Overview
There are a few potential reasons why your Facebook comments may be going to Messenger rather than posting publicly on Facebook:
- The page owner has enabled the Comments in Messenger feature.
- Your comment may have been flagged as spam.
- You may have been banned from commenting on the page.
- There may be a technical issue.
Let’s explore each of these possibilities in more detail.
Page Owner Enabled Comments in Messenger
The most likely explanation is that the page owner has enabled the Comments in Messenger feature for their Facebook page. Here’s how it works:
Facebook offers page owners the option to redirect comments on their posts to Messenger rather than having them appear publicly underneath the post. When this is enabled, any comments on that page will go directly to Messenger rather than being posted publicly.
Page owners may enable this feature for various reasons:
- To have more meaningful conversations with commenters in private.
- To reduce spam/abusive comments on their public page.
- To drive traffic to Messenger where they can connect with potential customers.
So if you notice your comments going to Messenger on a particular Facebook page, it’s likely because the page owner has deliberately enabled this feature. They should have a notice indicating that comments have been limited or redirected to Messenger.
Your Comment was Flagged as Spam
Another possibility is that your specific comment was flagged as spam by Facebook’s automatic filters.
Facebook uses automated systems to detect spam, abusive language, and other policy violations in comments. If your comment gets flagged for any reason, it may be redirected to Messenger rather than posting publicly.
Some things that may cause Facebook to flag a comment as spam include:
- Using repetitive or meaningless text.
- Posting the same comment multiple times.
- Including promotional links or excessive hashtags.
- Using text in ALL CAPS.
- Commenting rapidly on many different posts.
If you think your comment was incorrectly flagged as spam, you can try modifying it to be more relevant and meaningful, or contacting Facebook support. But in most cases flagged comments will be redirected to Messenger rather than posted publicly.
You are Banned from Commenting
In some cases, you may find your comments going to Messenger because you have been banned from publicly commenting on that specific Facebook page.
Page owners have the ability to ban or block users from commenting on their public page. They can do this for any user that repeatedly violates their community guidelines or posting rules.
If you have been banned from a page, your comments will be blocked from posting publicly and will go to Messenger instead. You will typically see a notice indicating that your comments are limited if you have been banned.
To resolve this, you would need to contact the page owner directly and request that they remove the ban on your account. Otherwise you will be unable to publicly comment on that page.
Technical Issues
In rare cases, comments going to Messenger could be the result of a temporary technical glitch or bug. Facebook’s systems are complex, and issues can come up that affect comment visibility and placement.
Some technical issues that could potentially redirect comments to Messenger include:
- Problems with the anti-spam filter incorrectly flagging comments.
- Bugs related to the Comments in Messenger feature rollout.
- Incorrect account or privacy settings.
- Mobile app glitches.
- Facebook API errors.
Technical issues tend to be fixed relatively quickly as Facebook’s engineers work to address them. If you notice the problem is widespread or persisting for more than a few days, it may be worth reporting to Facebook as a bug.
But in most cases, technical glitches are unlikely to be the root cause of comments consistently going to Messenger rather than posting publicly.
How to Post Public Comments on Facebook
If you want your comments on a Facebook page to post publicly, here are a few tips:
- First, check if the page has enabled Comments in Messenger by looking for a notice at the top. If so, public commenting has been disabled.
- Make sure your comments are relevant, thoughtful, and not repetitive. Avoid text in all caps, links, or repeat posts.
- If your comments keep going to Messenger, politely ask the page owner if you have been banned or your comments flagged.
- Double check your account and privacy settings. Make sure you are logged into the correct account.
- Try commenting from a computer rather than mobile, or re-installing the Facebook app.
- If the issue persists across many pages, report it as a technical bug to Facebook.
With some troubleshooting, you should be able to identify why your comments are going to Messenger and find a solution whether it’s adjusting your commenting approach, contacting page owners, or reporting technical issues.
Should Facebook Page Owners Use Comments in Messenger?
Facebook’s Comments in Messenger feature can be polarizing. Some page owners find it useful, while others dislike the lack of public engagement. Here are some pros and cons for page owners to consider:
Potential Pros
- Allows more meaningful back-and-forth conversations.
