Spark AR enables a global community of creators and developers to imagine, create and share augmented reality experiences that reach the billions of people using the Facebook family of apps and devices.

We want to create a place where you can make safe, respectful, and high-quality effects and share them with the world. The Spark AR Policies are here to help you understand what type of content is and isn’t allowed on the Spark platform.

If you submit effects that repeatedly or egregiously violate the Spark AR Policies, we might temporarily remove your ability to publish or update effects.

Part 1: Effects

All effects uploaded or submitted to Spark AR must follow the policies below.

1.1. Performance. Effects must perform as expected and provide a stable experience.

• 1.1.a. Effects must be be responsive, and run without stuttering or lagging.
• 1.1.b. Effects must load in a reasonable amount of time.

1.2. Functionality. Effects must not contain any hidden or unexpected features or functionality.

1.3. Logos. Any logos must appear only as a natural part of the effect.

• 1.3.a. Logos must be integrated into the scene of the effect. In other words, they must fall into one of the categories below:
  • The logo responds to movements through the use of face tracking — for example, on a piece of clothing worn by the person using the effect.
  • The logo is integrated into a 3D object in the scene that uses world tracking — for example, on a movable boombox.

1.4. Visual text. Any text that contributes to the visuals of the effect must appear only as a natural part of the effect.

• 1.4.a. For sharing effects, text must be integrated into the scene of the effect. In other words, it must fall into at least one of the categories below:
  • The text responds to movements through the use of face tracking — for example, on a piece of clothing worn by the person using the effect.
  • The text is integrated into a 3D object in the scene that uses world tracking — for example, on a movable boombox.
  • The text is a timestamp — for example, in an effect that simulates a camcorder or film camera.

  This policy does not apply to video calling effects.

• 1.4.b. Text must not prompt people to navigate away from the effect or off Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, or Portal.

1.5. Custom controls are allowed if they are integrated with objects that are target or plane-tracked. For example, a world-tracked object may have controls (eg. to change its size or shape) that are attached and move directly with the tracked object. Custom controls that do not track to objects are not allowed.

1.6. Capabilities. Effects must only use capabilities permitted on Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, or Portal.

1.7. Existing media support. Where an effect is enabled for existing media, the design of the effect must be suitable for both vertical and horizontal photos or videos.

Part 2: Metadata and Media

All metadata and media uploaded or submitted with effects to Spark AR must follow the policies below.

2.1. Names. Effect names appear alongside effects when used or shared on Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, or Portal.

• 2.1.a. Names must not be duplicated — every effect published by a single owner must have a different name.

2.2. Demo videos. Demo videos are used to showcase effects.

• 2.2.a. Demo videos must accurately demonstrate the effect’s features and capabilities being used by someone.
• 2.2.b. For sharing effects (Facebook and Instagram), demo videos must be captured live and saved directly from the Facebook or Instagram camera. For example:
• No screencasts
• No stock videos
• No recordings of images or other videos
• 2.2.c. For video calling effects (Messenger and Portal), demo videos must be a screen recording of a video call with the effect applied. For example:
  • No stock videos
  • No recordings of images or other videos
• 2.2.d. Demo videos must be unedited by other apps or software — for example:
  • No Boomerang videos
  • No images, icons or buttons applied after recording

2.3. Categories. The categories selected for an effect must accurately represent the content of the effect. Spark AR may change the categories if it feels the effect is better suited to other categories.

Part 3: AR Content Standards

Content - including all effects, names, icons, demo videos and all other material uploaded or submitted to Spark AR - must follow the standards and policies below. If you’re using a Page to publish effects, then that Page must also follow these policies.

3.1. Facebook Community Standards. Content published to Facebook, Messenger or Portal must comply with our Community Standards, and all applicable laws, statutes, and regulations.

3.2. Instagram Community Guidelines. Content published to Instagram must comply with the Instagram Community Guidelines, and all applicable laws, statutes, and regulations.

3.3. Suitability for user base. Content must be suitable for consumption by the Facebook, Inc. general user base (including those aged 13 and above).

• 3.3.a. Content must not be shocking, sensational, disrespectful or excessively violent.
• 3.3.b. Content must not promote illegal products, services or activities, or content that is inappropriate or unsafe.
• 3.3.c. Content must not promote alcohol, tobacco, marijuana or pharmaceutical medical products, nor be published by brands associated with such products.
• 3.3.d. Content must not be of an adult or sexual nature — for example, nudity, depictions of people in explicit or suggestive positions, or activities that are sexually suggestive or provocative.
• 3.3.e. Content must not discriminate against, harass, provoke, or disparage people.
  • 3.3.e.i. Content must not claim to assess people based on their protected characteristics (race, ethnicity, national origin, religious affiliation, caste, sexual orientation, sex, gender identity, and serious disability or disease).
  • 3.3.e.ii. Content must not rank individuals on physical appearance or personality.
  • 3.3.e.iii. Content must not make criminal allegations against people.
• 3.3.f. Content must not promote the use or depict the sale of a potentially dangerous cosmetic procedure, as per the Facebook Community Standards. This includes effects that depict such procedures through surgery lines.

3.4. Gambling. Content must not promote online gambling, online games of skill that use real money, or online lotteries.

3.5. Spam. Content must not be spammy, misleading or deceptive.

3.6. External links and tags. Content must not contain tags or links off Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, or Portal.

• 3.6.a. Content must not contain any of the following:
  • URLs (web addresses)
  • QR codes
  • Other scannable codes
• 3.6.b. However, effects may contain the following:
  • Social media handles with no call to action
  • URLs which form part of a company name

3.7. Intellectual property infringement. Content must not infringe upon the intellectual property of Facebook Inc., its affiliates or other third parties.

• 3.7.a. Branding elements of the Facebook family of apps and devices. Content must follow the guidelines in the Facebook Brand Resource and Permissions Center.
• 3.7.b. Third-party rights. Content must not infringe upon or violate the rights of any third party, including copyright, trademark, privacy, publicity, or other personal or proprietary rights.