meta's auto-applied optimisations are quietly burning budgets right now. The platform keeps flipping on "campaign budget optimisation" or switching bidding strategies without warning-then you have to dig through three layers of support just to get the old settings back. it's like fighting a ghost.
the screenshot problem hits closer to home, though. client sends over a grab of some random Facebook recommended asset they found in the "creative hub" that wasn't even in the approval flow. now you're stuck explaining why running a 15‑second vertical cut without the headline they never signed off on will tank the CTR. The worst part? they treat the screenshot as proof the asset exists, not as a request for review.
Two things that help on my end:
- Turn off "automatically apply optimisations" under account settings for every client account on day one. doesn't stop all of them, but cuts the surprises in half.
- Build a strict asset approval checklist in the brief and reiterate it every time a screenshot arrives. "Thanks-please upload the final file to the review folder so we can compare metrics before launch."
Still, the time wasted on both is exhausting. meta keeps acting like its defaults know your business better than you do
