How to Create and Manage Examiner Accounts

Purpose

This article provides guidance on creating examiner accounts for Facebook. However, the same principles apply to other platforms such as Instagram, LinkedIn, and X (Twitter).

For more detailed strategies, see Page Vault’s Social Media Best Practices Guide.

Please Note: Page Vault cannot provide examiner account credentials for clients. Each client must create and maintain their own accounts.

About Examiner Accounts

Most social media platforms require a login to view content. Instead of using a personal account, Page Vault recommends creating a work-only “examiner” account for captures.

Important: Do not log into an examiner account from multiple devices (e.g., Page Vault and your personal phone) at the same time. This may trigger security alerts and lock the account.

How to Create a Facebook Examiner Account

Before you begin

You will need:

A work-only email address or
A work-only phone number that can receive text messages

Email recommendation: Create a new Gmail or Yahoo account specifically for this purpose. These are less likely to be flagged during account setup.

Phone number recommendation: Use a dedicated work-only number. Services like TextMe can provide numbers that reliably receive verification texts.

⚠️ Warning: Page Vault cannot supply email addresses or phone numbers for account creation. Clients must establish and maintain their own.

Steps to Create

Use a computer not recently used to create another Facebook account.
- If you need multiple accounts, create them on separate computers and networks to avoid detection.
Go to Facebook and begin the “Create New Account” process using your chosen email/phone.
When asked for a name, avoid generic terms like Admin or Administrator. Use a realistic name. Tools like Name Generator can help.
Store your login credentials securely.
After creation, do not friend others or post on timelines.

Important: The Facebook sign-up process may change as the platform evolves. If the steps differ slightly, follow the prompts provided by Facebook.

Use with Page Vault

Ideally, assign one Facebook examiner account per Page Vault account. Sharing accounts across multiple Page Vault users increases the chance of lockouts.
If sharing is necessary, ensure your team knows which email/phone is tied to the account for verification.
Log into the Page Vault Browser with your examiner account credentials.
The first login may require a code sent to the associated email/phone.

Important: Do not log in with the same examiner account on Page Vault and another device simultaneously.

👉 Tip: Facebook credentials can often be used to log into Instagram and other Meta-owned platforms. This can simplify account management, but be mindful that lockouts or flags on one platform may affect access to the others.

Examiner Account Best Practices

Using an examiner account is just like a normal social media account, but we suggest the following precautions to reduce the chance of being flagged or locked out:

Have one examiner account dedicated to one Page Vault account whenever possible.
Do not friend or follow capture targets.
Viewing Instagram or Facebook “stories” is possible, but do so at your own risk, as the account owner can see who viewed them.
Use caution on LinkedIn, where profile views are visible by default.
Do not log into the same examiner account on multiple devices at the same time.
Avoid logging in and out repeatedly in a short period.
Browse naturally—do not jump rapidly between dozens of profiles or pages in a single session.
Keep your associated email and/or phone number active and up to date.
Set up backup recovery methods (such as a secondary email) to help regain access if the account is locked.
If your firm maintains multiple examiner accounts, avoid swapping them in and out on the same case too quickly, as this can appear automated.

For additional guidance, download our Social Media Guide.

Maintaining Examiner Accounts

New accounts are more likely to be flagged if they immediately start capturing. To “warm up” an account:

Upload a profile picture
Follow large public pages (e.g., ESPN, Netflix)
Join public groups (Facebook)
Like, comment, and interact with posts
Friend/follow other firm examiner accounts
Watch videos or Reels
Share posts
Play games on Facebook
Open non-social websites (Amazon, Google) in a separate tab while logged in

Perform these activities for a few days before capturing and periodically afterward to keep the account active.

Important: These steps are suggestions to reduce the likelihood of an account lockout. Facebook and other platforms may adjust their security systems at any time.

Examiner Account FAQs

Will my account get shut down?
Social platforms use security systems to detect bots and spammers. Page Vault avoids API connections and is designed to appear as “human” as possible, so account lockouts are rare. If you experience repeated issues, contact our support team.

What do I do if I get locked out?
Follow the platform’s instructions for unlocking your account. If unable to unlock the account, try a different set of credentials.

What if my account gets throttled?
During captures, you may receive a throttling message or notification of a temporary block. If this happens, wait the specified duration before resuming captures. This ensures compliance with platform policies and protects your account.

Note: Page Vault cannot unlock or recover examiner accounts on your behalf. Account recovery must be handled directly with the platform.