partial usage or edits that resemble your content.
How to Enroll in Facebook Content Protection
1. Check Eligibility
Content Protection is available to:
Creators in Facebook's Content Monetization Program
Accounts that meet Meta's integrity and originality standards
Rights Manager users (access rolling out in the mobile app)
2. Enroll Your Account
You can apply for access from Meta's official enrollment page or through:
Professional Dashboard → Content Protection
Once approved, protection activates automatically for future Reels.
3. Protect Older Reels
Creators can manually select previously uploaded Reels and turn on protection for them as well.
How to Manage a Detected Match
When Facebook detects a similar Reel, you'll see it in your Content Protection dashboard. You can choose one of three actions:
Track (Default Option)
Keep the matching Reel visible
Monitor its performance
Add an "Original by" attribution label that links back to your Page/Profile
Block
Hide the matching Reel on Facebook and Instagram
Reduces the repost's distribution
Does not penalize the other account
Release
Remove your claim
Allow the Reel to remain visible
The match disappears from your dashboard
This simplified workflow helps you respond quickly to misuse while giving legitimate creators room to collaborate.
Who Can Access Content Protection?
This feature is currently available to:
Creators enrolled in the Facebook Content Monetization Program
Creators who meet Meta's integrity and originality requirements
Users already using Rights Manager (mobile access is rolling out)
Others may apply for access through Facebook's Rights Manager application page.
What Content Is Not Eligible for Protection?
Some content types fall outside Meta's protection rules, including:
Reaction videos
Compilations
Remixes that significantly transform your original
Clips you do not own the rights to
Repeatedly claiming content that you don't own may lead to restrictions or loss of access.
Why This Matters for Creators
This update is part of Meta's broader push to support original creators and reduce the influence of aggregator accounts. In recent years, Meta has:
Removed repost accounts from recommendation feeds
Boosted original content visibility
Penalized low-effort reuploaders
Now, with enhanced match detection, creators have more control and can prevent their work from being overshadowed by copycats.
With AI-generated "recreations" becoming more common, this kind of monitoring could become increasingly important.
How to Use an Allow List for Authorized Reposts
Creators can also add trusted collaborators to an Allow List, giving them permission to reuse protected Reels without triggering a match alert.
Useful for:
Partners
Brands
Editors
Multi-platform teams
This ensures flexibility without sacrificing ownership.
Final Thoughts
Meta's Content Protection system is a significant step forward for creators who rely on originality to grow their presence. By automatically detecting matches and offering simple management tools, it helps creators:
Maintain visibility
Prevent unauthorized use
Gain credit for their work
Reduce the impact of repost accounts
As the feature continues to roll out, its impact on aggregator pages and AI-generated copy trends will be worth watching.
