[FAQ]

Hi everyone,

I’ve been using Facebook for a while, but I’m still a little fuzzy on what it means when someone “follows” you, or when you “follow” a Page or a person. What kind of updates do you typically see? Is it different from being friends with someone?

Just trying to understand the lingo and how it all works in 2025.

Thanks for any insights!

[Jeff Bullas]

G’day,

Good question. “Followers” on Facebook basically means someone has opted to see your public updates in their News Feed.

Here’s the simple breakdown:

First, when someone follows your personal profile, they’ll get to see the posts, photos, and videos you share publicly. They won’t see stuff you’ve only shared with your “Friends.” For this to happen, you need to have allowed public followers in your profile’s “Followers and public content” settings. If you’ve switched your profile to “Professional Mode,” it’s really geared towards building a public following this way.

Second, when someone follows a Facebook Page (like for a business, brand, or public figure), they’re signing up to see that Page’s updates. Pages don’t have “friends” in the same way personal profiles do; they have followers or people who “like” the Page (which usually includes following).

The main difference from being “friends” is that friending is a mutual thing – you both have to agree. When you’re friends, you automatically follow each other, and you can see each other’s content shared with the “Friends” audience. Following, on the other hand, can be a one-way street. Someone can follow your public content without you being friends or you following them back.

So, in a nutshell, followers are people who want to keep up with your public broadcasts, whether that’s from your personal profile (if you allow it) or a Page. It’s a way to get updates without necessarily having that two-way “friend” connection.

Cheers,

Jeff

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