In general, Facebook and social media are all about connecting you with other people and sharing important events with your network of friends.
If privacy is essential to you, there are ways to filter what your Facebook friends can see and what elements remain hidden from their view.
In this guide, we’re going to show you how you can stop your Facebook friends from seeing your activity, likes, and Friends list.
How to Hide Your Friends List on Facebook
- Click on your account menu on PC or profile picture on Android.
- Go to Settings and Privacy.
- Then, select Who can see what you share.
- Click on Continue to go to the settings you’re interested in.
- Navigate to Friends and following.
- Go to Who can see your Friends list on your profile?
- Then select Only me to hide your list of friends.
How to Hide Your Activity on Facebook
- Go to Settings and Privacy.
- Then select Who can see what you share.
- Hit Continue and then Next to go to Posts and stories.
- You can control who can see your future posts. If you want to hide them completely, select Only me.
- The Only me option is not available for stories. However, you set the privacy settings to Friends. In other words, only your friends will be able to see your stories.
- There is also the option to Limit past posts.
- This means that you can hide past posts that were previously set to Public or Friends of friends. More specifically, only your friends will see your past posts.
- If you want to undo this action, you need to manually edit the audience of each post.
How to Hide the People and Pages You Follow on Facebook
- Go Settings and Privacy.
- Then select Who can see what you share.
- Go to Friends and following.
- Navigate to Who can see the people, Pages, and lists you follow?
- If you want to hide any information related to the people, pages, and lists that you follow, select the Only me option.
- Or you can choose to hide this information from friends except for a few specific friends.
- If you want to hide any information related to the people, pages, and lists that you follow, select the Only me option.
How Do I Make My Comments Private on Facebook?
Unfortunately, you can’t hide your Facebook comments. Only the person who initially shared the post can change the privacy settings of that post. If they decide to hide or delete the post, the same thing will happen to your comment.
As long as the post’s privacy is set to Public, it will remain visible. And so will your comment.
We hope this guide answered your questions.
Brian says
I agree that it’s ridiculous that every one of your friends can see your comments on pages that they aren’t following. I put in a request to change this years ago but I think they said they couldn’t which is obviously rubbish. I comment on politics and I think that I’ve probably lost a few friends who I like but probably aren’t as passionate as I am. It’s just Zuckerberg being contrary.
Josh Rachlis says
I agree with everyone here who is furious about everyone seeing the comments we leave! It’s insane!
Khleyo says
My friends we’re able to see my comments on pages I bought ramdom stuff from! And they dont even follow these stores.. This is really embarassing!
Ellen says
So I shopped at a boutique online store. My daughter was notified of my comment, therefore she knew all about her birthday present before I even received it and wrapped it up for her! Come on Facebook do better!! Why was she notified of my comment?
iFlip says
Ok, i can understand we can’t control the original post owner’s privacy settings of showing comments BUT what i think is wrong is why my Facebook contacts need to get NOTIFIED when I make a comment on a random page or person they don’t even follow (pls correct me if I’m wrong on this — that they get notified even with stranger’s FB post). If they found it on their own, fine. But to get notified about it or show up on their wall, NO. Hopefully it happens only because we follow same page or channel.
AB says
Facebook is the absolute WORST! It’s appalling that you cannot control your own “public comments” on any article you choose the comment on… without FB streaming all of your comments constantly on all your friend’s news feeds. It’s an outrageous invasion of privacy. Facebook, I hate it so much!
Alex Bodi says
I’m having some of the same issues you guys are. I’m getting notifications when some friends comment on another random persons post, and I will usually never know the person that actually made the original post. I think this is a huge invasion of privacy. Somebody should sue the company.
terry says
will the person that posted see your reaction and comments to their post or does no one see it but yourself when you “turn off” your likes/comments?
