Facebook is used by people all over the world, which means you may see posts in languages you don’t understand. While this can make Facebook feel more global and inclusive, too much foreign language content can be distracting. Fortunately, Facebook offers settings to control the language of posts you see.
Why am I seeing posts in other languages on Facebook?
There are a few reasons you may be seeing posts in foreign languages on your Facebook feed:
- You have Facebook friends from other countries who post in their native language.
- You follow Pages or Groups that sometimes post content in different languages.
- Facebook’s algorithm detects you have some interest in certain languages and starts showing you more content in those languages.
- You recently traveled abroad and Facebook is tailoring your feed based on that location.
Facebook aims to connect people across borders and cultures. This means they want to include some foreign language content on everyone’s feed. However, too much unfamiliar content can make Facebook overwhelming.
How do I limit foreign language posts on my Facebook feed?
You have several options for reducing the amount of foreign language content you see on Facebook:
Adjust Facebook’s Multilingual Settings
Facebook offers a Multilingual Settings option that allows you to adjust which languages show up in your feed:
- Go to your Facebook Settings and select “Language and Region” under the General Account Settings section.
- Under “Multilingual Settings” click Edit.
- Select which languages you want to see more or less of by dragging them to the appropriate section.
- Click Save Changes.
This will tell Facebook to show you more posts in your preferred languages, and fewer posts in languages you don’t want to see as often.
Unfollow International Pages and Groups
Check which international Pages and Groups you are following that may be posting in other languages. You can unlike or unfollow these to remove foreign language content from your feed:
- Go to your Facebook feed and look for posts in other languages.
- Click on the name of the Page or Group that created the post.
- On their page, click Following below their cover photo.
- Click Unfollow to stop seeing posts from this Page or Group.
Repeat this process for any international accounts posting content you don’t want to see. This will significantly cut down on foreign language posts.
Hide or Unfriend International Connections
Review your list of Facebook friends and consider hiding or unfriending connections who frequently post in languages you don’t understand. This will stop their posts from showing up in your feed at all:
- Click on Friends in the left sidebar of Facebook.
- Scan your friends list and look for people who post in other languages.
- Click on the name of each person you want to hide or unfriend.
- Select either Unfollow or Unfriend from the menu.
Hiding friends means you stay connected but their posts won’t be in your feed. Unfriending removes them completely. Both options will limit foreign language content.
How do I select a language for my Facebook interface?
In addition to adjusting the language of content in your feed, you can also change the language Facebook displays in for you. This includes button names, menus, and other text in the interface. To change your Facebook display language:
- Go to Facebook Settings.
- Click on “Language and Region” under General Account Settings.
- Select a language from the “Facebook Language” dropdown menu.
- Click Save Changes at the bottom.
Facebook will now display text in the language you selected. Note that this doesn’t affect the language used in posts from friends or Pages. It only changes the language Facebook itself displays in.
How do I report foreign language content on Facebook?
If you come across an individual post or comment in another language that seems inappropriate, you can report it to Facebook:
- Click the three dots icon (…) in the top right of the post or comment.
- Select Report/Mark as Inappropriate.
- Choose which Facebook policy the content violates.
- Click Submit.
Facebook will review the reported content and remove anything found to violate their Community Standards, even if it’s in a different language.
Conclusion
Seeing too many foreign language posts on Facebook can be frustrating, but there are ways to filter your feed. Adjust Facebook’s Multilingual Settings, unfollow international Pages and Groups, hide or unfriend connections who post in other languages, and report inappropriate foreign content. You can take back control and see more of the language you prefer on Facebook.
Some key takeaways include:
- Go to Multilingual Settings and drag languages into the See More or See Less sections.
- Unlike or unfollow international Pages and Groups posting in other languages.
- Hide or unfriend individual connections who frequently post in foreign languages.
- Change your Facebook interface language in General Account Settings.
- Report individual foreign posts or comments that seem inappropriate.
With these tips, you can tailor your Facebook feed to reduce distracting foreign language content and focus on the language you prefer. Facebook provides the tools to control the linguistic diversity in your news feed and choose what languages you want to see more or less of. You can strike the right balance for your personal preferences.
Now that you know how to limit foreign language posts in your Facebook feed, you can spend more time enjoying content you actually understand! Facebook is most worthwhile when you can connect meaningfully with friends and Pages. Follow these recommendations to ensure your Facebook experience is in the language(s) you want.
Facebook sets out to foster global connections, but sometimes that means seeing many posts in languages unfamiliar to you. Don’t let this overwhelm your feed or make Facebook less enjoyable. Take advantage of the various options covered here to filter foreign language content and refine your Facebook experience. Your news feed can still feel diverse, but predominantly feature languages you comprehend.
With a few adjustments to your language settings, unfollows, unfriends and reports where necessary, you can curate a Facebook experience that suits your linguistic preferences. You’ll be able to scroll and read happily, without having to run posts through a translator. The tools are there to minimize foreign language frustrations and make Facebook comfortable again. Use them to your benefit and let your feed flourish in the tongues you favor.