Facebook Introduces New Policy for Live Stream Video Deletion
In a notable policy shift, Facebook has announced that it will permanently delete live stream videos 30 days after their initial publication. This change marks a departure from the previous practice of indefinite storage, which the company cited as a considerable resource drain.
According too a statement from Meta, the parent company of Facebook, “the majority of the views for live videos occur within the first few weeks of streaming.” This insight has led the company to conclude that retaining these videos beyond the first month is unneeded.
During the 30-day retention period, users can still replay, download, or share their live streams, as well as create highlight reels of the best moments. Though, once the deletion period has elapsed, the content will be irretrievable.
Ample Time to Save Your Content
facebook is providing users with the option to postpone the deletion of their videos for an additional six months, ensuring ample time to save vital content.
Notably this deletion policy also applies to streams that have been live for more than 30 days as of February 19, 2025.In these cases, users will have a 90-day window to download or share their videos before they are permanently removed.
The company has assured users that this transition will occur gradually over the coming months.
Prior to the deletion of older streams, Facebook will send notifications to users, allowing them to decide whether to download, upload to cloud storage, or repurpose the content into new reels after the live broadcast concludes.
Steps to download Your Old Streams
To download an old live stream,follow these simple steps:
- log into your profile or page.
- Navigate to the ‘Videos’ tab. If you are on a page, go to the ‘Live’ tab and then select ‘More’.
- Choose the video you wish to download.
- Open the video in full screen and click on ‘Download Video’.
Facebook Live Stream Deletion Policy: Expert Insights and Actionable Advice
Time.news sits down with social media expert,Sarah Chen,too unpack Facebook’s new policy regarding the deletion of live stream videos after 30 days. Understand the changes, their impact, and how to safeguard your valuable content.
Time.news: Sarah, thanks for joining us. Facebook recently announced a meaningful change to its live stream video policy. Can you explain what’s happening?
Sarah Chen: Certainly. As of February 19, 2025, Facebook will automatically remove live stream videos 30 days after they’re initially broadcast [[1]], [[2]]. This means content creators and businesses need to be proactive about managing their live video archives.
Time.news: What’s the reason behind this policy shift, and what considerations led to this decision?
Sarah Chen: Reportedly, it is to align with industry standards and focus on efficient resource management [[2]]. Meta has stated that moast views occur within the first few weeks. Therefore, retaining these large video files indefinitely becomes less justifiable from a resource perspective.
Time.news: What are the implications of this policy change for businesses and individual content creators who rely on Facebook Live?
Sarah Chen: the biggest implication is the need for a proactive strategy. Creators can no longer assume their live streams will be stored indefinitely on Facebook’s servers. Content creators now need to download and archive any live streams they wish to keep for future use, repurposing, or reference.
Time.news: Facebook has been hosting live streams for a long period of time, so what happens to live streams published before February 19, 2025?
Sarah Chen: The deletion policy also applies to those streams. If a stream has been live for longer than 30 days as of February 19th, users will have a 90-day window remaining to download or share their videos before they are permanently removed.
Time.news: What proactive steps have been taken to inform users of the policy change?
Sarah Chen: Facebook has assured users that the transition will occur gradually over the coming months, providing notifications to users prior to older deleted streams, allowing them to decide whether to download, upload to cloud storage, or repurpose the content into new reels after the live broadcast concludes.
Time.news: What options do users have within that 30-day window?
Sarah Chen: Within that 30-day period, users retain full control. They can replay, download, and share the live stream. This is also an ideal possibility to create highlight reels or repurpose snippets for other platforms.
Time.news: What if someone needs more than 30 days to assess and archive their live streams?
Sarah Chen: Facebook is providing users with the option to postpone the deletion of their videos for an additional six months, ensuring ample time to save vital content.
Time.news: Can you provide practical advice on how users can download their facebook Live videos?
Sarah Chen: Absolutely. Facebook has outlined a straightforward process:
- Log into your profile or page.
- Navigate to the ‘Videos’ tab. If you are on a page, go to the ‘Live’ tab under ‘More’.
- Choose the video you wish to download.
- Open the video in full screen and click on ‘Download Video’.
Time.news: What are some choice strategies for ensuring long-term access to live stream content?
Sarah Chen: I recommend content creators adopt a multi-platform approach. Download your live streams immediately after broadcasting and store them on a personal hard drive or in cloud storage. Consider uploading them to other video platforms like YouTube or Vimeo for wider distribution and archival purposes.
You can also extract key moments and repurpose them into short-form content for TikTok, Instagram Reels, or even blog posts. Consider also, Facebook may make exceptions or alterations to this policy in the future, so keep an eye on updates [[3]]. Being proactive and diversified is key.
Time.news: any final thoughts for our readers?
Sarah Chen: This policy change serves as a reminder that social media platforms evolve. It’s crucial to stay informed about these changes and adapt your content strategy accordingly. Don’t be caught off guard; take control of your content archive today!
Key Takeaways:
Facebook Live videos will be deleted after 30 days.
Users can download, share, and create highlight reels within the 30-day window.
* Proactive content management and archival strategies are now essential.