Major Facebook Update: Say Goodbye to Public Followers on Personal Profiles!

Get ready for a significant change to your Facebook experience! The platform is removing the option to have public followers on personal profiles in the coming months.

Current Settings

Right now, users can allow anyone to follow their personal profile by switching the “Following” setting to public. This feature enables non-friends to see your posts in their feed, keeping them updated on your personal updates.

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.”
This feature was primarily designed for non-creator or business accounts, prompting Meta to remove it.

Transition Options

Some users are now being informed that they must either remove their public followers or switch their profile to “Professional Mode,” effectively transitioning to a Page. This change aims to eliminate the chance of non-friends keeping tabs on personal updates.

This shift could also open up advertising opportunities for Meta, as personal profiles currently do not have ad options, while Professional accounts do. Thus, encouraging users to switch may increase the visibility of the “Boost” button in feeds.

Moreover, the update could simplify content promotion for creators by prioritizing AI-recommended posts over personal updates.

Rollout Schedule

Currently, the update is not available to everyone. Meta is conducting a staged rollout to manage the changes effectively. Some users may receive notifications now, while others will have to wait.

As the change is expected to fully roll out next year, users should consider their options regarding followers and personal profiles. Stay tuned for more updates on this significant change!