- Eliminates spam and abusive comments.
- Drives traffic to Messenger for sales inquiries.
- Keeps page feedback separate from public posts.
Potential Cons
- Reduces public comments and engagement on posts.
- Makes it harder to track conversations.
- Adds burden of monitoring Messenger messages.
- Some users may dislike having comments redirected.
There is no definitively right or wrong way to handle Facebook comments for all pages. Here are some best practices:
- Test enabling Comments in Messenger for a limited time to see if it improves conversations.
- Clearly communicate with followers if you decide to enable comment redirection.
- Monitor feedback and be willing to revert back if engagement decreases.
- Develop Messenger sales funnels to take advantage of the increased traffic.
- Designate someone to monitor and respond to Messenger comments.
With a strategic approach, Comments in Messenger can be a useful tool for some business pages on Facebook. But it requires thoughtfully weighing the pros and cons for your specific audience and goals.
Should Users Be Concerned About Comment Redirection?
For Facebook users who simply want to comment on public pages, having those comments redirected to Messenger can be frustrating. Here are some valid concerns users may have:
- It limits public discussion and transparency.
- It takes conversations out of a public sphere.
- Users may not want an ongoing Messenger conversation.
- It could enable censorship or blocking of critics.
- It may be seen as deceptive if reasons are unclear.
However, when used appropriately, comment redirection may also have some benefits for users:
- It reduces spam and abuse in comments.
- It enables deeper individual conversations.
- Page owners may be more responsive in Messenger.
- Comments are less likely to be lost in busy threads.
In general, pages should be transparent about their reasons for using comment redirection and allow users to opt-out. And users should give page owners the benefit of the doubt unless there are signs of actual censorship.
With open communication, comment redirection doesn’t have to be a major point of contention. But it’s understandable that some users may view it negatively if not handled well.
Best Practices for Handling Redirected Comments
Here are some suggested best practices for both Facebook page owners and users to smoothly handle redirected comments:
For Page Owners
- Clearly communicate if and why you have enabled comment redirection.
- Page moderation policies should be published.
- Designate someone to handle Messenger conversations.
- Respond to Messenger comments within 24 hours when possible.
- Allow users to opt out of comment redirection upon request.
For Users
- Check the page notifications to understand why redirection is enabled.
- Frame comments constructively to avoid flagging as spam.
- Opt out politely if you do not wish to use Messenger conversations.
- Use public reviews or other channels if you want public commentary.
- Assume good intent unless there is evidence of actual censorship.
With mutual understanding and clear communication, comment redirection does not have to be a major disruption. Maintaining transparency and respect will lead to the best outcomes.
The Future of Commenting on Facebook
Comments and conversations are an important part of Facebook’s platform. But chronic issues with spam, harassment, misinformation, and more have challenged Facebook over the years. Comment redirection is one strategy being tested to address these issues.
Here are some possible ways Facebook may continue evolving comment systems in the future:
- More intelligent filtering of abusive comments with AI.
- Emphasizing groups and communities over public commenting.
- Charging pages to use public commenting as a premium feature.
- Offering upvote/downvote systems similar to Reddit.
- Enabling more Reddit-style nested sub-threads.
- Anonymized commenting to reduce attacks.
Facebook will likely need to take bold steps to reinvent commenting as its platform matures. Both page owners and users should be prepared for more changes ahead as Facebook responds to emerging challenges.
The desire for public conversations remains strong. But the ideal future systems will balance freedom of expression with protections against harassment and misuse. There are no easy solutions, but the path forward may involve fundamental rethinking of commenting norms.
Conclusion
Facebook diverting comments to Messenger rather than posting them publicly can be disruptive. But in many cases it is done intentionally by page owners seeking better conversations.
Users should check page notifications, comment thoughtfully, and assume good intent. Page owners can mitigate confusion with transparency about comment policies and Messenger management.
With care on both sides, redirected comments can lead to stronger relationships despite losing the public visibility. Facebook is likely to keep evolving its commenting systems over time as well.
While not a perfect solution, redirecting problematic comments to Messenger is one imperfect attempt to balance open dialogue with the fight against harassment. The details may change, but Facebook will need to grapple with this tension for years to come.