Facebook offers several options for controlling who can see the posts you share. Here are some quick answers to common questions about limiting post visibility on Facebook:
Can I make my posts private on Facebook?
Yes, you can make your posts private so that only certain people can see them. To do this:
- When writing a post, click on the audience selector underneath where you write your post. It likely says “Friends” by default.
- Change the audience to “Only me” to make it completely private where only you can see it.
- Or choose “Custom” to customize who can see your post.
How do I customize my post audience on Facebook?
When customizing who can see your post:
- Click on the audience selector and choose “Custom”
- Uncheck “Public” so anyone on or off Facebook cannot see your post.
- Check the boxes for the people or Lists you want to be able to view your post.
- Click “Done” when finished.
Can I hide my posts from certain people on Facebook?
Yes, when customizing the audience for your post, you can hide it from certain people while allowing others to see it. To do this:
- Click on the audience selector and choose “Custom”
- Check the box next to “Don’t share this with:”
- Begin typing the name or names of people you want to hide the post from.
- Select the names from the drop-down menu.
- Click “Done” when finished.
How do I make my posts friends-only on Facebook?
The easiest way to share posts just to your friends is to:
- Click on the audience selector when writing your post.
- Choose “Friends” from the menu.
This will allow all of your Facebook friends to see the post while hiding it from other people who follow you.
Can I limit old posts to only me on Facebook?
Yes, you can change the audience of your old posts to limit who can currently see them:
- Go to your profile and click on “Posts”
- Click on the three dots at the top right of a post
- Select “Edit post”
- Click on the audience selector and change it to “Only me”
- Click “Done”
How do I review all my Facebook post privacy settings?
To review the privacy settings of all your previous posts on Facebook:
- Go to your profile and click on “Posts”
- Click the three dots in the top right and select “Manage posts”
- Here you can sort posts by privacy level and change settings
Conclusion
Limiting the visibility of your Facebook posts allows you to share more selectively. Customizing individual post audiences gives you more control over who sees your content. Reviewing your old post privacy settings ensures your posts are only available to your desired audience.
| Post Privacy Option | Who Can See | How to Set |
|---|---|---|
| Public | Anyone on or off Facebook | Default setting, don’t change audience |
| Friends | Your Facebook friends only | Select “Friends” from menu |
| Custom | Specific people or lists you select | Choose “Custom” and select audience |
| Only Me | Just you | Choose “Only Me” from menu |
With over 2 billion monthly active users, Facebook is the largest social media platform globally. Given its broad reach, being able to limit your Facebook post visibility is an important way to maintain privacy and selectively share with your chosen connections.
Here are some additional tips for managing your privacy settings on Facebook:
Adjust Default Post Privacy
You can change the default audience for your posts from Public to Friends or another option:
- Go to your Facebook Settings
- Click Privacy
- Go to Your Activity and select “Who can see your future posts?”
- Choose your new default audience
This ensures your posts are automatically shared to your desired audience without changing it each time.
Limit Old Posts Visibility
To limit visibility of past posts, you can:
- Change the audience of individual old posts
- Bulk limit old posts by selecting “Limit Old Posts” under Settings > Privacy
This prevents publicly shared old posts from remaining public.
Restrict Relationship Visibility
You can also adjust who can see your relationship status and family details with these steps:
- Go to your Facebook Settings.
- Click Privacy
- Adjust the privacy of your relationship info and family members.
This lets you share basic profile info more selectively.
Block Specific Users
If you want to prevent certain people from interacting with your profile, you can block them:
- Go to their profile and select the three dots icon
- Choose Block and confirm
Blocking prevents them from viewing your posts, starting conversations, and more.
Limit Apps and Websites
Adjust which third-party apps and sites can access your Facebook information:
- Go to Settings
- Click Apps and Websites
- Remove any suspicious or unused apps
This prevents your data from being shared broadly online.
Use Tools Like Off-Facebook Activity
Off-Facebook Activity shows you which apps and websites send information about you to Facebook. You can use this tool to:
- Disconnect any apps/sites you don’t want reporting your activity
- Clear your off-Facebook history
This gives you more control over your online privacy beyond just Facebook.
In Closing
Limiting your Facebook post visibility allows you to share more selectively and intentionally. Make sure to regularly review your privacy settings to control who can see your profile, posts, and information. Additionally, be cautious when using third-party apps connected to Facebook or sharing your activity off of Facebook to maintain your overall online privacy.