For years, I thought I had it all figured out when it came to Facebook groups. Like most digital marketers, I was obsessed with privacy settings, strict moderation, and keeping my community “clean” from spam and fake profiles. But then something happened that completely changed how I view Facebook groups and it started with one simple post that didn’t even get a single comment.
I Created My First Facebook Group with Big Dreams
When I launched my first private Facebook group, I was super excited. I had this vision: an engaged community, meaningful conversations, high-value content, and maybe even a few clients trickling in. I chose private over public because, honestly, I was worried about trolls, spam posts, and random people sharing irrelevant links.
I went through all the setup steps:
- Tapped through the mobile layout
- Named the group
- Selected privacy as “Private”
- Kept it “Visible” so it could still be found through search
- Even added a few group qualifying questions like email and interest level
I thought the strict monitoring and admin/moderator regulations would keep things in check. And yes it did. But that came at a cost.
The One Annoying Issue That Started Everything
Despite everything being well-organized and the group content protected, I noticed something weird. Hardly anyone was engaging.
People weren’t discovering the group. The timeline was quiet, and even though I posted every day, no one seemed to care. I had created a vault that no one wanted to enter.
That’s when I started researching the differences between public vs. private Facebook groups. And what I found… shook me a bit.
Why I Tried Switching to a Public Group (Even Though I Was Skeptical)
I always thought public Facebook groups were chaotic, full of fake Facebook IDs and spam. But I started noticing that some public groups had massive reach, tons of organic traffic, and great engagement from non-members. People could simply search, read, and interact without joining.
Here’s what I found surprisingly cool about public groups:
- Posts were searchable
- Group content got indexed and visible outside Facebook
- Information availability was higher
- I didn’t need to manually approve every member to get engagement
- Product reviews and business descriptions I shared reached more people
It honestly felt like a breath of fresh air. I stopped stressing about who could see the posts and focused on offering value. Within two weeks, my new public group had more reactions than my private one had in two months.
But… There Was This One Problem That Brought Me Back
While the public group grew fast, it came with headaches. The data manipulation was real. One day, I noticed someone had created a clone group using the same name, misleading people with wrong information.
Spam started creeping in. And no matter how many moderators I added, someone would always drop an irrelevant comment that threw the whole thread off.
Plus, members started asking:
“Who is the real admin here?”
“Why are people posting hate speech and not getting banned?”
I realized I was losing control, and my audience was losing trust.
I Switched Back to Private… But Did It Differently This Time
This time, I didn’t make the group hidden, just private and visible so it still showed up in search. I used the questionnaire feature more thoughtfully and saved every answer using a Google Sheet workflow.
I also set up clear group rules, banned spam posts, and made sure my admins monitored things daily.
And something magical happened: engagement picked up again. The audience wasn’t huge, but it was intentional. People stayed, contributed, and the group felt like home again.
So What’s the Best Choice? Here’s My Honest Take
If you’re looking to:
- Build mass awareness
- Drive organic traffic
- Attract large audiences quickly
Then go for a public Facebook group. It’s perfect for early-stage content creators, social workers, or product marketers who want visibility and reach.
But if you:
- Care about community integrity
- Want to protect information
- Prefer curated, niche discussions
Stick with a private Facebook group. It’s a bit time-consuming to manage, but the engagement quality is usually better.
My Final Thoughts: It’s Not About Public vs. Private It’s About Your Intent
What I learned is this: Facebook group privacy settings are tools, not solutions. Whether it’s public or private, your group only works if you’re offering consistent value and maintaining trust.
You might even start with one and pivot later (like I did). Just make sure your settings match your goals. If you’re all about growing fast, go public. If you’re about deep connections, stay private.
And whatever you choose, don’t forget to make it feel personal. People join groups to feel connected not just to read another post in their feed.
Want to get more insights and tips to keep your devices running smoothly? Check out our blog for additional troubleshooting guides and tech news.
What are you waiting for? Follow our advice to stay updated and keep your device in top condition. If you like this article, please follow us on Facebook and Pinterest for more free technology tutorials and updates.
