Meta is shaking up its approach to live videos on Facebook. Starting February 19, live stream broadcasts older than 30 days will be automatically deleted. This shift comes as the company looks to cut storage costs and streamline its video services.
Live Videos Won’t Stick Around Forever
For years, Facebook Live broadcasts remained accessible indefinitely. That’s changing. Meta has decided that after 30 days, live streams will be wiped from the platform.
The reason? Data shows that live videos lose relevance fast. Meta crunched the numbers and found that most views happen within the first few weeks. Keeping old streams on its servers simply isn’t worth the cost.
In a statement, the company explained:
“Because most live video views occur within the first few weeks of broadcasting, we’re updating how long live videos can be stored on Facebook. Beginning on February 19th, any new live broadcast videos can be replayed, downloaded or shared from your Facebook Pages or profiles for 30 days, after which they will automatically be removed from Facebook.”
This change doesn’t just apply to future live streams. Any existing Facebook Live videos that are already older than 30 days will also be deleted in the coming months.
What Happens to Old Live Videos?
If you’ve got a backlog of live videos on Facebook, don’t panic just yet. Meta isn’t wiping them instantly. Instead, it’s rolling out the deletions in phases.
Here’s what’s happening:
- Users will get a notification if they have live videos set to be deleted.
- Once notified, they’ll have 90 days to download their content.
- The option to extend the deletion deadline by six months will be available.
- Live videos can also be converted into Reels to keep them active on the platform.
That means creators and businesses have some time to decide what to do with their content.
A Push Towards Shorter, More Engaging Content
This update aligns with Meta’s ongoing shift toward shorter video formats. Facebook has been prioritizing Reels, a feature designed to compete with TikTok’s bite-sized content model.
By allowing users to turn live streams into Reels, Meta is nudging them toward a format that fits the company’s current strategy. It’s also a sign that long-form content is becoming less of a focus for the platform.
There’s also a cost factor. Meta is set to spend an estimated $65 billion on artificial intelligence development this year. With that level of investment, it makes sense to trim expenses elsewhere.
What Facebook Live Users Should Do Now
If live streaming is a big part of your content strategy, it’s time to take action. Here’s what you can do:
- Download older live videos – Meta gives you 90 days to save them once you receive a deletion notice.
- Convert videos into Reels – If you want to keep them visible on Facebook, this is an easy way to do it.
- Request extra time – If you need longer to organize your content, you can defer deletion by six months.
- Re-upload key content elsewhere – Consider saving important streams on platforms like YouTube or cloud storage.
This isn’t the first time Meta has tweaked its approach to long-form video content, and it likely won’t be the last. As the company prioritizes AI and short-form media, creators will need to adapt.
For now, if you rely on Facebook Live, start sorting through your past broadcasts—before they disappear for good.
