How Do I Get My Facebook App Approved?

Colleen Gutierrez
Colleen Gutierrez Blackbaud Employee
Tenth Anniversary Kudos 2 Name Dropper Participant
in Blackbaud Luminate Online® Blog
Recent changes by Facebook to secure and protect data have meant new guidelines and actions for Facebook Apps. We've heard feedback from organizations trying to get approval that they've been turned down, and they're not sure why.

 
This post applies to you if your organization has (or will get) a Facebook App for Luminate Online and/or Janrain. You need an app to support these functions:

 
A Facebook App is different from a Facebook page - these tips apply to Facebook Apps only. All Facebook Apps must get reapproved as of August 1, 2018. 


We compiled our best insights below to help you get your Facebook Apps approved.

How Does the Approval Process Work?


Facebook reviews submissions and carefully evaluates non-basic permissions to leverage Facebook APIs. Facebook wants to know what data access you are requesting and why. 


When you submit your App for approval, carefully consider any non-basic permission requests or Facebook could deny your submission. 


If you only request basic permissions, follow the Facebook steps here to submit your App review. 

Which Permission Requests Can I Ask For?


Approval can depend on what kind of user data you request and how well you substantiate this request. The basic rule of thumb: The less user data you request, the better. The following permissions are your baseline:

⇒ Basic permissions automatically granted by Facebook
  • email
  • default
  • public_profile
If you request more permissions, Facebook will want to know how this data will improve your user's experience and how you'll use the data directly (that is, not just store the data). Follow the detailed Facebook's App review process outlined in the App Review Process.

Note: The following permissions suggestions do not guarantee approval or rejection from Facebook. It is up to each organization to work with Facebook on data access approval. You can read details about available Facebook permissions here. 

⇒ Permissions Facebook would likely reject 
  • publish_actions (deprecated - do not include. See this post.)
  • user_friends
  • user_gender
  • user_age_range
  • user_link 
  • user_photos
  • user_videos
⇒ Permissions you might leverage with justification Tips for Requesting Non-Basic Permissions

 
yes Clarify how you will use non-basic permissions. Be sure to explain your immediate use with that data and how it will improve your constituent's experience. 

yes Review the examples of submissions here for ideas on how to explain your request.

yes To speed up the review, provide as much info as possible to help the reviewer, including clear screenshots, detailed step-by-step instructions and a screencast recording of your app and its Facebook integration.




Read more about App review here.

Janrain considerations:  If you use Janrain for OAuth with Luminate Online Social Login, whatever permissions you choose and get approved from Facebook, set those same permissions in Janrain. If your Janrain configuration uses a Facebook permission that is not approved in your Facebook app, the connection will fail. 





 

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