Facebook groups have two management roles, admins and moderators, plus an optional group expert badge. Admins control everything, including the group's settings and who else gets a role. Moderators handle the day-to-day: approving members and posts, removing content and banning people. Group experts don't moderate at all; they're members highlighted for their knowledge.
If you run a group for your business or community, giving the right people the right role is one of the few decisions that's hard to undo. Hand out admin too freely and someone can remove you. Keep it all to yourself and the group stalls the week you go on holiday.
Here's exactly what each role can and can't do, taken from Facebook's own help pages, and how I'd set it up.
The two roles that manage a group
Facebook's help centre is clear that there are two roles for people who manage groups: admins and moderators. Its comparison table looks like this:
| What they can do | Admin | Moderator |
|---|---|---|
| Make another member an admin or moderator | Yes | No |
| Remove an admin or moderator | Yes | No |
| Manage group settings, such as the name, cover photo or privacy | Yes | No |
| Approve or deny membership and participant requests | Yes | Yes |
| Approve or deny posts in the group | Yes | Yes |
| Remove posts and comments on posts | Yes | Yes |
| Remove and ban people from the group | Yes | Yes |
| Pin or unpin a post | Yes | Yes |
So a moderator can do almost all the visible work. What they can't do is change the group itself or change who's in charge. A badge may appear next to an admin's or moderator's name on their posts, comments and group profile, though Facebook says they can choose not to show it.
What being an admin really hands over
This is the line in Facebook's help page I'd underline. Once you make someone an admin, they'll be able to remove members or admins, add new admins and edit the group description and settings. That includes removing you. Only admins can invite someone to become an admin or moderator, and members have to be active in the group before they can be made an admin.
If you need the steps, I've written up how to add an admin to a Facebook group separately, but the short version is Members or People, the Options button next to the person, then Invite as admin or Invite as moderator.
The seven-day rule if your only admin leaves
Here's the catch most group owners don't know about. If the only admin of a group leaves it, or deactivates or deletes their account, Facebook prompts them to invite a new admin. If they don't pick one, or nobody accepts the invitation within seven days, the group is automatically paused.
Facebook also notes that in some cases grey accounts can't become group admins, and that you can make a Page an admin of a group you manage. Both are worth knowing if you're planning who takes over.
Group experts: a badge, not a moderator
Group experts are a different thing entirely. Facebook says admins can designate members, admins and moderators as group experts to help people find content from members who know the topics the group cares about. The feature isn't available in all groups.
- The member chooses whether to accept or decline the role.
- If they accept, they're featured in the Group Experts section of the member list and get a badge on their posts, comments and group profile.
- They can hide the badge, but they'll still be listed in the Group Experts section.
- Admins can still moderate their posts and comments, and can switch the expert badge off for the whole group.
- Members aren't notified if they're removed as a group expert.
There's an eligibility rule too. You can't make someone a group expert if they've received more than three Community Standards violations across Facebook in the past 90 days, or more than two misinformation violations in that group in the past 90 days.
If you're wondering where the other badges come from, the Top Contributor badge is earned through activity rather than handed out by an admin.
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How to remove a group expert or cancel an invite
- Go to facebook.com/groups and select your group.
- Click Members.
- Select the member and open the options next to their name.
- Choose Remove as group expert, then Remove expert. If they haven't accepted yet, choose Cancel group expert request, then Cancel invitation.
Because members aren't told when they're removed as an expert, it's kind to send a quick message first if they've been helping for a while.
How I'd set up the roles
- Keep at least two admins you'd trust with the whole group, so the seven-day pause can never catch you out.
- Give everyone else who helps a moderator role. They can approve, remove, ban and pin without being able to change settings or remove you.
- Use group expert for the people whose answers you want members to find, not for people who need to moderate.
- Review the list whenever someone steps back from helping.
My verdict
Admin is ownership, moderator is the working role, and group expert is recognition. If you're unsure, start someone as a moderator. You can always promote them later, but taking admin back from someone who's decided they want the group is a fight you don't need.
Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between an admin and a moderator on Facebook?
Admins can do everything moderators can, plus make or remove admins and moderators and change group settings such as the name, cover photo and privacy.
Can a moderator remove an admin in a Facebook group?
No. Facebook's help page says only admins can remove an admin or moderator.
What happens if the only admin leaves a Facebook group?
They're prompted to invite a new admin. If nobody is chosen or nobody accepts within seven days, the group is automatically paused.
What is a group expert on Facebook?
A member, admin or moderator an admin has highlighted for their knowledge. They get a badge and appear in the Group Experts section, but they don't get moderation powers.
Can a Facebook Page be an admin of a group?
Yes. Facebook says you can make a Page an admin of a group you manage.
Can a moderator change a Facebook group's name?
No. Changing the group name, cover photo or privacy settings is an admin-only task.
Who can't be made a group expert?
People with more than three Community Standards violations across Facebook, or more than two misinformation violations in that group, in the past 90 days.
