If you are a member of Facebook groups, be they local community groups or global groups connected to your interests and hobbies, then you will have noticed the rise of the anonymous poster.
Anonymous posters are those who put a comment on the group’s newsfeed that cannot be linked back to them. Anonymous posts are accompanied by a default profile picture and an ‘Anonymous’ label replacing the user’s name.
Before we dive into the process of posting anonymously on Facebook, it’s important to note that this feature is only available in Facebook groups. Posting from your own profile to your friends does not offer an anonymous setting, because of the nature of Facebook and the need to be friends in order to appear on others’ feeds. In short, there is no point posting anonymously to your main feed, because users will be able to easily deduce who the poster is.
In a group with users who are all unconnected aside from within the group, anonymous posting is far more effective.
Can I Post Anonymously in a Group?
There are several limitations that may impact your ability to post anonymously in a Facebook group.
Perhaps the most important is whether or not the group admin allow anonymous posting. This is a setting that admin who control and manage the group can switch on and off – so if you find you are unable to post anonymously, it could be that the option is disabled.
NOTE: Admin and moderators within a Facebook group can see your name and profile image even if you post anonymously, meaning that the comment can still be linked back to you.
Another factor which could impact your ability to post anonymously is the rollout of the feature itself. Anonymous posting is a relatively new addition to Facebook group interactions and communication, with some countries and areas not yet able to access the tool.
But assuming the feature is available to you, here’s how to do it.
3 Steps to Post Anonymously
- Navigate to the group that you want to add a comment in
- Underneath the ‘Write Something’ box, select the button that reads ‘Anonymous Post’
- Select ‘Got It’ once you’ve read the terms, and then post as usual
Whether posting under your name or anonymously, it’s important to remember the community guidelines that are in place to keep all Facebook users safe, and to nurture a positive experience for all. Happy posting!
