Since 1 October 2025, Meta (Facebook, Instagram, Threads) has banned, across the European Union, any paid advertising (Ads Manager or Boost button) relating to political, electoral or social issue content (SIEP). Organic posts (published for free, without sponsorship) remain permitted.
1. Background to the restriction
Since 2024, the social media landscape has been evolving, with tighter rules governing sponsored content. Platforms now require full transparency on commercial partnerships: mandatory disclosures (#Ad, #Sponsored, etc.) and integrated native tools.
From 8 October, political advertising will be banned (Boost your post, Ads Manager, etc.). However, this measure could still evolve; META and other players are using it as a shock tactic to signal to the EU that over-regulation is becoming unmanageable internally.
The aim is to preserve public trust and avoid any risk of sanctions. It is essential to distinguish between:
- Organic content, free and unrestricted: text, photo, video, story, reel, live, carousel, event.
- Sponsored content, subject to validation and stricter checks (boost = paid advertising).
2. List of permitted/prohibited elements
Permitted (organic, non-sponsored)
- Publishing your ideas, values and positions
- Presenting your track record of actions
- Giving your opinion on a reform, public policy or bill
- Criticising a party or a measure (excluding hateful or defamatory remarks)
- Launching a civic call (public meeting, citizen consultation)
- Launching a call to vote (“Vote on 13/10”)
Prohibited (advertising/boost, EU)
- Sponsoring or boosting SIEP content: votes, social issues, sponsored political criticism or opinion
Always prohibited (organic or sponsored, worldwide)
- Hate speech or incitement to violence
- Glorification of dangerous organisations or individuals
- Deepfakes, false quotes or misleading manipulated content
3. Concrete examples (organic vs sponsored)
| Content example | Organic (free) | Sponsored / boosted (paid) |
|---|---|---|
| “My record: 200 trees planted” | Permitted | Prohibited (SIEP) |
| “I support free transport for young people” | Permitted | Prohibited (SIEP) |
| “I criticise the new energy tax, it penalises families” | Permitted | Prohibited (SIEP) |
| “On 13 October, go and vote to support my programme” | Permitted | Prohibited |
| “Take part in the public meeting on the climate plan” | Permitted | Prohibited (SIEP) |
| Video containing insults against a community | Removed | Removed |
| Deepfake of a political opponent | Removed | Removed |
4. Understanding social media algorithms
Algorithms favour content that quickly generates interactions: likes, shares, comments, watch time, clicks. To boost organic visibility:
- Post at times when your target audience is most active
- Encourage interaction (questions, polls, etc.)
- Maintain a regular posting schedule
- Favour short, interactive formats: vertical videos (stories, reels), carousels, participatory content
- Favour native formats published directly on the platform
- Add external links in a comment, not in the main text
- Focus on storytelling, testimonials and emotional content to drive engagement and viral sharing
5. Monitoring and optimisation
- Regularly track key indicators: engagement rate, reading time, reshares, conversions
- Check your audience's peak connectivity times to determine the best posting slots
- Adjust based on results, algorithm changes and emerging trends
6. Conclusion
This strategy combines regulatory compliance with natural communication effectiveness. Publish your political content organically. Do not sponsor any political or social content in the EU any more. Respect the “Meta Community Standards” and Belgian law, particularly during election periods. The Mouvement Réformateur communications team remains available at onur.sar@mr.be