This archive report was first published on 15 August 2019.
On August 7, 2019, Facebook announced updates to its Group privacy settings, aiming to make it easier for users to understand and manage group safety.
The social media giant is doing away with the public, closed, or secret settings, instead offering two clear options: 'private' or 'public.'
According to Facebook, this change will simplify who can find a Group and see its members and posts. Jordan Davis, product manager for Facebook Groups, stated, 'Having two privacy settings — public and private — will help make it clearer about who can find the group and see the members and posts that are part of it.'
Private groups will be the ones wherein only the members will be able to see who else is in the group and what they've posted. In public groups, the members and their posts will be visible to all.
The new settings will grant more control for admins and members, giving admins more control tools and members the option to see the group's history or preview its content before accepting or declining an invitation.
These updates are part of the Safe Communities Initiative, which Facebook started two years ago to monitor and detect bad content in Facebook groups.
For existing groups, the changes will be as follows:
- A group that was formerly 'secret' will now be 'private' and 'hidden.' Only members of the group can find this group and only they can see who is in the group and what they post.
- A group that was formerly 'closed' will now be 'private' and 'visible.' Anyone can find this group, but only members can see who is in the group and what they post.
- A group that was formerly 'public' will remain 'public' and 'visible.' It will be visible to everyone and you can search these groups and find its members.
Admins will be able to clearly choose whether or not the group can be found in search and other places.
Facebook added that by separating the privacy settings for posts and group membership from the overall discoverability of the group, it is easier for admins to understand and manage their group privacy settings, and also easier for members to know important information like who can find the group.
