Facebook is one of the most popular social media platforms, with over 2.9 billion monthly active users as of Q4 2021. On Facebook, you can connect with friends, family, coworkers, and more by sharing photos, life updates, links, and sending messages.
One handy Facebook feature is the ability to send a message to multiple friends at once, rather than having to send individual messages. This can save time and make coordinating events or sharing news easier.
Can You Send a Message to Multiple Friends on Facebook?
Yes, you can send a message to multiple friends on Facebook through Facebook Messenger. There are a couple different ways to message multiple friends at once:
- Group chats – Create a group chat with multiple friends and send a message that they will all receive
- Message forwarding – Forward an existing message to multiple friends
Group Chats
The easiest way to message multiple friends is to use a Facebook Messenger group chat. Here’s how to set up a group chat:
- Open the Facebook Messenger app on your mobile device or navigate to Messenger on the Facebook website.
- Click on the pencil icon or “New Message” to start a new message thread.
- In the “To” field, search for and select each friend you want to include in the group chat, one at a time.
- Type your message in the message box and hit send.
Your message will now instantly reach all participants in the group chat. Friends can respond and the conversation will continue as a group message thread.
Message Forwarding
You can also forward an existing Facebook message to multiple friends. Here’s how:
- Open the conversation with the message you want to forward.
- On mobile, tap and hold the message bubble you want to forward.
- On desktop, hover over the message and click the down arrow icon.
- Select “Forward” from the menu.
- In the pop-up, search for and select each friend you want to forward the message to.
- Hit send.
The original message will now be sent to each person you selected. They will see who the message is forwarded from.
Things to Keep in Mind
- Group chats are limited to 256 participants.
- You can name your group chats at the top of the message window to keep them organized.
- You can add or remove people from an existing group chat.
- Unlike regular Facebook messages, there is no “undo send” option for group chats.
- Messages forwarded to multiple people will display who forwarded the original message.
Benefits of Messaging Multiple Friends
Being able to message multiple friends at once on Facebook has some great benefits, such as:
Saving Time
Instead of sending the same message repeatedly to individual friends, you can send once in a group chat or forward. This saves a lot of time when coordinating events or sharing something with multiple people.
Easier Group Conversations
Group chats make it simple for all your friends to converse together in one message thread, without you having to manage separate conversations.
Sharing Updates Efficiently
When you have exciting news or need to get the same information to several people, a group message or forward is the fastest way to share.
Planning Events
Group chats are extremely helpful for coordinating plans with multiple friends. Everyone can weigh in on event details, venue, time, and more to simplify planning.
Connecting Similar Friends
Introducing friends with common interests? Add them to the same group chat so they can get to know each other.
Limitations of Messaging Multiple Friends
While being able to message multiple friends certainly has benefits, there are a few limitations or drawbacks to consider as well:
No Individual Replies
In a group chat, friends will see responses from everyone else. You can’t have private side conversations within the group thread. For one-on-one talks, separate message threads are required.
Message Overload
Being part of multiple group chats with different friend groups could lead to a lot of incoming messages to sort through.
Privacy Concerns
Any message sent in a group chat will be visible to all participants. If sharing sensitive information, it may be better to message individuals separately.
Confusion
With a lot of people messaging in a group, important details could be lost in the chatter. Key information is sometimes better conveyed through individual messages.
Drama
There’s always a risk that some friction or misunderstandings between friends could play out in a group chat for all to see.
Facebook Group Messages vs. Messenger Group Chats
On Facebook, there are two different ways to message multiple people – Facebook Groups and Messenger Group Chats. What’s the difference?
Facebook Groups
- Discussion forums tied to a common interest, cause, or purpose.
- Can have unlimited members.
- Have both posts and comments.
- Admins can moderate content and members.
- Accessible across Facebook on mobile, desktop, etc.
Messenger Group Chats
- Informal conversations between friends.
- Limited to 256 participants.
- Real-time messaging only.
- No moderation or admin controls.
- Only accessible within Messenger app.
While somewhat similar, these two Facebook features are designed for different purposes. Facebook Groups center around shared interests, while Messenger lets you instantly connect with your circle of friends.
Conclusion
Facebook Messenger provides a couple easy options for sending messages to multiple friends at once. Both group chats and message forwarding allow you to instantly reach all your friends simultaneously.
Group chats are ideal for informal conversations with friends. Forwarding works well for sharing existing messages more broadly. While there are some limitations, such as potential message overload, the time savings generally makes messaging multiple friends worth it.
Next time you’re looking to coordinate plans, share exciting news, or simply keep in touch with friends, take advantage of Facebook’s group messaging features.