Got a live video on Facebook? Don’t expect it to be there for long.
The social network is imposing a 30-day time limit on how long live videos can remain on Facebook. Once the threshold is crossed, the clips will be automatically deleted. Previously, live videos were stored indefinitely on Facebook.
The new policy takes effect on Feb. 19, although the first video deletions won’t happen for a few months. “Before your archival live videos are deleted, you will be notified by email and in the app, and from then you’ll have 90 days to download or transfer your content,” Facebook says.
(Credit: Meta/Facebook)
Meta-owned Facebook says “most live video views occur within the first few weeks of broadcasting,” so clearing out the videos will cut down on server and storage costs.
Many users may be dismayed to find their old videos wiped once the automatic deletions begin rolling out. In response, the company is giving users tools through Facebook’s interface to download the videos to their phone or PC, or transfer the uploaded footage to a cloud storage provider, including Google Drive and Dropbox. (More detailed instructions are available here.)
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Users will be able to download videos individually or in bulk form. The footage can also live on indefinitely as a Facebook Reel, provided the video is edited to a 90-second or smaller clip.
Users can expect the video deletions to occur “in waves over the coming months.” But if you need more time, Facebook is “providing the option to defer deletion for an additional six months. After that period, if you do not make a choice, your old live videos will be removed and will no longer be available.”
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About Michael Kan
Senior Reporter
