Facebook’s sharing and sending features allow users to easily distribute content to friends and connections. The main difference between sharing and sending on Facebook is that sharing publishes content to your timeline or news feed for all of your friends and followers to see, while sending shares content privately through Facebook Messenger to specific people.
What is the difference between share and send on Facebook?
When you share something on Facebook, it gets posted publicly to your timeline or news feed where all of your friends and followers can view it. Sharing allows you to broadcast content to your entire network. Some examples of sharing include:
- Sharing a status update
- Sharing a photo
- Sharing a video
- Sharing a link to an article or website
Sending something on Facebook delivers it privately via Facebook Messenger to specific people you choose. Nothing gets posted publicly when you send something. Some examples of sending include:
- Sending a message to a friend or group
- Sending a photo or video to select individuals
- Sending a link or file attachment through Messenger
In summary, sharing broadcasts content publicly while sending shares content privately through direct messages. Share when you want all your connections to see something. Send when you only want certain people to view something.
How do I switch from sharing to sending?
Facebook makes it easy to toggle between sharing and sending. Here are the steps:
- Select the content you want to distribute – this could be a status update, photo, video, link, etc.
- Click the Share button (the arrow icon).
- By default, the audience will be set to Public which will share it openly to your timeline or news feed.
- To switch to sending privately via Messenger, click the audience selector below the post box.
- Change the audience to Friends or Custom to send to specific friends.
- Type in the names of the people you want to receive the content.
- Click Send to deliver the content through Messenger instead of sharing it publicly.
That’s all there is to it! Simply change the audience selector from Public to Friends or Custom when you want to send something rather than share it.
How do I change the default from share to send?
Facebook’s default setting when posting content is to share it publicly. To change the default from share to send:
- Click the down arrow at the top right of Facebook.
- Select Settings & Privacy.
- Click Settings.
- Click the Audience and Visibility tab.
- Under the Default Privacy heading, change the setting from Public to Friends or Custom.
Now when you go to post something, it will default to sending the content only to the audience you selected rather than publicly sharing it. You can always toggle it back to Public sharing for individual posts when you want.
How do I send large files through Messenger?
Facebook Messenger allows you to send files and media up to 1.5 GB in size. To send large files up to that limit:
- In Messenger, click the paperclip icon to attach a file.
- Select the file you want to send.
- Click Open to confirm the attachment.
- Type the name(s) of the recipient(s) as usual.
- Hit enter or click the send button to deliver the large file.
The file size limit is 1.5 GB per file sent. Some tips for sending large files:
- Use a stable internet connection for smooth transfer.
- Send one file at a time versus multiple together.
- Compress files first if possible to reduce size.
- Avoid peak usage hours if transfer is slow.
With Messenger, there’s no need for external sites or apps to send large files up to 1.5 GB in size to your contacts.
Can I send hands-free messages with Messenger?
Yes, Facebook Messenger allows you to send hands-free messages using voice commands. To enable this feature:
- Open Messenger and tap your profile picture.
- Go to Preferences.
- Tap Hands Free Messaging and turn it on.
Now instead of typing, you can say “Hey Messenger” followed by the name of the recipient and your message. Your speech will be converted to text and sent. Some examples:
- “Hey Messenger, send to John Smith – Running late, be there in 10 minutes.”
- “Hey Messenger, send to Mom – What’s for dinner tonight?”
The Hands Free Messaging feature makes it easy to multitask. You can send messages completely hands-free while driving, cooking, working, and more.
How do I find old messages in Messenger?
Messenger stores your entire message history, so it’s easy to find old messages and conversations. Here are a few ways to retrieve old Messenger messages:
- Scroll up – In any conversation thread, simply scroll up through the chat history to view old messages.
- Search – Use Messenger’s search bar to search for keywords, names, dates, etc. to find relevant older messages.
- Filters – Use the filters like photos, links, videos, files, etc. to view specific media sent in the past.
- Messages tab – The Messages tab organizes your conversations by person – scroll through to access older chats.
Messenger also lets you star important messages so they’re always accessible. You can also download your Messenger data archive to retrieve your full history.
Can I set messages to disappear in Messenger?
Yes, Facebook allows you to set messages in Messenger to automatically disappear after a set time. To enable disappearing messages:
- Open the Messenger conversation.
