How to Create a Facebook Group
You can create Facebook groups on desktop and mobile. The initial setup includes naming the group and setting privacy preferences. After creating a group, you can customize it further.
Private vs. Public vs. Hidden Groups
A public group is just that: anyone can see the group, its members, and their posts. When a group is private, anyone can find the group on Facebook and see who’s in it, but only members can view individual posts. A hidden group is invite-only and not searchable on Facebook. Think about the topic of your group and the members it’s likely to attract. A public group is acceptable for a relatively neutral subject, such as a fan group for a TV show or book. While the conversations may get intense and even divisive, it’s not going to get personal (well, hopefully, it won’t), as would a group about parenting, for example. If you’re creating a group dedicated to a particular neighborhood, you may want to consider making it a private one so you can ensure that only people who live in the area can join and contribute. Hiding a group is best for more contentious topics, such as politics, or for any group that you’d like to be a safe space for members, as much as one can be on social media.
How to Customize Your Facebook Group
After you set up a group, you can spruce up the page with a cover image. You can also add tags to your group to make it searchable and include a description. Then, also assign it a group type, which can help potential members find it and help them understand the purpose of the group, whether it be for parents or bird-watchers. Group types include Buy and Sell, Gaming, Jobs, Parenting, and more; the default type is General. To set the group type:
Admins and Moderators
As the creator of the group, you are an administrator by default. You can have multiple admins as well as moderators in a group. Admins can assign other members as admins or moderators, remove them, manage group settings, approve or deny membership requests and posts, remove posts and comments, remove and block people from the group, and more. Admins can also invite members to become Group Experts. Once the invitation is accepted, the Group Expert will have a badge by their name, indicating that their posts may be particularly informative. Admins and Group Experts can work together on Q&A sessions, sharing information, and responding to questions. Moderators can do everything that admins can do except make other members admins, moderators, or Group Experts or remove them from those roles. Moderators also can’t manage settings, which include changing the cover photo, renaming the group, or changing the privacy settings. Inevitably, even in secret groups, you may end up with internet trolls or bullies. Members can report posts that they find unacceptable, and admins can remove members from the group as they see fit.
How to Moderate a Facebook Group
Admins and moderators can set up questions that potential members must answer before getting approval to join. They can also create a set of group rules and ask new members to agree to them. It’s also good practice to create a pinned post, which always stays at the top of the activity feed, which explains group guidelines and principles. Administrators can decide who can post to the group and require that an admin or mod approve all posts. As your group gets bigger, it’s a good idea to recruit more admins, moderators, and Group Experts to help you manage new members’ posts and comments. It’s almost always too much work for one person. Be sure to create a diverse panel of admins and mods that reflect your membership makeup. Create a list of admins that’s easy to find and encourage members to tag admins if they see a problem, such as a spammy post or personal attacks.
