# Whitelisting & Spark Codes (/docs/ugc/whitelisting)



## Meta — Branded Content / whitelisting [#meta--branded-content--whitelisting]

Meta calls amplifying a creator's post under your brand "**Branded
Content**" or, in some flows, "whitelisting". The creator must explicitly
authorize your brand to use their content as an ad.

### Steps (creator side) [#steps-creator-side]

1. Open Instagram → Profile → ☰ → **Settings** → **Creator** →
   **Branded Content**.
2. Enable Branded Content tools.
3. Tap **Brand approvals** → search for your brand → **Approve**.
4. Optionally allow your brand to "promote your tagged posts" (full
   amplification rights).

### Steps (you / Layers) [#steps-you--layers]

1. In Meta Business Manager → **Brand Safety** → **Branded Content** →
   request the creator's approval (if not already granted).
2. Once approved, the creator's posts can be promoted as Branded
   Content via your Meta ad account.

## TikTok — Spark Ads [#tiktok--spark-ads]

TikTok calls it "**Spark Ads**". The creator enables Ads
authorization on a post (or account-wide) so your TikTok ad account
can promote the post as an ad from the creator's handle.

### Steps (creator side) [#steps-creator-side-1]

1. Open the post in TikTok app.
2. Tap **Settings** → **Permissions** → **Allow ads authorization** →
   toggle on.
3. A Spark code is generated and shared with your brand.

### Steps (you / Layers) [#steps-you--layers-1]

Layers' TikTok Ads Manager supports Spark identity connection — see
the TikTok Ads onboarding in your project for the required identity
linking. Spark codes are consumed by your TikTok ad account when
creating Spark Ads.

## SideShift handles this for you [#sideshift-handles-this-for-you]

If you're on the [SideShift managed program](/docs/ugc/sideshift-managed),
Layers ops handles the whitelisting / Spark code flow with each creator
as part of the brief acceptance. You don't have to coordinate directly.

## Per-post vs per-account [#per-post-vs-per-account]

* **Spark codes** are per-post by default; can be account-wide if the
  creator chooses.
* **Branded Content approvals** are typically per-creator (one approval
  covers all that creator's posts featuring your brand).

## Revocation [#revocation]

Creators can revoke at any time on the platform side. Already-running
ads continue until the platform's own cache invalidates or the ad
fails to serve.

## Common failure modes [#common-failure-modes]

* **Spark code expired** — creator deactivated permissions; ask for a
  new one.
* **Branded Content not enabled** — creator must enable it in Instagram
  settings; otherwise approvals don't take effect.
* **Wrong brand approved** — creator approved a similarly-named brand;
  re-coordinate.