In a public Facebook group, a member has joined, a visitor hasn't, and a participant is either one of them who has posted or commented. Members and visitors can post and comment without approval, unless the group's admins have switched on participant approval for first posts and comments.
Public groups on Facebook have three labels for the people in them, and they overlap in a way that confuses plenty of group owners. Here's the whole thing in one table, then the misunderstandings worth clearing up.
| Label | Who it means | What sets them apart |
|---|---|---|
| Member | Someone who has joined the group | Sees group content in their Feed and other places on Facebook, and can be made an admin or moderator |
| Visitor | Someone who isn't a member | Can still post and comment in a public group, unless admins require participant approval |
| Participant | A member or a visitor who has posted or commented | Becomes one by taking part, not by asking |
Three labels, two kinds of person
The easiest way to think about it: member and visitor describe whether someone has joined. Participant describes what they've done. So a participant is never a third type of person. They're a member or a visitor who has posted or commented. One person can be a visitor and a participant at the same time.
These labels belong to public groups. Facebook's help centre describes them for public groups only, so don't assume private groups work the same way. If you're still deciding which kind of space suits you, the comparison of a Facebook group or a Facebook page for a business is a good place to start.
Myths about group roles, and what's true
Myth: visitors can only read
Not in a public group. Members and visitors can both post and comment without needing an admin to approve them. That's the default.
Myth: you apply to become a participant
There's no request or button for it. Someone becomes a participant by posting or commenting in the group. That's all it takes.
Myth: once you're approved, you're free to post anything
Not quite. If admins have turned on participant approval, a member or visitor must be approved before their first post or comment. After that, their later posts might still need approval if the admin has also set up post approval. They're two separate gates.
Myth: visitors get the same experience as members
They don't. Only members see the group's content in their Feed and in other places on Facebook. Only members can be made an admin or a moderator, too.
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Approval settings and how they change things
- With no participant approval switched on, nobody needs approval to post or comment.
- With participant approval on, first posts and comments from members and visitors wait for an admin.
- With post approval on as well, approved participants can still find later posts held for review.
If you run a group, these settings decide how open it feels. Clear expectations help, and the guide to writing a group description that draws people in pairs well with whichever approval setup you choose.
Why the member label matters most
Visitors can join in, but they won't keep seeing your group's posts in their Feed unless they join. That's why turning engaged visitors into members is the real win for an admin. If you want more of that, there are ideas on growing a group without ads.
The short version
Member means joined. Visitor means not joined. Participant means a member or visitor who has posted or commented. In a public group, everyone can take part freely unless admins switch on participant approval, and post approval can still apply afterwards. If you want someone to help run the group, they'll need to be a member first.
Frequently asked questions
Can a visitor comment in a public group?
Yes, without admin approval, unless admins have turned on participant approval.
Who can be made an admin or moderator?
The article lists this under members.
