It can be confusing and concerning when posts start appearing in your Facebook feed from people you don’t know or groups you didn’t join. There are a few main reasons this can happen on Facebook:
Friends of Friends
The most common reason is that one of your Facebook friends liked, commented on, or shared a post from someone you’re not connected to. Facebook shows you these posts because it thinks you might find them interesting since your friend engaged with them.
For example, if Bob is friends with Sue on Facebook, and Sue comments on a post from John (who you’re not friends with), that post from John may show up in your feed because Bob interacted with it. Even though you’re not directly connected to John, Facebook thinks you might find his post relevant since your friend Sue engaged with it.
Posts Set to Public
Another reason you may see posts from strangers is if the original poster set their privacy settings to “Public.” This allows anyone on Facebook to see their posts, even people who are not friends with the original poster.
For instance, if Grace sets her posts to Public, they can appear in your feed even though you’re not connected. Her posts are visible to everyone on Facebook.
Pages and Groups
If you see posts from a Facebook Page or Group you didn’t join, it’s likely because one of your friends likes or follows that Page/Group. Facebook shows you posts from Pages/Groups your friends engage with, even if you haven’t liked or joined them yourself.
So if Ryan likes the “Cute Puppies” Facebook Page, posts from “Cute Puppies” may show up in your feed, even though you didn’t actively follow that Page. This is Facebook’s way of surfacing content to you that your friends have shown interest in.
Paid Advertising
Facebook allows businesses and organizations to pay to promote their posts and boost their reach. If you see a sponsored or suggested post in your feed from an account you don’t follow, it’s because that account paid Facebook to display their post to wider audiences.
For example, when a clothing brand pays to boost a post advertising their new t-shirt line, that promoted post can appear in your feed and be targeted to you based on Facebook’s data about your interests and demographics, even if you’re not following that brand’s page.
Location
Facebook may show you posts from nearby places to inform you about events, deals, and news happening around your local area. So you may see posts from shops, restaurants, and organizations near you even if you didn’t proactively follow them.
Algorithms
Facebook uses complex algorithms to determine what posts to show each person in their feed. Beyond just your friends’ activity, these algorithms analyze your past engagement on Facebook, your interests, demographics, location, and other signals to predict what posts may be relevant to you.
This means you may be served posts that Facebook’s AI believes you will like or find interesting, even if they come from accounts you’re not connected to. The goal is to keep you engaged on Facebook by showing you relevant and appealing content.
How to Control What You See in Your Feed
If you want to limit posts in your feed from strangers and accounts you don’t follow, there are a few things you can try:
- Adjust your News Feed preferences: Go to Settings > News Feed Preferences and adjust options like “whose posts you see first” and categories of posts you want to see more or less of.
- Unfollow friends who share irrelevant posts: If someone you’re friends with keeps liking or sharing posts you don’t care about, you can unfollow them to avoid their activity showing up in your feed.
- Hide posts you don’t want to see: On any post, click the three dots in the upper right and choose “Hide post” or “Snooze [account name]” to remove that post or account’s posts from your feed for 30 days.
- Limit ad targeting: Go to Settings > Ads and adjust options for ad targeting and personalization to reduce the number of sponsored posts.
- Adjust privacy settings: Restrict parts of your profile and posts from being visible to the public or to “friends of friends.”
Keep in mind you’ll likely continue to see some posts from unfollowed accounts organically, especially if they are trending or commonly engaged with by your friends network. But adjusting these settings can help limit the volume.
Should You Be Concerned?
Seeing the occasional post in your Facebook feed from someone you’re not friends with or a Page you don’t follow is normal and not inherently cause for concern. In most cases, it’s Facebook’s algorithms trying to show you relevant and engaging content based on limited signals.
However, if you notice an influx of posts from strangers or accounts you definitely did not connect with, that could signal that your account has been compromised in some way. Some signs of a compromised account include:
- Lots of posts/activity from accounts you don’t know
- Strange friend requests
- Unknown chats
- Forgotten “Likes” and follows of pages/accounts
- Login alerts for unrecognized locations
If you’re seeing any of these, especially alongside a general spike in suspicious activity, your account may be hacked. Take steps to secure your account immediately, like changing your password, checking login locations, and enabling two-factor authentication.
A small amount of posts in your feed from unfollowed accounts is normal on Facebook, but an influx could signal a larger issue. Stay vigilant for any red flags indicating your account has been compromised.
Summary
The main reasons you may see Facebook posts in your feed from accounts you don’t follow include:
- Friends of friends activity
- Posts set to public
- Pages and groups your friends like/follow
- Paid advertising
- Location-based posts
- Facebook’s relevance algorithms
You can control what appears in your feed via News Feed Preferences, unfollowing friends, hiding posts, limiting ad targeting, and adjusting privacy settings. A small amount of unfollowed posts is normal, but an influx may signal your account is hacked.
| Reason | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Friends of Friends | Posts your friends engage with from accounts you don’t follow |
| Public Posts | Posts from accounts with visibility set to “public” |
| Pages and Groups | Posts from Pages/Groups your friends like or follow |
| Paid Advertising | Sponsored/suggested posts targeted to you |
| Location | Posts from nearby places and events |
| Algorithms | Posts Facebook predicts you’ll like based on data |
Frequently Asked Questions
Why am I seeing “suggested” posts in my Facebook feed?
Suggested posts are posts Facebook thinks may be relevant to you based on your profile, interests, location, and other factors. Facebook analyzes signals about you to recommend content even if you don’t follow the original poster. The goal is to show you posts Facebook believes you might find interesting or useful.
Can I stop seeing posts from a specific person or Page in my feed?
Yes, you can remove posts from specific people or Pages by clicking the “X” on any post from them and selecting “Snooze [name]” or “Unfollow [name].” This prevents their posts from appearing in your feed without unfriending or unfollowing them entirely.
What does it mean when a post says “X friend and 15 others” reacted?
When you see “X friend and 15 others” below a post, it means your friend and 15 other people who you’re not friends with reacted to that post. Facebook surfaces the total number of reactions to show a post’s popularity, even if they aren’t all from your friends.
Should I be concerned about privacy with posts I didn’t sign up to see?
In general, the posts you see should not reveal any private information about you. Facebook’s algorithms aim to show you relevant public posts you would find interesting. However, it’s good practice to review your privacy settings, limit profile visibility, and be cautious sharing personal details publicly.
How often does Facebook update what posts appear in my feed?
Facebook constantly updates the posts in your feed in real-time based on your activity, your friends’ activity, and what content is trending and being engaged with by the wider Facebook community. Your feed is dynamic and personalized to you.
Conclusion
Unfollowed posts appearing in your Facebook feed is common, stemming from friends’ activity, public posts, pages you don’t follow, advertising, location, and Facebook’s algorithms predicting your interests. While some amount of these posts are expected, an influx could signal your account is compromised. Adjust News Feed settings, unfollow friends, and review privacy settings to customize what you see.