Social media can be a powerful tool for small businesses, but it can also cause real harm when used carelessly. Recently, we had to make one of the hardest decisions we’ve ever faced — permanently banning one of our beloved vendors.
The reason? A false report on Facebook.
It may have been an accidental click or a misunderstanding, but when that vendor chose not to correct the false claim after we reached out, the damage was already done. False reports don’t just affect Made in Iowa — they can impact every single one of our vendors. When an event page or post is flagged, it can disrupt advertising, visibility, and the trust we’ve all worked so hard to build together.
This is a reminder: be careful with what you click or report online. If you ever realize you made an error, take action to fix it right away — contact Facebook, let us know, and we’ll help if we can. We know our vendor community values honesty and accountability, and we want to protect that integrity for everyone involved. 
Bottom line: One careless click can harm hundreds of small businesses. Please, take that extra second before hitting “report.”
