Facebook’s Edit feature on posts has been a long requested and anticipated feature by users. After years of users asking for an Edit button, Facebook finally began testing this feature in September 2022. The Edit feature is currently being tested internally by Facebook employees and should roll out to all users in the coming months.
Why did Facebook decide to add an Edit feature now?
There are a few key reasons why Facebook decided to roll out post editing after years of refusing to do so:
- User demand – Editing posts has been one of the most requested features by Facebook users for many years. Facebook likely felt pressure to finally give users more control over their posts.
- Platform maturity – Facebook is now 18 years old, so the company is more willing to make changes to core parts of the user experience like posts.
- Competition – Other social networks like Twitter have editing features, so Facebook needed to add this capability to remain competitive.
- Safety & accuracy – Editing could allow users to quickly fix typos and mistakes to prevent the spread of misinformation.
Why did it take so long for Facebook to allow post editing?
Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg was initially opposed to allowing users to edit their posts. Here are some of the reasons it took Facebook nearly two decades to introduce post editing:
- Integrity concerns – Editing posts could allow users to alter what they said after the fact, raising concerns about misinformation and “rewriting history.”
- Technical challenges – Editing required major changes to Facebook’s underlying infrastructure to retroactively modify published content at scale.
- Feature priority – Other product developments like Stories and Reels took precedence within Facebook.
- Business model – Editing could have impacted Facebook’s ad targeting and analytics by altering post content that had already been measured.
However, Facebook likely decided the benefits of editing finally outweighed these concerns and the feature became technically feasible to implement.
How will the Edit feature change Facebook usage?
Here are some of the ways the Edit post feature could change how people use Facebook once it’s fully rolled out:
- Fewer deleted posts – Users may edit posts with typos or other mistakes instead of deleting them.
- Updates to outdated information – Users can edit old posts if details like event dates or locations change.
- Less pressure about perfection – Users may worry less about crafting the perfect post since they can edit it later.
- Spread of misinformation – Bad actors could edit posts to fundamentally alter their content and meaning after going viral.
- More control over narrative – Users will have increased ability to tweak what posts say about them and shape their image.
Overall, many users will likely appreciate having the flexibility to edit their posts. But Facebook will need safeguards to prevent abuse, just as they do on the edit features for comments and ads.
What are the details of the Edit feature?
Based on initial tests, here are some of the known details about Facebook’s upcoming Edit post feature:
- Time limit – Facebook may only allow edits for a few minutes or hours after posting.
- Edit history – They may include an edit history so people can see when/how posts were edited.
- Permissions – The feature may be limited to page owners rather than all users.
- Visibility – Edits may be shown with an indicator saying the post was edited.
The time limit and edit history would help allay concerns about posts being silently edited after going viral. Facebook will likely tweak the permissions and visibility as they test the feature more before full public rollout.
What types of edits will be allowed?
Based on Facebook’s product philosophy, here are the types of post edits that will likely be enabled:
- Fixing typos and grammar
- Updating event dates or locations
- Adding or removing tags of other users
- Changing emotions reactions on own posts
And here are some types of edits that probably won’t be allowed:
- Editing other people’s posts or comments
- Removing links, photos or videos
- Switching post privacy from public to friends only
- Editing post metadata like date timestamp or location
Restricting edits will help balance utility for users with potential risks of misuse.
What safeguards will be in place to prevent misuse?
To allow useful editing while discouraging potential misuse of the feature, Facebook may implement safeguards like:
- Limiting the edit window to a short timeframe after posting
- Disallowing edits to metadata like timestamps or geotags
- Showing an indicator a post has been edited for transparency
- Maintaining edit history for accountability
- Using AI to detect bad faith bulk edits of posts
- Banning users who misuse editing from the feature
With the right precautions in place, the edit feature can improve the user experience without compromising integrity. The safeguards will be critical to rolling out editing responsibly.
When will Edit post launch for all Facebook users?
Facebook has not yet announced an official launch timeline for the post Edit feature. Based on typical feature rollout cadence, here is the approximate timing we can expect:
- September 2022: Internal employee testing begins
- Early 2023: Broader public testing begins
- Mid 2023: Full public launch on Facebook web and mobile apps
- Late 2023: Launch complete across all Facebook services
The public testing period will be critical for Facebook to catch any issues before full launch. People eager to edit their posts may need patience as Facebook takes the time to get this right. But the long wait for post editing features on Facebook should finally end next year.
Conclusion
Facebook’s upcoming post Edit feature represents a major shift for the platform after years of limiting edit capabilities. This reflects Facebook’s gradual maturity as a company, as well as a desire to give users more discretion over their content.
However, editing posts also carries risks around misinformation and misuse. Facebook will need to strike the right balance between utility and thoughtfulness as the feature launches. With careful safeguards in place, users should broadly welcome Edit post to address regrettable typos, outdated info, and other mistakes.
After 18 years, Facebook posts will no longer be permanent and immutable. The Edit feature will fundamentally expand the ways billions of people express themselves and connect on Facebook. Users have been asking for this capability for nearly two decades – their wish will soon become reality.