When you share content on Facebook, there are a few different privacy settings to choose from. The default setting for posts is “Public”, which means anyone can see it, even people who aren’t your friends on Facebook. However, you can also choose to share content with only your friends or a customized group of people. So featuring something on Facebook does not necessarily mean it has to be viewable by the general public.
What are the options for sharing content on Facebook?
Here are the main options for sharing content on Facebook and who can view it:
- Public: Anyone on or off Facebook can see your post.
- Friends: Only your Facebook friends can see your post.
- Friends except…: Friends except those you exclude can see your post.
- Specific friends: You can customize who can see your post.
- Only me: Only you can see your post.
So unless you specifically choose the “Public” option, your posts will not be viewable by everyone on Facebook. You have control over your privacy settings.
What does it mean to “feature” something on Facebook?
“Featuring” content on Facebook typically means one of a few things:
- Posting about it on your Timeline
- Sharing it in a Facebook group
- Creating a Facebook event for it
- Creating a Facebook page for a business/organization/public figure and posting about it
- Promoting a post as an advertisement
All of these options allow you to choose the privacy settings, it does not automatically have to be public. For example, you could share a post about an event and make it visible only to your friends instead of the public.
When would you want to use a non-public privacy setting?
Here are some examples of when you may want to use a non-public privacy setting on Facebook:
- Sharing personal news or photos you only want close connections to see
- Posting in a private group limited to certain members
- Featuring an event meant only for invited guests
- Promoting a local business that doesn’t need broad exposure
- Advertising an event or special offer just to people in your target market
Making a post public is helpful if you want to spread information widely and maximize reach. But for many personal or business situations, you may prefer to feature content just to your intended audience.
How do I choose who can see my featured content?
Whenever you go to share content on Facebook, whether posting on your Timeline, in a group, or on a Page, you will have privacy options to select. Here is how to choose who can view your featured content:
- Click the audience selector below your content (it will say something like “Public” or “Friends”)
- Choose your desired privacy from the menu
- If selecting “Friends except…” or “Specific friends” you can type to search for who to include/exclude
- Click “Done” to save your audience selection
You can return at any time to the audience selector to change who can see that post. You can make it more or less public. Note that the default will always be “Public” so be sure to adjust it each time if you don’t want public visibility.
What’s the difference between public, closed, and private groups?
Facebook Groups also have privacy settings that affect how you can feature content:
- Public – Anyone can see the group and its content.
- Closed – Anyone can find and request to join the group, but posts are only visible to members.
- Private – Only invited members can see the group, its members, and its posts.
So if you want to feature something only viewable to group members, a closed or private group would allow for that. Public groups do not limit visibility.
Can I promote a non-public post as an advertisement?
Paid advertisements on Facebook can be targeted to specific demographics and locations. When you create an ad, you choose who you want it to reach. So you can absolutely promote a non-public post and select an audience to advertise to.
For example, you could create a post about a sale on your business page and select an audience of “People who live in my city” and “Women between 25-35 who like my page”. You would then pay to boost that non-public post as an ad just to that targeted demographic.
What privacy settings should I consider for different content types?
Here are some recommended privacy settings based on your content type:
| Content Type | Recommended Privacy |
|---|---|
| Personal updates, photos, thoughts | Friends or customized list of connections |
| Major life events | Public or friends |
| Private group discussions | Closed or private group |
| Local or niche business promotions | Targeted paid ad to locals/niche |
| Public figure updates | Public |
Consider your intentions and audience for each post to select the right privacy. Personal and private content warrant tighter settings. Public figures and organizations may warrant public-facing content. And targeted ads allow promoting content just to your ideal demographics.
Can I change the privacy setting for a published post later on?
Yes, you can always edit the privacy settings for an existing post on Facebook. Simply go back to that post and click the audience selector to choose a new (or broader/narrower) audience. However, be aware that anyone who could previously see the post will still have been able to see it.
What happens if I share someone else’s non-public post?
When you share someone else’s post on Facebook, it inherits the original privacy settings. So if you share your friend’s post that was set to “Friends”, only your mutual friends will be able to see your share. You cannot make someone else’s non-public post more public by sharing it.
Can I request for my featured content to be removed or taken down?
If you have featured content on your Facebook page or profile that you later want removed, you have a few options:
- Delete or hide the post – This will remove it from public view but not impact anyone who already saw it.
- Request takedown – If you posted content you don’t have rights to or is infringing, you can request Facebook take it down.
- Report abuse – If someone else has featured your private content without consent, you can report it as abuse.
Keep in mind Facebook’s policies about preserving content that was already shared for a period of time. But you can request removal of posts you created and do not wish to be public anymore.
Conclusion
In summary, featuring content on Facebook does not automatically make it public. You have control over your privacy settings for posts, groups, events, pages, and ads. Consider your audience for each piece of content, and customize the privacy accordingly. Personal and private content can be limited just to your connections, while public figures may want broader visibility. Use privacy settings to your advantage to safely feature what matters most to you.