The basic steps to create and post on Facebook
To create a post on Facebook, open the app or website, find the text box at the top of your feed that says "What's on your mind?", click it, type your message, and then click the blue "Post" button. The whole process takes under a minute. Facebook will show your post to some of your friends and followers right away, though not necessarily to all of them — the platform uses an algorithm to decide who sees what.
Before you hit Post, you can add photos, videos, links, or tags. You can also change who sees the post using the privacy button (usually near the Post button) to limit it to close friends, a specific group, or just yourself. These choices matter because once you post, the content stays on Facebook's servers even if you delete it from your timeline.
Key Takeaways
- Click the "What's on your mind?" box at the top of your feed, type your message, and click Post to share with your chosen audience.
- Use the privacy button next to Post to choose whether friends, the public, specific groups, or only you can see the post.
- You can add photos, videos, links, or tag people before posting, but these additions may change who Facebook shows your post to.
- Deleting a post removes it from your timeline but does not may provide Facebook has removed it from their servers or from people who screenshotted it.
- Facebook's algorithm decides which of your friends actually see your post in their feed, even if you post to all friends.
Where to find the post box and what it looks like
On Facebook's website or app, the post box sits at the very top of your News Feed. On mobile, it usually shows your profile picture on the left, then a text field that says "What's on your mind?" On desktop, the layout is similar. If you are on someone else's profile or in a group, the post box will be in that location instead of your main feed.
The post box is the fastest way to share text. If you want to post only a photo or video, you can also use the camera icon or photo icon that usually appears below or inside the post box — these let you upload directly without typing text first.
How to add photos, videos, links, and tags to your post
After you click the post box and start typing, look for icons below the text field. These usually include a camera icon (for photos or videos), a link icon, and a tag icon. Click the camera icon to upload images or video from your phone or computer. Facebook will let you add multiple photos at once and arrange them in the order you want.
To add a link, click the link icon and paste the web address. Facebook will usually pull in a preview of the webpage, including a thumbnail image and headline. To tag a person, click the tag icon and start typing their name — Facebook will suggest matches from your friends list. Tags notify the person you tagged and create a link to their profile on your post.
Be aware that adding photos, videos, or tags can change Facebook's algorithm behavior. Posts with images get more visibility than text-only posts. Posts that tag multiple people may reach a wider audience, but they also notify everyone tagged, which some people find intrusive.
Understanding the privacy button and who will see your post
Next to the blue Post button, you will see a privacy icon — usually a small globe, lock, or silhouette. Click it to choose who sees your post. Your options typically include "Public" (anyone on or off Facebook), "Friends" (only your Facebook friends), "Friends except..." (all friends except specific people you choose), "Specific friends" (only people you select), "Only me" (no one else), or any custom lists you have created.
The default setting depends on your account settings, but Facebook often defaults to "Friends" for new posts. If you want to post something only your close friends should see, you can select that option before posting. If you want to hide a post from one person without unfriending them, use "Friends except" and type their name.
Keep in mind that even if you set a post to "Only me", Facebook still stores the data. If your account is hacked or if Facebook is subpoenaed by law enforcement, that post could become visible. The privacy button controls who you share with, not whether Facebook itself can see the content.
What happens after you click Post
Once you click Post, Facebook sends your message to its servers. Within seconds, it appears on your timeline. Facebook's algorithm then decides which of your friends will see it in their News Feed — not all of them will, even if you posted to "Friends". The algorithm considers how much your friends usually interact with your posts, how recent the post is, and what type of content it is.
Your post will stay on your timeline unless you delete it. You can edit a post after posting it by clicking the three dots in the corner of the post and selecting "Edit post". You can also hide it from your timeline (making it invisible to others but keeping it on your account) or delete it entirely. Deleting removes it from your timeline and from most people's view, but Facebook keeps a copy in its databases, and anyone who screenshotted it before deletion still has their copy.
How to delete or edit a post you have already shared
To edit a post, click the three dots (or menu icon) in the top right corner of the post. Select "Edit post", make your changes, and click "Save". You can change the text, add or remove photos, or adjust the privacy setting. Facebook will note that the post was edited, and anyone who saw the original version will see that note.
To delete a post, click the three dots and select "Delete". A confirmation box will appear asking if you are sure. Once you confirm, the post disappears from your timeline and from your friends' feeds. However, Facebook retains the data on its servers. If someone took a screenshot or shared your post before you deleted it, their copy remains visible.
If you want to hide a post without deleting it — so only you can see it — click the three dots and select "Hide from timeline". The post stays on your account and in Facebook's records, but it will not appear on your profile or in your friends' feeds.
Privacy and safety considerations before you post
Before posting, think about what information you are sharing. Posts that include your location, your work address, your children's names, or your daily schedule can be used by people with bad intentions to find you or target you. Even if your post is set to "Friends only", any of your friends can screenshot it and share it elsewhere.
Facebook's algorithm and advertising system use everything you post to build a profile of your interests and behavior. This profile is sold to advertisers, even if your post is private. If you want to limit what Facebook knows about you, post less frequently, avoid tagging locations, and review your privacy settings regularly.
Consider also that posts can be taken out of context or used against you later — by employers, by people in legal disputes with you, or by scammers who use your information to impersonate you. There is no truly private post on Facebook; there is only a post that fewer people can see right now.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I schedule a post to go live at a specific time instead of posting it right now?
Yes. After you write your post, look for a dropdown arrow or menu next to the Post button. Select "Schedule" or a similar option, then choose the date and time you want the post to appear. Facebook will hold the post and publish it automatically at that time. This feature is useful if you want to post when your friends are most likely to see it, even if you are not online then.
What does it mean when Facebook says a post is "limited"?
A limited post is one that Facebook has reduced the reach of, usually because the post violates Facebook's rules or because you have been warned about similar posts before. Limited posts appear on your timeline but are shown to far fewer people in their feeds. You will usually see a notification explaining why the post was limited.
If I post something and then change my mind, can I make sure no one has seen it?
No. Once you post, Facebook has already sent it to its servers and shown it to at least some people. Even if you delete it when ready, anyone who was online at that moment may have seen it or screenshotted it. The sooner you delete a post, the fewer people will have seen it, but you cannot may provide no one saw it.
Why is my post not showing up in my friends' feeds even though I posted it to "Friends"?
Facebook's algorithm decides which posts appear in each person's feed based on their past behavior. If your friends do not usually interact with your posts, or if they interact more with other people's posts, Facebook will show them your post less often. This is not a technical error — it is how Facebook prioritizes content. You can ask friends to turn on notifications for your posts if you want them to see everything you share.
Can someone see that I viewed their post or that I started typing a response?
Facebook does not notify people when you view their post. However, if you start typing a comment and then delete it without posting, the other person will not see it. If you use Facebook Messenger, the other person can see when you are typing a message (unless you turn off read receipts in settings). On the main feed, typing is private.