- Posting anonymously in a Facebook group on a computer
- Posting anonymously in a Facebook group from your phone
- What other members see on an anonymous Facebook group post
- Who can still see who posted anonymously
- If the anonymous option is missing in the group
- Anonymous Facebook group posts and admin approval
- What you can't do anonymously in a Facebook group
- Anonymous posting versus a nickname in a Facebook group
- Taking down or hiding your own anonymous Facebook group post
- Anonymous Facebook group posts at a glance
- Frequently asked questions
To post anonymously in a Facebook group, open the group, click the Write something box, switch on the Post anonymously toggle, click Got it, write your post and click Submit. The detail people trip over: the option only appears if the group's admins allow anonymous participation, and admins and moderators can still see your identity.
Sometimes you want an answer from a group without everyone you know seeing the question. Maybe it's a health worry, a work problem or a business mistake you'd rather not admit to under your own name. Facebook does have a way to do this, but it's more limited than people expect, so I've gone through Facebook's own Help Center to set out what it does and doesn't hide.
Posting anonymously in a Facebook group on a computer
These are the steps Facebook's help article gives for a computer:
- Go to facebook.com/groups and open the group.
- Click the Write something box.
- Turn on the Post anonymously toggle.
- Click Got it when Facebook explains what the setting does.
- Write your post and click Submit.
If you change your mind, switch the same toggle off before you post. Once it's published, you'll want to read the section below about deleting.
Posting anonymously in a Facebook group from your phone
Facebook's help article has separate tabs for Android, iPhone and mobile browsers, and the text I could read describes the same toggle. Open the group, tap the box where you'd write a post, look for the Post anonymously option and switch it on, then write and submit. Menus vary by app version, so if yours looks different, check the tab for your device in the Help Center article called Participate anonymously in a Facebook group.
What other members see on an anonymous Facebook group post
Facebook's help says your post, comment or reaction appears as Anonymous member in private groups, or Anonymous participant in public groups. Your profile picture is replaced with an Anonymous icon, and its colour is assigned randomly. Two posts with the same colour don't mean the same person wrote them.
Comments you make on your own anonymous post are also anonymous to other members. If you're a page owner or creator asking about something sensitive, that can be enough to get honest answers.
Who can still see who posted anonymously
This is the part that matters most. According to Facebook, your name and profile photo remain visible to admins, moderators and Facebook's systems. An admin or moderator can open the post, comment or reaction and tap the profile photo shown as Anonymous to see the person behind it.
Facebook also warns that details in your post or comment could reveal your identity. If you mention your town, your employer or something only a few people would know, the people in the group may work it out for themselves. Write it as if someone who knows you might read it.
If the anonymous option is missing in the group
Facebook's help lists the reasons the option might not appear. It may not be available to you yet, it may not be available in that group, or the admins may not allow it. You can't switch it on yourself unless you're an admin.
If you do run the group, Facebook says you go to facebook.com/groups, select your group, click Group settings (you may need to click Manage first), then under Manage discussion click Edit next to Anonymous participation, choose on or off and click Save. For more on keeping your own profile private, my guide on locking your Facebook profile from strangers goes with this one.
Anonymous Facebook group posts and admin approval
Facebook's help says that if admins require post approval, or approval of anonymous posts, an admin or moderator reviews your post first. Otherwise it publishes straight away. Admins can require approval for anonymous and nickname posts and post edits, even if post approval is off for the rest of the group, and they review them in the Pending posts queue.
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So if you post and nothing appears, check whether the group says your post is waiting for approval before you submit it a second time.
What you can't do anonymously in a Facebook group
- You can post, comment and react anonymously.
- You can't use Live Video anonymously.
- You can't share content anonymously.
- You can't send messages anonymously.
- Some post formats are switched off for anonymous posts.
- You can't customise the Anonymous icon or its colour.
Anonymous posting versus a nickname in a Facebook group
Facebook's group admin help also mentions nicknames. A nickname hides your main profile name from other members, but admins and moderators can still see your identity. It's a different setting from anonymous participation, so a group might allow one and not the other. If you want a steady identity in a group without your real name, ask the admins whether nicknames are on.
Taking down or hiding your own anonymous Facebook group post
If you change your mind after posting, you can usually remove a post you wrote from its menu, and my guide on deleting a Facebook post or hiding it explains the difference. If someone from the group is bothering you after your post, you can manage blocks on Facebook later, but start by reporting them to Facebook, and if you're in danger, contact the police.
Anonymous Facebook group posts at a glance
| Question | What Facebook's help says |
|---|---|
| Where is the toggle | In the Write something box, called Post anonymously |
| What members see | Anonymous member (private) or Anonymous participant (public) |
| Who can see your name | Admins, moderators and Facebook's systems |
| Needs admin approval | Only if the group requires it |
| Can admins turn it off | Yes, under Group settings, Manage discussion |
| Live Video, sharing, messages | Not available anonymously |
Frequently asked questions
How do I post anonymously in a Facebook group?
Open the group, click the Write something box, turn on the Post anonymously toggle, click Got it, then write your post and click Submit. The option only appears if the group allows it.
Can group admins see who posted anonymously?
Yes. Facebook's help says your name and profile photo remain visible to admins, moderators and Facebook's systems, and admins can tap the Anonymous profile photo on the post to see the person behind it.
Why can't I see the Post anonymously option?
Facebook says the feature may not be available to you or in that group yet, or the admins may not allow it. Only an admin can switch it on for the group.
Will my anonymous Facebook group post need approval?
Only if the admins require post approval or approval of anonymous posts. Otherwise it publishes straight away.
Can I comment or react anonymously too?
Yes, you can post, comment and react anonymously. You can't use Live Video, share content or send messages anonymously.
Can people guess it's me?
They can if your wording gives it away. Facebook warns that details in your post or comment could reveal your identity, so leave out names, places and anything unusual.
