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Discussion in Facebook Groups and Pages is Public and Searchable

September 7th, 2008

While discussion on Facebook Pages has always been publicly accessible to the world and indexed by search engines like Google, wall posts and discussion within Facebook Groups have historically been “off limits” to search engines. However, in recent days, many marketers and users have started noticing Groups discussions and wall posts showing up in Google search results.

For users, while Facebook is currently only allowing discussion in “public” groups (groups accessible to all Facebook members) to be accessible to search engines, it does need to do a better job of communicating to users when their posts - which are tied to their Facebook identities - are going to be visible to the public web. Currently, Facebook’s own search does not even search discussions in Facebook Groups, so many users may be surprised to find out that what they’re saying could turn up in future Google searches about them by potential employers, friends, or members of the opposite sex. Facebook’s Privacy Settings does not provide a “Groups discussion” setting, so for now, be careful what you say.

For marketers, public visibility of Facebook Groups discussion means you need to be spending more time and energy monitoring conversation around your brand inside Facebook Groups - what Facebook users say is now visible to anyone on the web.

Check out The Facebook Marketing Bible: 39+ Ways to Market Your Brand, Company, Product, or Service Inside Facebook

Posted by Justin Smith
Filed in Advertising, Facebook, Marketing

12 Responses to “Discussion in Facebook Groups and Pages is Public and Searchable”

  1. Roundup: MyHeritage raises funding, news feed psychology, Bell drops “basic research,” and more » VentureBeat Says:
    September 7th, 2008 at 6:45 pm

    [...] Microsystems said it was indeed a possibility. And in case you didn’t know, Facebook Groups are publicly searchable — That’s if they’re publicly viewable in the first place. [...]

  2. Barack Obama Google Link Bomb, New Facebook URL Glitches or ???? Says:
    September 7th, 2008 at 7:03 pm

    [...] are being opened up to search and these pages are causing issues somehow - several sites reported this. Facebook’s continuing inconsistently about what is public and not public to search is [...]

  3. Tony Says:
    September 7th, 2008 at 11:54 pm

    Only a user’s first name is visible to search engines, so I don’t see the concern about people’s discussions turning up in future Google searches.

  4. mike ashworth Says:
    September 8th, 2008 at 1:35 am

    Hi Justin, Thanks for posting about the tip I gave you.

    In my own particular instance this was of interest (discovered) as an individual was posting libellous comments on a facebook group about a client of mine.

    We were managing this on the basis that as it’s in Facebook as opposed to whole of the internet we’d take a softer line to start with.

    This view may now have to change as a result of these comments now being indexed by Google.

    It’s going to be interesting to see how various Companies etc. respond to comments, especially as some of the things posted in Facebook can be very negative.

    Mike Ashworth
    Marketing Coach and Consultant
    Brighton and Hove, East Sussex, UK

  5. 080908 Daily Links for Recruiters (September 08, 2008) | johnsumser.com: Recruiting News and Views Says:
    September 8th, 2008 at 6:50 am

    [...] Discussion in Facebook Groups and Pages is Public and Searchable.Note to sourcers. New data stream. [...]

  6. Born On The Web » Blog Archive » links for 2008-09-08 Says:
    September 8th, 2008 at 12:36 pm

    [...] Inside Facebook » Discussion in Facebook Groups and Pages is Public and Searchable Search for groups and pages on facebook … handy for brand tracking (tags: brands facebook search) [...]

  7. Nick Stamoulis Says:
    September 8th, 2008 at 1:46 pm

    More proof that you should always watch what you say on the web or anything else you put out there. Never know who is going to see it!

  8. SearchCap: The Day In Search, September 8, 2008 Says:
    September 8th, 2008 at 3:18 pm

    [...] Discussion in Facebook Groups and Pages is Public and Searchable, Inside Facebook [...]

  9. SEM News: SearchCap: The Day In Search, September 8, 2008 - Search Engine Marketing Says:
    September 8th, 2008 at 3:20 pm

    [...] Discussion in Facebook Groups and Pages is Public and Searchable, Inside Facebook [...]

  10. Tracking what people say on Facebook « slewfootsnoop Says:
    September 9th, 2008 at 10:49 am

    [...] September 2008 by slewfootsnoop Here’s something on using Google to find Facebook [...]

  11. Inside Facebook » Facebook to Publish Event Directory for Search Engines Says:
    September 12th, 2008 at 2:45 pm

    [...] week, Inside Facebook reported that Facebook had opened up discussion in Groups and Pages for search engines. Soon, Facebook may make Events public and searchable as [...]

  12. modygirl Says:
    October 20th, 2008 at 2:31 am

    Hello. I’m russian girl, and i not very well know english.

    And i can’t find user guide and rules of this forum :( Help…

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