TikTok and Facebook are two of the most popular social media platforms today. TikTok is a video-sharing app where users can create and share short videos set to music. It has exploded in popularity in recent years, especially among younger demographics. As of December 2022, TikTok had over 1.2 billion monthly active users worldwide, with over 150 million active users just in the United States [1].
Facebook, on the other hand, has been the dominant social media platform for over a decade. It allows users to connect with friends and family, share photos and videos, and engage with brands and businesses. Facebook still dwarfs TikTok in terms of total users, with over 2.96 billion monthly active users as of Q4 2022 [2]. However, TikTok poses a growing threat, especially in younger demographics.
Copyright Concerns
When posting a TikTok video you created to Facebook, it’s important to consider copyright issues. Under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA), TikTok videos are protected by copyright from the moment of creation [1]. As the creator of a TikTok video, you own the copyright to that content. Re-posting your own TikTok videos to other platforms like Facebook does not violate copyright. However, if someone else downloads and re-uploads your TikTok video without permission, that would be considered copyright infringement.
TikTok’s terms of service grant creators a license to use the platform but reaffirm that creators maintain ownership of their content. The terms state: “You own the content you create and post on TikTok.” This means TikTok creators have control over how their videos are used, including re-posting to other platforms. As long as the original creator does the re-posting, there are no copyright concerns.
Cross-Platform Sharing
Cross-platform sharing of videos can provide both benefits and drawbacks for creators. On the plus side, sharing TikTok videos to other platforms like Facebook can help expand your audience reach. Many people use only one social media platform, so cross-posting exposes your content to new potential fans and subscribers.
Cross-platform posting also gives you an opportunity to direct traffic back to your main TikTok channel. You can include links and calls-to-action in your Facebook video descriptions driving viewers to check out your TikTok for more content.
However, there are also downsides to consider. Different platforms have different video specs, so a video optimized for TikTok may not look or perform as well on Facebook. You also run the risk of people watching your videos only on the secondary platform and not bothering to visit your main channel.
There are also potential analytics and monetization implications. Migrating viewership to other platforms means less watch time and traffic on your central TikTok account. And if you monetize videos, the revenue may be impacted depending on the platform.
Facebook’s Policy
Facebook has specific policies regarding re-sharing videos that were originally posted on other platforms like TikTok. According to Facebook’s Help Center article “About in-stream video crossposting and resharing” (source), partners are required to declare their crossposting practices and have the necessary rights to share content across Pages. Facebook allows crossposting videos as long as proper permissions and licenses are obtained.
Facebook provides Page owners aggregated analytics about who is viewing re-shared videos, as announced in their post “Updates on Video Re-Shares” (source). This allows Page owners to understand their audience even when re-sharing content.
Overall, Facebook permits re-sharing videos from other platforms if done according to their policies. Proper licensing and permissions should be obtained, and Page owners must disclose their crossposting practices.
Obtaining Permission
When repurposing content between platforms like TikTok and Facebook, it is important to obtain permission from the original content creator first. As noted by Convince and Convert, “If you’re repurposing other people’s work, like building a blog post around their framework or using their photos in a whitepaper, you need to ask for permission.”
Some best practices for obtaining permission include:
- Reach out to the content creator directly via email or social media messaging
- Politely explain how you would like to reuse their content and on which platforms
- Offer to credit them as the original creator
- If needed, offer fair monetary compensation in exchange for permission
- Get their consent in writing before proceeding to reuse their content
As Social Media Examiner advises, “Again, you need to get permission to reuse the content before you utilize one of these tools to share the content.” Being transparent and getting express consent shows respect for the original creator and helps avoid potential copyright issues.
Providing Credit
It’s important to give credit to the original creator of a TikTok video when reposting it on other platforms. Though you may have permission to share the content, ethically you should still credit the user who put time and effort into making the original video.
When reposting a TikTok video on Facebook, cite the original creator by mentioning their TikTok handle in the caption of your post. You can say something like “Original video by @tiktokhandle”. If the video contains a watermark with their TikTok handle, ensure it’s still visible when reposting.
Proper credit shows respect for the original creator and allows your audience to easily find more of their content. Some creators expressly ask to be credited when their content is shared across platforms. It also prevents accusations of plagiarism or intellectual property theft.
Overall, giving credit fosters positive relationships between creators and shows consideration for their work. It demonstrates integrity as the reposter and prevents misleading viewers into thinking it’s original content.
Facebook Video Specs
When uploading videos to Facebook, it’s important to optimize them for the platform to ensure the highest quality. According to the SMC blog, Facebook recommends uploading videos with the following specs:
Dimensions: 1280 x 720 pixels (16:9 aspect ratio)
File Size: Up to 4GB
Length: 120 minutes max
Frame Rate: 30 fps
Format: .MP4 or .MOV
Bitrate: 4-5 mbps
Codec: H.264
Audio Codec: AAC
Following these specifications will help your videos look crisp and play smoothly on Facebook. The 16:9 aspect ratio is ideal for viewing on mobile devices. Aim for shorter, engaging video lengths as well. High quality audio is also key. Refer to this guide for more tips on creating compelling video content for Facebook.
Uploading and Sharing
There are a few ways to share TikTok videos on Facebook:
1. Download the TikTok video to your device first, then upload the video file directly to Facebook. This will allow you to share the full video natively on Facebook. Just make sure you have permission from the original creator first (more details below).
2. Share the TikTok video’s link on Facebook. You can copy the share link from TikTok and paste it in a new Facebook post or on your Timeline. This will show a preview of the video but requires viewers to visit TikTok to watch the full video.
3. Use the TikTok app’s built-in sharing features to cross-post videos directly to Facebook. Open the TikTok video you want to share, tap the “Share” icon, choose “Facebook” from the options, add any text you want, and post. This shares a preview of the video along with a TikTok link.
4. If you want to add a TikTok video in Facebook Stories, open TikTok, tap “Share” then “Facebook Story.” You can add effects before sharing it to your Facebook Story.
No matter what method you use, best practice is to provide attribution back to the original TikTok creator by @ mentioning their username or linking to their TikTok profile in your Facebook post.
Analytics
When sharing TikTok videos on Facebook, it’s important to track their performance to understand what content resonates with your audience. There are a few key metrics to focus on:
Engagement rate – measure likes, comments, and shares compared to reach. Higher engagement indicates the content is connecting with viewers.
Views – track how many times your video is watched to the end. Higher views signal an interested audience.
Audience retention – see how long viewers watch your video on average. Longer retention is better.
Traffic source – check if viewers discover your video natively on Facebook or if shares drive traffic. This helps optimize distribution.
You can dig into these metrics in Facebook Insights and TikTok Analytics. Comparing performance across platforms provides a fuller picture of how your audience responds.
Regularly analyzing your video metrics will reveal what subject matter and styles work best. These insights allow you to refine your approach for maximum impact.
Conclusion
In summary, while uploading TikTok videos to Facebook is possible and allows for wider distribution, there are some important considerations. Copyright concerns, obtaining proper permission, providing appropriate credit, and adhering to each platform’s policies and terms of service are key. The best practice is to obtain direct consent from the original creator before reposting TikTok videos elsewhere. When in doubt, create original content optimized for each platform. While remixing and repurposing viral content can help expand your reach, it’s wise to do so ethically, legally, and by adding your own unique spin.
The bottom line is to exercise caution. While sharing great content across platforms makes sense, failing to follow best practices could result in your account being flagged or penalized. Act responsibly, and consult each platform’s guidelines regarding reposted material. With the proper permissions and adaptations in place, cross-posting TikTok videos on Facebook can be an effective strategy for increased visibility and engagement.