Sprite says
I am super confused. I was surprised one day when a friend scolded me for an opinion I shared on another (unconnected) friend’s post. I couldn’t even understand how she had seen it. I don’t get notifications that say “s0-and-so commented on such-and-such’s post”… if I’m not getting these notifications of my friends’ activities, where are they seeing mine? That scrolling ticker-style newsfeed in the sidebar also seems to have been gone for some time now… so, where are friends (or friends of friends) seeing the comments I make on other people’s posts?? I don’t see what my friends are commenting on. #totallyconfused
Eszter says
It is a big problem that my friends see each comment I make in any topic. I had a colleague who told me his feed is full with my commented things. I suggested to him unfollow me, than we can stay friends but he won’t see irrelevant things because of me. I’m active on FB but till this I try to be less active and comment less. I don’t want to be too much for anyone :-s Actually I don’t like if somebody push into my face his/her life, and I don’t want to do the same. Till this cannot be controlled, I’m less active on FB. This is actually against the privacy what I need.
Pana G says
It is disgraceful I have a friend who sees everything I comment on, I feel like telling them mind your own business you loser. It really is an invasion of privacy and I don’t my friends knowing my political views all the time…
Amy Love says
Wow, I have really found my people here. I want to participate in some groups on FB but I don’t want all my friends and family to know I’ve done so. Not confident this will work but I’m going to give it a try.
Reza says
I never comment because of this issue.
vinczej says
I hate, too, that all my friends are notified, when I comment any post. Obviously if my friend see directly the post, shall he/she see the comment.
Susie says
Does putting your friends on a restricted list keep comments you makes on a public page from being seen on your newsfeed ?
Ian says
I do hate that people from my friends list are notified when I comment on pages that are of my concern. And I also don’t like how my feed is bombarded by posts which are not of any interest to me just because a friend reacted or commented to those posts.
Semups says
Hello Madalina Dinita,
Thanks for describing in detail the tactics to prevent seeing our personal posts or activities from our friends and others.
Ahmad says
We don’t want our comments to go invisible. We just want facebook not to notify friends in list of what have we commented on a post. It is ruining peoples friendships. I also don’t wanna see what my friends have said to their friend’s post.
Angela says
I connect with so many ppl in this commenting section 😟 though I somehow managed not to have my family in fb friends list.. You can’t do with your fiance.. my long distance so to be fiance is Judginy my charector based on my comments on fb ..
THANK YOU FOR RUINING OUR LIFE FB.
Julie Hutchinson says
There used to be an option to not have friends alerted to your comments obviously it’s been taken away to make more connection and disconnection to further put everyone into seperate camps.
Maria says
I agree with all of you! I have a friend who can see what I comment on other pages, but I’m not able to see what anyone in my friends list comment. I think its not fair and we deserve this to be changed too because our privacy matters and the questioning from our friends and family is so annoying and unnecessary!
ced says
this is exactly my concern, i am fond of aggresively commenting my political views on some mainstream news pages and i hate to know that all of my friends, family, coworkers, chruchmates, everyone to be exact seems to get notified on whatever i comment to those pages, is there a way for us to have a petition so that facebook will have to change these issues?, basically it’s against our privacy rights, please update here if there are changes.
Med says
One time I left a comment on a post and my sister was like “what did you mean by that comment?” Ever since then and I try to limit what I can or want to comment on Facebook, and it’s not like I can remove my sister since that will cause more damage.
Anon says
I agree with all the comments made but we all need to complain to FB about this if not done already. It is ridiculous that this is even happening. I am using this platform less and less which is a shame as it was wonderful to keep in touch with friends but it really is not necessary for them to see my posts on other pages or posts that they have nothing to do with
Jason W. says
Facebook doesn’t care people. They don’t even care if we leave. Is this not obvious?
Barb says
The article itself didn’t help me, but the comments certainly did. I now realise I am by far NOT the only person who is super concerned about Facebook not allowing me to control what notifications are sent out about my activity. I get that comments, likes and such are public, or at least visible to people who are engaging on a particular post or page themselves.
What I DO NOT Understand is HOW in the world FaceBook gets to allow ALL my “contacts/friends’ to See Every Single like and comment I make (unless it is on a closed and private page). It’s like living under a microscope and having your friends listen in on every phone call or message you send to anyone and everyone.
