Facebook is set to make a significant change to its platform, removing the option for users to have public followers on personal profiles. This move, which is expected to roll out over the coming months, aims to streamline the user experience and potentially shift more users toward creator-focused features.
Currently, Facebook users can enable anyone to follow their personal profile by adjusting their “Following” setting to public. This allows non-friends to view and engage with a user’s posts in their News Feed. However, Meta, Facebook’s parent company, has decided to eliminate this feature, likely recognizing that it’s less relevant for most personal accounts.
As Facebook explains:
“When you follow someone, you see their posts in your Feed. You automatically follow people you’re friends with. You can also follow the posts of people you’re interested in. You can also choose to allow people who aren’t your friends to see your posts in their Feed.”
A recent screenshot shared by Facebook marketing expert Mari Smith revealed that some users are already receiving notifications about the impending change. They have the option to either remove their public followers or convert their personal profile to a “Professional Mode,” essentially transforming it into a Page.
By removing public followers, Facebook may be aiming to reduce clutter in the News Feed and make it easier to highlight content from creators and businesses. Additionally, this change could encourage more users to switch to Professional Mode, which offers features like advertising and analytics.
While the exact timeline for the full rollout of this change remains uncertain, it’s clear that Facebook is taking steps to evolve its platform and cater to a more diverse range of user needs. As users adapt to these changes, it will be interesting to see how they impact the overall user experience and engagement on the platform.