Facebook stories allow users to post photos and videos that disappear after 24 hours. Unlike regular Facebook posts and messages, stories are intended to be more casual sharing with close connections. But are the messages you send via Facebook stories really private?
Can anyone see your Facebook story messages?
The default setting for Facebook stories is that they are viewable by all of your Facebook friends. So if you send a message via someone’s story, all of that person’s friends would be able to see it.
However, there are ways to customize your privacy settings for stories:
- You can limit story viewers to specific friends, friends except acquaintances, specific groups or lists, or only you.
- You can also choose to exclude specific people from viewing your stories.
So you do have some control over who can see the messages you send via stories. But unless you tightly limit the audience, they are not inherently private.
Are Facebook story messages end-to-end encrypted?
End-to-end encryption ensures that messages can only be read by the sender and intended recipient(s). The messages are encrypted so that even the platform itself cannot access the content.
Facebook stories do not utilize end-to-end encryption. The messages you send through stories are visible to Facebook. So while you can control who else sees story messages, Facebook itself can access and read them.
Can Facebook story messages be screenshotted or saved?
Yes, it is possible for viewers to screenshot or record your Facebook story messages. Just like with the posts themselves, there is no way to prevent this.
So even if you limit the audience, be aware that someone could potentially save the messages outside of the 24-hour story expiration window.
Do Facebook story messages disappear?
The key characteristic of stories is that they self-delete after 24 hours. So any messages you send via someone’s story will disappear after a day.
However, as mentioned above, viewers can screenshot or record them before they expire. So there are ways they could potentially be saved.
Can you delete a Facebook story message after sending it?
Unfortunately there is no way to manually delete or recall a Facebook story message after you’ve sent it. You’ll have to wait for it to expire after 24 hours.
This is different from regular Facebook messages, where you can delete a message for both you and the recipient at any time.
Conclusion
While Facebook stories provide a fun way to share ephemeral moments, they come with less privacy protections than other forms of communication on Facebook.
Key takeaways:
- Story messages are viewable by your entire friends list by default.
- Messages are not end-to-end encrypted.
- Viewers can screenshot or record them before they disappear.
- There’s no way to delete messages after sending.
So it’s best to keep in mind that story messages are not inherently private. Be mindful of what you share and who may potentially see it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make my Facebook story completely private?
Yes, you can adjust your story settings to limit viewers to “Only Me.” This will prevent anyone else from seeing your story or receiving messages through it.
Do Facebook story messages count against my regular messaging limits?
No, messages sent through stories are separate and do not reduce your allotment of regular messages.
Can someone see if I’ve viewed their Facebook story?
Yes, just like with posts, creators can see a list of who has viewed their story. And you can see who has viewed your story.
How do I report an inappropriate Facebook story message?
Tap and hold on the message, select “Report,” and follow the on-screen instructions to file a report with Facebook.
Can I send photos and videos in Facebook story messages?
Yes! Story messages support sending multimedia like photos, videos, GIFs, and stickers.
Comparison of Facebook Messaging Platforms
| Platform | End-to-End Encryption | Disappearing Messages | Privacy Controls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Facebook Messenger | Optional | Yes | Block contacts, limit audience for some features |
| Instagram Direct | For some features | Yes | Block contacts, restrict account |
| Yes | Yes | Block contacts | |
| Facebook Stories | No | Yes (after 24 hrs) | Limit audience |
This table compares key privacy features across Facebook’s major messaging platforms. While stories provide temporary sharing, important protections like encryption are missing compared to apps like WhatsApp.
How Facebook Uses Story Data
So we’ve established Facebook story messages are not inherently private. But what does Facebook do with the data from stories?
Some of the ways Facebook may use story data include:
- Targeting advertisements based on your interests and activities shared through stories.
- Improving their face recognition abilities using images/videos from stories.
- Informing the content and profiles suggested to you by analyzing your story engagement.
- Identifying harmful or dangerous content and associations through automated review.
The usage policies for regular Facebook posts also apply to anything shared via stories. The data can be utilized to enhance Facebook products and services as outlined in their terms of service.
Controlling how Facebook uses your information
You can take the following steps to limit how Facebook uses your story data:
- Restrict your audience to limit who can view stories.
- Avoid sharing personally identifiable images or videos.
- Opt out of certain forms of ad targeting in settings.
- Delete your Facebook account if you’re uncomfortable.
However, by using Facebook you agree to their data practices – deleting stories after 24 hours does not negate that.
Strategies for Keeping Facebook Stories Private
If you want to share moments through Facebook stories but are concerned about privacy, here are some tips:
- Review your audience settings frequently and restrict as desired.
- Be thoughtful about anything identifying like usernames or locations.
- Avoid sharing anything extremely personal or private.
- Use a VPN to prevent Facebook from tracking your IP location.
- Don’t link other accounts that may reveal your identity.
- Consider using an alternate “finsta” account.
Keep in mind that even if you thoroughly limit your audience, nothing shared online is ever 100% private. So remain selective about what you share via stories.
What type of content is best suited for Facebook stories?
Stories are ideal for:
- Everyday moments and activities.
- Temporary sharing like vacations, events, etc.
- Humorous or entertaining content.
- Less serious and personal updates.
You may still want to think twice before sharing anything highly personal, controversial, or that could threaten your privacy or safety even temporarily.
How Long Have Facebook Stories Existed?
Facebook stories launched in March 2017, following the success of similar formats on platforms like Snapchat and Instagram.
Some key dates in the history of Facebook stories:
- March 2017 – Facebook stories launch.
- May 2017 – Access expanded beyond mobile to desktop.
- December 2017 – Testing begins for ads in stories.
- February 2019 – Automatic sharing of Facebook stories to Instagram stories.
- September 2020 – Integration with Messenger for cross-posting.
Over time, Facebook has continued expanding the capabilities of stories and integrating them into more parts of the platform.
Growth of Facebook Stories
Since launch, Facebook stories have become one of the platform’s most popular features. Some stats on their growth:
- 150 million daily users by January 2018.
- 500 million daily users by September 2019.
- 1.3 billion monthly users by April 2022.
Stories have given Facebook a renewed mechanism for daily user engagement, especially among younger demographics.
The Future of Facebook Stories
What might the future look like for Facebook stories?
- Continued emphasis on advertising – Stories already feature ads, and this will likely grow.
- Integration with VR – An immersive storytelling medium for AR/VR spaces.
- Algorithmic generation – AI-generated and personalized story content.
- Enhanced privacy controls – Potentially defaults for fleets or closer-friends.
Stories have become central to Facebook’s product, so they will continue evolving new functionality and use cases over time while remaining an engaging sharing option.