I personally do not want to be inundated by FaceBook sending me notifications of every move my friends make, so I have turned that option off.
The problem is, unless your contacts do the same, they will continue to be bombarded by your likes, reactions, comments on each and every ‘public’ of ‘visible’ page. Many obviously do this, but there are some sad Key people in my life that still get a notification ping on their phone each and every time I might react to or like a comment/post!!!
I get that these people are obviously addicted to FaceBook and that it may make them feel ‘connected’ or ‘important’ to get a million pings every day, but this really is an invasion of our privacy.
It makes me resist sending any reactions to anyone’s posts, but that is sad too, as that is the only thing that seems to generate the activity needed in order for FaceBook to even show you posts from the friends you do want to interact with on a regular basis.
But SO many of these have absolutely nothing to do with anyone else. If they are not a private group, then they seem to be broadcast to everyone. It’s the sad stalkers that let it slip that they’ve noticed the comment I might have made and it really is CREEPY, when they bring it up. It’s like having people peeping in your windows to watch every move you make! There are so many other settings made available, I don’t understand why we can’t LIMIT THE PUSH NOTIFCATIONS from OUR own account, when we can stop FaceBook form Pushing Notifications INto our accounts!
Lee Marriage says
100% agree with all the comments , this is disgraceful and needs changing . I now feel I can’t leave a comment on a group anymore ☹️
Bob says
People should make a class action against Facebook because of this BIG privacy issue
Bob says
Absolutely unacceptable that, if i post something or write a comment on a public group or page, Facebook notify to friends of mine who have nothing to do with that about ALL my activities. So i m not free to do basically anything without all my friends being informed about it. This a serious violation of my privacy, 5 or more years ago things didn’t work that way, and only friends who were part if that gruop would be notified for any post you made on that group, or they sould have found your post/comment only casually. ABSOLUTELY SERIOUS VIOLATION OF USERS PRIVACY.
Emilia says
In regards to the whole privacy about comments situation – a MILLION TIMES YES. I am so sick of this issue. Explain to me why I don’t see my friends comments on posts, but I commented on a public page’s post (about the way my fiance proposed to me) and my ex-boss liked the comment, despite not following the page or even being a friend that I interact with a lot on FB. So somehow my FB felt the need to put that post + my comment on this man’s feed, or else why would he have been able to see and like it? Infuriating and a huge breech of privacy.
raffi says
I don’t know how facebook can get away with this. If I post on a political, sports, or music page and don’t want my friends to see it my comment, I should be able to do that.
This current policy should be changed.
Jeannette says
It’s a invasion of privacy to have your friends group being able to see comments on posts that have absolutely NOTHING to do with them and that you didn’t share on your timeline. And the fact that there is no control to stop that is shameful FB.
Sarah says
We should all leave fb over the inability to hide our comments from our newsfeed.
Tracy says
Well…I’ve gone through ALL of the settings and have everything noted as I would prefer; however….
Facebook must have a bug in regards to the “Hide Activity” settings; as I still am getting a friend to follow me on everything I like or comment on outside of my own timeline. And they are even in the Restricted list.
I don’t get any of my friends activities showing on my own newsfeed! Strange and frustrating!
Julien says
It is very irritating to not let others see my comments on other Facebook though they are open to public we are actually private. The only way is to have all our friends be in our “limited” friends section but this means they can’t even see our post that were meant for them. Facebook needs to change this as often times we end up blocking friends and families. How social is that?
Cory says
I am a very open person and have no issues talking about more personal topics in the right setting. I have family now getting mad at me and telling me I’m being inappropriate for talking about sexual things… On posts I’m purposefully not sharing as, yes, family doesn’t necessarily need to see those things. But I have 0 desire to limit myself. If I want to discuss those topics on posts they otherwise shouldn’t see, I should be able to. It’s absolute BS that FB is now telling people what I comment on. They don’t need to see that. It’s literally only a thing to cause drama, I fully believe that. There is NO other reason for it. Otherwise i should be able to make it so comments I post don’t show up on other peoples’news feed.
