What Is a Fan Page? Facebook Pages and Fan Accounts
A fan page means one of two things. On Facebook, it’s the old name for a Page: when Pages launched in 2007, people could “become a fan” of a business. Meta now simply calls them Pages, and fans follow them. In its other meaning, a fan page is an account a fan runs about a celebrity, team, show or brand.
Each comes with its own rules. Setting up a Page for something you represent? Follow our steps to create a Facebook Page, or start with our guide to using Facebook.
What is a fan page?
Who runs it decides which kind it is. If the business, artist or public figure runs it on Facebook, it’s a Page. If a fan runs it about someone else, it’s a fan account, and on Facebook, Instagram and Threads it has to say it’s unofficial.
- The Facebook meaning: a Page. Meta describes Pages as places where “artists, public figures, businesses, brands, organizations and nonprofits can connect with their fans or customers.” Checked against Facebook Help Center: Differences between Profiles, Pages and Groups on Facebook
- The fan-account meaning. A fan runs it about a singer, team, show or brand, on Facebook, Instagram or anywhere else.
More terms like this are in our social media glossary.
Where the term ‘fan page’ came from
The term dates from 6 November 2007, when Facebook launched Pages for businesses as part of Facebook Ads. Meta’s announcement said users “can become a fan of a business and can share information about that business with their friends.” The fans gathered on a business’s Page, so people called it a fan page. Checked against About Meta newsroom: Facebook Unveils Facebook Ads (2007-11-06)
- 2007: Pages launch alongside Facebook Ads, and people become fans of businesses.
- Today: the product is simply Pages, and Meta still describes them as places to connect with “fans or customers”. Two other options sit beside them: pro mode, which lets anyone follow a creator’s personal profile, and groups, for people who share an interest. Checked against Facebook Help Center: Differences between Profiles, Pages and Groups on Facebook
What is a Facebook fan page called now?
It’s just a Page. The fans on a Facebook Page today are its followers: when someone likes or follows a Page, they start seeing its updates in their Feed. A Page and a profile with pro mode can both have unlimited followers; a profile, even in pro mode, can have up to 5,000 friends. Checked against Facebook Help Center: Create and manage a Facebook Page
Several people can help run a Page, with Facebook access or task access, though only those with full control manage its settings and access. Checked against Facebook Help Center: Create and manage a Facebook Page Already running one? See how to grow followers on Facebook organically.
Page, profile with pro mode, or Group: which should you use?
Meta’s pro mode or Page guide (checked 2 October 2026) gives a short rule. For a business, organization, product, pet or pseudonym, create a Page. For yourself, on the profile you use with friends and family, turn on pro mode; if you’d rather keep it separate, create a Page. Groups, in Meta’s Help Center, are for communicating about shared interests.
| Who it’s for | Follower limit | Can it advertise? | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Page | Businesses, brands, organizations, nonprofits, artists and public figures | No limit | Yes |
| Profile with pro mode | You, on the profile you already use | No follower limit; up to 5,000 friends | No for profiles (pro mode isn’t listed) |
| Group | People who share an interest, including fans of something they don’t represent | Members, not followers | No |
The advertising column comes from Meta’s business comparison of Pages, profiles and groups, which marks only Pages as able to advertise and doesn’t list pro mode separately. Checked against Meta Business Help Center: How to represent your business across Meta technologies with Pages, profiles and Groups
Meta’s pro mode guide adds two differences:
- Team. Several people can help manage a Page; pro mode is your single login, which you should never share.
- Meta Business Suite. Pages work with it; pro mode doesn’t, for now.
Seen “Digital creator” under someone’s name? Our explainer on what a digital creator is covers how that label relates to pro mode. A second personal profile isn’t on the list: Meta’s alternatives to one are a Page or pro mode. Checked against Facebook Help Center: Can I create multiple Facebook accounts?
Running a fan-made page about someone else
On Facebook, Meta’s route for a fan-run space is a group, not a Page. Its troubleshooting article for creating Pages (checked 2 October 2026) says only official representatives can create a Page for an organization, business, brand or public figure, and suggests a Facebook group for fans of a topic or celebrity. If you run a fan space on Facebook, these rules apply:
- Say it’s unofficial, in the name. Meta’s Authentic Identity Representation standard (checked 2 October 2026), which covers Facebook, Instagram and Threads accounts, allows fan accounts. They must make their unofficial status clear “at minimum in the account name”, ideally in the photo or bio too, for example with “fan page” in the name. Accounts that don’t may be restricted or removed.
- Never call it official. Page names can’t include “official” unless it’s the official Page, and usernames must not impersonate anyone. Checked against Facebook Help Center: Guidelines for Facebook Page names Checked against Facebook Help Center: Guidelines for creating a custom username or screen name on Facebook
- Don’t speak as them. The same standard counts it as impersonation to use someone’s image, name or likeness to deceive people, or to speak in the voice of someone you aren’t authorized to speak for.
- No fake badges. Meta’s Pages, Groups and Events Policies (checked 2 October 2026) ban placing a verified checkmark in a Page or group’s profile picture or cover photo, or otherwise suggesting Facebook verified it.
- Post your own material, or get permission. Those policies also ban repeatedly using other people’s content without proper attribution, and Meta’s copyright help (checked 2 October 2026) says the best way to avoid infringing is to post content you created yourself. Crediting the owner doesn’t prevent infringement.
Running a Page for your own brand? Outfeed AI schedules its posts alongside eight other networks (TikTok posts publish as private while TikTok reviews the app) from one chat; it publishes to Facebook Pages only, so it can’t post to a fan group or a personal profile.
Plan your Facebook Page’s posts in Outfeed AI
Frequently asked questions
What is a fan page?
It has two meanings. On Facebook, “fan page” is the old name for a Page, from 2007, when people could become a fan of a business; today they’re simply called Pages. Otherwise, a fan page is an account a fan runs about a celebrity, team, show or brand, and on Facebook, Instagram and Threads it must make clear that it’s unofficial.
What is a Facebook fan page called now?
A Page. Meta describes Pages as places where artists, public figures, businesses, brands, organizations and nonprofits connect with their fans or customers. People who like or follow a Page start seeing its updates in their Feed.
What is the difference between a Facebook fan page and a profile?
A profile represents one person; a Page is for a business, brand, organization or public figure and is created from a profile. A Page can have unlimited followers and several people managing it, and only Pages can advertise. A profile can have up to 5,000 friends, or unlimited followers with pro mode on.
How do I create a fan page on Facebook?
If you represent the business, brand, organization or public figure, create a Page from your personal profile: Pages, then Create Page. If you’re a fan, Meta’s Help Center says only official representatives can create a Page for them, and suggests a Facebook group for fans of a topic or celebrity instead.
Is it legal to run a fan page?
Meta allows fan accounts that make their unofficial status clear, at minimum in the account name, and bans impersonation. Copyright still applies: Meta’s copyright help says the best way to avoid infringing is to post content you created yourself, and that crediting the owner doesn’t prevent infringement. Laws vary by country, and Meta notes it can’t give legal advice.