You need to be a group admin to remove anonymous members, and Facebook limits what you can see about them
Facebook does not let you see who is posting anonymously in your group unless they choose to reveal themselves. What you can do is remove the anonymous post, remove the person from the group entirely, or turn off anonymous posting for the whole group. The steps depend on whether you want to stop one specific person or prevent anonymous posts altogether.
Anonymous posting in Facebook groups is a feature the group admin turns on or off in group settings. When it is on, members can post and comment without their name attached. You cannot identify who made an anonymous post just by looking at it — Facebook does not show you that information in the group feed. You can only see it if you click into the post details, and even then only if you are a group admin or moderator.
Key Takeaways
- Group admins can see who made an anonymous post by clicking the three dots on the post and selecting "See original poster," but regular members cannot.
- To remove a specific person from your group, you can remove them from the member list if you know who they are, or remove their anonymous post and warn them in group rules.
- To stop all anonymous posting, go to group settings, find the "Anonymous posting" toggle, and turn it off — this affects all future posts, not past ones.
- If someone is harassing others anonymously, document the posts, remove them, and consider restricting that member or removing them from the group entirely.
How to see who posted anonymously
Open the anonymous post in your group. Look for the three dots (more options menu) in the top right corner of the post. Click it and select "See original poster." Facebook will show you the name of the person who made that post.
This feature only works if you are a group admin or moderator. Regular members cannot see who posted anonymously, even if they click the same menu. If you are not seeing the "See original poster" option, check your admin status in the group settings under "Members" — look for a label next to your name that says "Admin" or "Moderator."
Removing an anonymous post without removing the person
If the anonymous post breaks your group rules but you do not want to remove the person from the group, delete just the post. Click the three dots on the post, select "Delete," and confirm. The post disappears from the group feed.
After you delete it, consider sending a message to the group or updating your group rules to clarify what is not allowed. You can also use the "See original poster" feature to identify the person, then send them a direct message explaining why the post was removed. This gives them a chance to understand the rules before you take stronger action.
Removing a specific person from the group
If you have identified someone who is repeatedly posting anonymously in violation of group rules, you can remove them from the group. Go to your group, click "Members," find their name in the list, click the three dots next to their name, and select "Remove from group."
The person will no longer be able to see the group or post in it. They will receive a notification that they were removed. If you want to prevent them from rejoining, you can also add them to the group's banned list — click the three dots next to their name and select "Ban from group" instead of just removing them.
Turning off anonymous posting for the entire group
To stop all anonymous posts going forward, go to your group and click "Settings" in the left menu. Scroll down to find "Anonymous posting" and toggle it off. This does not delete posts that were already made anonymously — it only prevents new anonymous posts.
Turning off anonymous posting is useful if the feature is causing more problems than it solves. Some groups use it to let members ask sensitive questions without fear of judgment. Others find that it leads to harassment or rule-breaking. The choice depends on your group's purpose and the behavior you are seeing.
What to do if someone is harassing others anonymously
Document the posts by taking screenshots before you delete them. Write down the date, time, and what the post said. Then remove the post from the group and, if you have identified the person, remove them from the group as well.
If the harassment is severe or continues after you remove the person, you can report it to Facebook. Go to the post, click the three dots, and select "Report post." Choose "It is abusive or harmful" and follow the prompts. Facebook reviews reports and may take action against the account if it violates their community standards. You can also reach out to Facebook's support team through your group settings if you need additional help.
Moderators versus admins: who can do what
Group admins have full control over the group, including the ability to see who posted anonymously, remove posts, remove members, ban members, and change group settings. Moderators have some of these powers but not all — it depends on what permissions you gave them when you assigned the role.
To check what a moderator can do, go to "Settings," click "Admins and Moderators," find the moderator's name, and click it to see their permissions. You can adjust these permissions at any time. If you want a moderator to be able to see anonymous posters, make sure "Manage posts and comments" is turned on for them.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I see who posted anonymously if I am not an admin?
No. Only group admins and moderators with the right permissions can see who made an anonymous post. Regular members cannot access this information, even if they click the same menu options.
If I turn off anonymous posting, will old anonymous posts show a name?
No. Turning off the feature only stops new anonymous posts. Posts that were already made anonymously will stay anonymous. You would have to delete them manually if you want them gone.
What happens if I remove someone from the group — can they rejoin?
If you remove them, they can ask to rejoin or be invited back. If you ban them, they cannot rejoin on their own. Banning is stronger and is better for people who repeatedly break rules or harass others.
Can Facebook help me identify an anonymous poster if I report them?
Facebook can see who posted anonymously on their end, but they will not tell you. If you report a post for harassment or abuse, Facebook reviews it and takes action if it violates their rules — but they do not share the poster's identity with you.
Should I turn off anonymous posting or just remove posts as they come?
It depends on your group. If anonymous posting serves a real purpose — like letting people ask health questions without shame — keep it on and remove only the posts that break rules. If it is mostly causing problems, turn it off. You can always turn it back on later if members ask for it.