Sharing memories and experiences with friends and family is a big part of what makes Facebook so popular. The ability to easily share photos, videos, and life events brings people closer together. However, sometimes you may come across a post on Facebook that you want to share but that doesn’t have a visible “Share” button. Typically, posts with share buttons are public posts from pages or friends. Private posts, old posts, and posts in closed groups may not display share buttons. Fortunately, there are still several ways to share these types of posts on Facebook.
Check Privacy Settings
The first thing to check is the privacy settings of the post you want to share. If the original post is set to “Friends Only”, you won’t be able to share it publicly. However, you can still share it with mutual friends by changing your share settings. When sharing the post, choose “Friends” or “Friends Except” under the audience selector. This will allow you to share the private memory while respecting the original privacy settings.
Keep in mind that some posts may be so heavily restricted that even friends can’t view or share them. In these cases, you’ll need to request special permission from the author to share their post.
Use the Copy Link Option
Most posts on Facebook, even old ones, can be shared through copying and pasting the URL (web address). To do this:
- Click the date and time displayed above the post.
- In the popup that appears, click “Copy Link”.
- Paste the link in a new Facebook post or message.
When pasting the link, it will automatically pull in information and a thumbnail preview of the post. Your friends will then be able to view the shared memory by clicking the link.
Take a Screenshot
Another option is to take a screenshot of the post you want to share. Here’s how:
- On your computer, use the Print Screen key to take a screenshot of the entire page.
- Open an image editing program and paste the screenshot.
- Crop the image so just the Facebook post is showing.
- Save the cropped image to your computer.
- Upload the image to Facebook as you would any photo.
This method allows you to share the post exactly as you saw it, without relying on links. You can also annotate or edit the screenshot before sharing. However, screenshots don’t include interactive content like videos.
Use the Download Button
For photos and videos, Facebook has a download button that allows you to save and re-upload content. To use it:
- Click the downward arrow in the top right corner of the photo or video post.
- Select “Download” from the dropdown menu.
- Save the photo or video to your device.
- Create a new Facebook post and upload the saved image or video.
This preserves the original quality of the media and may be preferable to screenshotting in some cases. Just be mindful of downloading and sharing content you have permission to use.
Share From a Facebook Group
Sharing memories gets a bit tricky when they are posted inside closed Facebook groups. Non-members can’t view post links from closed groups. To work around this:
- Go to the group and locate the post you want to share.
- Click the three-dot menu in the top right corner of the post.
- Select “Share to News Feed” or “Share as Message” if available.
- Choose who you want to share the post with.
Group admins can disable this re-sharing feature, so it’s not guaranteed to work. If not, you’ll have to screenshot or download the group post and share it that way.
Use Third-Party Apps
There are browser extensions and mobile apps you can use to download or re-share Facebook content:
- Repost for Instagram – Reposts Facebook photos/videos to Instagram.
- FB Downloader – Saves Facebook videos to your device.
- Social Book Post Manager – Re-share posts as your Page or Profile.
- SaveFrom.net Helper – One-click Facebook downloading.
Research any third-party apps thoroughly, as some may violate Facebook policies or seem spammy to your friends. Use at your own discretion.
Make Your Own Shareable Content
Rather than relying on shares, you can create original social media content inspired by memories. For example:
- Write a “throwback Thursday” post about a nostalgic memory.
- Create a photo album or video highlight reel of a past event or time period.
- Record a Facebook Live talking about a meaningful experience.
- Design a shareable graphic with an inspirational quote.
Put your own spin on memories to make them easy to share on Facebook and other platforms. This prevents any issues around downloading, copyright, and privacy.
Ask Permission to Share
If there’s no technological way to share a certain memory, you can always just ask! Send the original poster a message or comment requesting permission to share their post. Explain why it’s meaningful to you and how you would share it responsibly. Most people are happy to authorize sharing if they understand why it’s important to you.
Conclusion
Sharing special memories and moments with your network is a big part of the Facebook experience. While some posts may not have visible share buttons, there are still numerous ways to share memories – even old or private ones. Taking screenshots, copying links, downloading content, using third-party apps, creating your own posts, or asking permission can all help you responsibly share Facebook memories that matter. With so many options, you should be able to keep the memories flowing on Facebook.