Jillian says
This is extremely hurtful and unsafe to push my comments from pages into the notifications of people unaffiliated. One of the pages I go to for support is no longer a safe place for me to talk because imy comment showed up as a notification to people I don’t want it going to. It seems Facebook just wants to be a business app and not a safe place for real connection.
PR says
If I’m commenting on random news pages why are my friends getting notified ? And if that’s the case why am I NOT getting notifications on any of their regular comments. I only get notified of my sisters comments no one else but they all get notified of my comments ?? This is annoying and isn’t consistent if it’s normal business.
Anna says
There was a time on Facebook (2006-2007 i think) when all your activity was posted on your wall (likes and comments).
Now Facebook seems to do the same thing, I’ve seen some profiles from my phone (facebook app, lite, or web) and at the top appears what the person has posted on groups or friend’s wall or liked or commented). Obviously to see all this, you must be friend of the friend of this person or the person is liking or making comments on public posts.
The point is, that all is coming back and since this new characteristic seems to work only for some devices, I don’t know which people has been starting to see my activity -_-.
Maureen says
I am so tired of my friends commenting on a comment on a post which they are not included or a part of. This needs to change its an invasion of privacy.
I dont want all my friends seeing my comment which has nothing to do with them. The newspaper articles should be made private .
Kim says
This is a function of FB that should be reconsidered. Like the others state, my comments on organizations’ posts should not prompt a notification to friends.
Susan says
I believe FB does this on purpose to cause conflict, just like the media.
Foxhound 🦊 says
Couldn’t agree more with the above comments… If it wasn’t for some family members i stay in touch with on Facebook. I would’ve delete my account immediately.
Dave ATX says
I have the same exact question as everyone else…Facebooks automatically posts a list of your recent posts on your timeline, even to pages none of your friends subscribe to…..this is a RIDICULOUS violation of privacy. Facebook, why do you not respect the wishes of your users???
Dale says
This s the worst thing oh the whole Facebook that you cannot hide your comments on other pages from your friends. That way Iost so many of them cos our views on soome things are so different. If they don’t want to see your comments anymore they have to unfollow or befriend you. This must changed immediately.
EP says
I don’t like that my Friends can see my comments on pages they aren’t a part of. It’s not like I say embarrassing things, but they are meant for the group I am commenting to. People in one group I”m in ask opinions on personal issues they post and when I comment my Friends sometimes ‘like’ or comment back! It’s so frustrating! I should be able to control this, but currently I can’t. PLEASE CHANGE THIS!
Brian says
I don’t care so much about them being able to see something if they’re looking for it. I should be able to stop them from getting something on their timeline that shows them the comment or reaction to my post.
Yingwei Wang says
How do I hide my likes and comments from my friends on Facebook?
Max says
My friends get notifications of my comments to posts they have nothing to do with. Why is that? I can’t comment on anything just to prevent my friends from being annoyed by useless notifications.
C says
My brother is now angry with me because he was notified about a comment I made about the way he does laundry on a mental illness page that I follow that he does not follow.
This is part of my processing. And it should be private.
Robin Craig says
I absolutely agree with the above comments! My comments to people should not be seen by my friends when they aren’t even friends with the person I’m commenting on. I’m not even sure how this is happening!
ivy says
i agree, facebook is not protecting my privacy if my friends can see what i comment on some page they are not even following! this is ridiculous and i ll stop using fb, it is not worth the hassle, i don’t feel comfortable. fb you’re a joke now, like page for kids.
Maile says
So uncalled-for to NOTIFYING Friends when we comment on pages they have nothing to do with! I don’t mind if they ‘happen to see’ it, but directing their attention to something you’ve said to others is embarrassing.
Raegan says
I want the fact that others on my friends list can see what I comment on other pages. It feels wrong and uncomfortable for me and a lot of others I’ve talked to.
Mike says
How can I stop friends from seeing comments I make on pages they are not a part of?
Stephanie Smith says
My friends can see page’s that they aren’t on. I don’t like this there should be a way to stop this happening