- Tap the contact’s name at the top.
- Select Disappearing Messages.
- Choose the duration you want messages to remain visible before expiring.
Disappearing message durations you can choose include:
- 5 seconds
- 15 minutes
- 1 hour
- 4 hours
- 24 hours
- 7 days
Once enabled, all new messages sent in that conversation thread will disappear based on the selected duration. This is great for privacy or discussing sensitive topics.
Can I use Messenger without a Facebook account?
Previously Messenger required a Facebook account to use, but now there are a couple options to use Messenger independently without an active Facebook profile.
You can sign up for Messenger with your phone number instead of Facebook login. Or you can delete your Facebook account while keeping Messenger active.
To sign up for Messenger with just a phone number:
- Download the Messenger mobile app or go to messenger.com.
- Select Sign Up.
- Enter your phone number and confirm it.
- Accept the Terms of Service.
You’ll now have an independent Messenger account without Facebook. Note that some features may be limited.
If you already have a Facebook account you want to delete, go to your Facebook settings and select “Deactivate Account”. This will delete Facebook while keeping Messenger intact.
Can I use Messenger on multiple devices?
One of the best things about Facebook Messenger is that it syncs across all your devices so you can stay connected from anywhere. Some ways to use Messenger on multiple devices include:
- Mobile – Install the Messenger mobile app on iOS or Android to message from your smartphone or tablet.
- Desktop – Access Messenger on your PC at messenger.com or through the desktop apps.
- Web – Log into m.facebook.com from any web browser to use Messenger.
- Multiple phones/tablets – Log into Messenger on as many mobile devices as you want.
Messages will sync across all your logged-in devices in real-time. You can seamlessly switch between them and continue conversations without missing a beat.
How do I set up notifications for Messenger?
Messenger allows you to customize notifications so you never miss important messages. Here’s how to set up notifications:
On iPhone
- Open the Settings app
- Scroll down and tap Messenger
- Toggle notifications on
- Select notification style and sounds
On Android
- Open the Messenger app
- Tap your profile picture
- Go to Notifications
- Adjust notification settings
You can toggle notifications for messages, group chats, calls, and more. Customize vibrations, sounds, and display previews to your liking. Enable priority notifications for your most important contacts. With robust notification settings, you can stay on top of messages however you want.
Can I message businesses on Messenger?
Yes, Messenger supports messaging with businesses. Brands can set up official Facebook pages and Messenger bots to engage with customers. To message a business:
- Go to the business’ Facebook page.
- Click Send Message below their page header.
- This will open a Messenger conversation with the Page.
You can then message back and forth with the business, ask questions, receive support, and more through Messenger. Features like quick replies and bots make business messaging fast and efficient.
How do I activate Messenger Kids for my child?
Messenger Kids is a video chat and messaging app designed for children. To set up Messenger Kids for your child:
- Download the Messenger Kids app on your child’s device.
- Log in with your own Facebook credentials.
- Create an account for your child.
- Select contacts for your child from your Facebook friends list.
Messenger Kids gives you full control over your child’s contacts and messages. You can manage all their permissions through the Parent Dashboard in your main Facebook app.
Some key safety features of Messenger Kids include:
- No ads or in-app purchases
- Walled garden – kids can only message approved contacts
- Parent dashboard to monitor all activities
- Dedicated Messenger Kids reporting and support
With robust parental controls, Messenger Kids provides a safer messaging experience for children.
What are some Messenger tips and tricks?
Here are some helpful tips and tricks for using Messenger like a pro:
- Swipe right on a message to quickly reply
- Long press on a message to forward, react, copy, etc.
- Tap and hold record button to send voice messages hands-free
- Double tap on an audio message to fast forward
- Reply to a specific message by long pressing and selecting “Reply”
- Search past messages and threads at the top of your messages list
- Forward messages to multiple people at once
- Mute or customize notifications for specific conversations
Take your Messenger skills to the next level by mastering these time-saving tips and hidden features.
Conclusion
Facebook Messenger provides a fast, fun, and easy way to connect with friends and family across devices. Mastering the differences between sharing and sending will allow you to selectively broadcast messages or communicate privately. Personalize Messenger by tweaking the settings to your preferences for the best messaging experience.