Facebook Group admins are gaining the option to switch group visibility from private to public
If you are in a Facebook Group which is private, you might want to keep an eye on things. Meta has just announced that Group administrators will be getting a new option that will enable them to change their group from private to public.
While Meta is promoting this as a way for group admins to “grow their communities”, there will be obvious privacy concerns for people who joined particular groups precisely because they were private. Meta believes, however, that it has things in control, insisting that member privacy can be maintained even if the switch from private to public is made.
Announcing the new option, which is available immediately, Meta says: “Facebook Groups have long been a place where people connect over shared interests and experiences. People turn to groups to seek advice, connect with real people, and navigate life’s milestones. Whether it’s joining a city newcomers’ meet-up, finding a local running club, or connecting over your favorite artist, groups make these interactions easier”.
The social media giant goes on to say:
We know that group admins want more tools to grow and manage their communities, and we’re listening to your feedback. Today, we’re starting to roll out a new update that gives private group admins the option to change a group from private to public. This unlocks new opportunities for growth and connection while keeping member privacy and previously shared content protected.
For many groups, privacy is not a major concern for its members, but this is not true of all groups. Depending on the focus topic of a group, privacy may be very important indeed. Although Meta says that when a private group is made public, old content will remain private, anything that is posted after the change will be public.
Meta seems desperate to reassure group members that the change will not impact on their privacy. The company offers up a laundry list of the protection it says will be in place:
- Past content stays private. All content, including posts, comments, and reactions, shared while the group was private will only be visible to those who were members of the group before it became public, as well as admins and moderators.
- Member lists are protected. After a group goes public, only admins and moderators can see the member list, protecting the privacy of group members.
- New content is public. Any new posts you share in the public group, including comments and reactions on new content, will be visible to anyone, including people who aren’t on Facebook. This has always been the case for public groups, allowing you to reach a broader audience and connect with new people beyond the original group.
- You’ll be notified. When a group changes from private to public, all members are notified about the change. Plus, when posting or commenting for the first time in a converted public group, you’ll see a reminder that your post or comment will be public, helping you share with confidence.
- You can check your privacy status any time. You’ll also see a globe icon when posting in a public group. This icon means your content will be visible to anyone.
- Groups can be made private again. If a public group changes back to private, only people approved by an admin can join. Once someone is approved by an admin, they’ll be able to see what’s shared in the group, including content from when it was previously private, and the membership list. This is how private groups work today, so your privacy stays protected.
Before a group’s status is changed, there is a period of three days in which all administrators have a chance to think about things. During this time, any admin can opt to cancel the change, effectively meaning that the decision to go public has to be a unanimous one.