With over 2.7 billion monthly active users, Facebook remains the most widely used social media platform in the world. As a Facebook user, you’ve probably stumbled upon the “Hide Story” feature, which allows you to control who sees your stories. But have you ever wondered what happens when you hide your story from someone on Facebook? In this article, we’ll dive into the world of Facebook stories and explore the implications of hiding your story from someone.
What is a Facebook Story?
Before we dive into the main topic, let’s quickly recap what a Facebook story is. A Facebook story is a feature that allows users to post photos, videos, or text updates that disappear after 24 hours. Stories are displayed at the top of the Facebook News Feed and can be viewed by anyone who has access to your profile. You can add friends to your story, allowing them to see your updates, and you can also control who sees your story by hiding it from specific individuals.
Why Would You Want to Hide Your Story from Someone?
There are several reasons why you might want to hide your story from someone on Facebook. Here are a few scenarios:
Personal Reasons
You might want to hide your story from an ex-partner, a friend who’s become too nosy, or a family member who always seems to find fault in your posts. By hiding your story, you can maintain your privacy and avoid potential drama or conflict.
Professional Reasons
If you’re a professional or a business owner, you might want to hide your story from clients or colleagues who don’t need to see your personal life. By keeping your story private, you can maintain a professional image and avoid any potential conflicts of interest.
Safety Concerns
In some cases, you might want to hide your story from someone who could pose a threat to your safety or well-being. This could include an abusive ex-partner, a stalker, or someone who’s been harassment you online.
What Happens When You Hide Your Story from Someone on Facebook?
Now that we’ve explored some reasons why you might want to hide your story, let’s dive into what happens when you do.
The Hiding Process
To hide your story from someone on Facebook, follow these steps:
- Open Facebook and navigate to your story
- Click on the three dots at the top-right corner of your story
- Click on “Edit” next to “visibility”
- Select “Custom” and click on “Hide from”
- Type in the name of the person you want to hide your story from and select their name from the dropdown list
- Click “Save”
What the Hidden Person Sees (or Doesn’t See)
When you hide your story from someone on Facebook, they won’t be able to see your story at all. They won’t receive any notifications, and your story won’t appear in their News Feed. In fact, if they try to view your story, they’ll simply see a blank space where your story would normally appear.
What You See (or Don’t See)
On your end, you’ll still be able to see your story and any story you’ve posted. You won’t receive any notifications that someone can’t see your story, and you won’t be able to tell if someone has tried to view your story.
Can the Hidden Person Still See Your Story?
While hiding your story from someone on Facebook provides a level of privacy, it’s not foolproof. Here are some scenarios where the hidden person might still be able to see your story:
Shared Friends
If you have mutual friends with the person you’ve hidden your story from, they might still be able to see your story. For example, if you post a story and one of your friends shares it, the hidden person might be able to see the shared story, even if they can’t see your original post.
Public Posts
If you post a story and set it to “Public,” anyone, including the hidden person, can see your story. To avoid this, make sure you set your story to “Friends” or “Custom” instead of “Public.”
Screenshots and Shares
Even if the hidden person can’t see your story in their News Feed, they might still be able to see it if someone else takes a screenshot or shares your story. This is one reason why it’s essential to be mindful of what you post on Facebook, even if you’ve hidden your story from someone.
Other Facebook Features That Can Affect Your Story’s Visibility
In addition to hiding your story from someone, Facebook offers several other features that can affect your story’s visibility. Here are a few to keep in mind:
Friend Lists
Facebook allows you to create friend lists, which are groups of friends that you can customize. You can use friend lists to control who sees your story by adding specific friends to a list and then setting your story’s visibility to that list.
Restricted List
Facebook’s Restricted list allows you to add friends who can’t see your posts, including your story. When you add someone to your Restricted list, they’ll only be able to see your public posts and won’t receive notifications when you post something new.
Blocking
If you want to completely cut off contact with someone on Facebook, you can block them. Blocking someone hides your story from them, and they won’t be able to see any of your posts or contact you in any way.
Conclusion
Hiding your story from someone on Facebook can be a useful tool for maintaining privacy and avoiding conflict. However, it’s essential to remember that it’s not a foolproof solution, and there are scenarios where the hidden person might still be able to see your story. By understanding how hiding your story works and using other Facebook features to control your story’s visibility, you can maintain a level of privacy and security in your online life.
What happens when I hide a story on Facebook?
When you hide a story on Facebook, it means that the story will no longer be visible to you in your newsfeed. However, it does not change the visibility of the story for anyone else who can normally see it. The story will still be visible to others, and they can still interact with it, share it, and comment on it. Hiding a story only affects your own view of the newsfeed.
It’s also important to note that hiding a story does not delete it or remove it from Facebook. The story still exists, and anyone who has already seen it will still be able to see it. Additionally, if someone shares the story with you directly, you will still see it in your newsfeed, even if you’ve hidden the original story.
Can the person who posted the story tell if I hid it?
No, the person who posted the story cannot tell if you’ve hidden it. Facebook does not notify the poster when someone hides their story. The poster will only know if someone has engaged with their story, such as liked, commented, or shared it. They will not receive any notification or indication that someone has hidden their story.
It’s worth noting that if you hide a story and then later unhide it, the poster will still not be notified. The action of hiding a story is only visible to you, and it does not affect the poster’s experience in any way.
Why would I want to hide a story on Facebook?
You may want to hide a story on Facebook for a variety of reasons. Perhaps the story is annoying or repetitive, or maybe it’s something you’re just not interested in seeing. You might also want to hide a story if it’s posting too frequently or dominating your newsfeed. Whatever the reason, hiding a story gives you control over what you see in your newsfeed and allows you to customize your Facebook experience.
Hiding a story can also be a way to avoid seeing something that might be disturbing or upsetting. For example, if someone is posting about a sensitive or triggering topic, hiding the story can help you avoid seeing it and reduce any potential discomfort or stress.
Can I hide a story from someone who is not my friend?
Yes, you can hide a story from someone who is not your friend on Facebook. This can be useful if you’re seeing posts from a page or a public figure that you’re not interested in. Just like with friends, you can hide their stories from your newsfeed, and they will not be notified.
It’s important to note that if you hide a story from someone who is not your friend, they will still be able to see your own posts and engage with your content if they have permission to do so. Hiding their story does not affect your visibility to them.
How do I hide a story on Facebook?
To hide a story on Facebook, click on the three dots at the top right corner of the story. From the dropdown menu, select “Hide story.” This will remove the story from your newsfeed. You can also hide a story by clicking on the “See first” button, which gives you the option to “See less” or “Hide” the story.
If you want to unhide a story, go to your Facebook settings, click on “News feed preferences,” and select “Hidden posts” from the dropdown menu. From there, you can click on “Undo” next to the story you want to unhide.
Can I hide all stories from someone on Facebook?
Yes, you can hide all stories from someone on Facebook. To do this, click on the three dots at the top right corner of one of their stories, and select “Hide all stories from [name].” This will remove all of their stories from your newsfeed, and they will not be notified.
It’s worth noting that hiding all stories from someone does not unfriend or block them. They will still be able to see your posts and engage with your content, and you will still be able to see their posts if you visit their profile or intentionally seek out their content.
Will hiding a story affect my friendship or online relationships?
No, hiding a story will not affect your friendship or online relationships. Hiding a story is a personal choice that only affects your own newsfeed. It does not change the way you interact with your friends or the way they interact with you. Your friends will not be notified that you’ve hidden their story, and it will not affect their ability to see your posts or engage with your content.
It’s also important to remember that hiding a story is not a permanent action. You can always unhide the story later if you change your mind, and it will reappear in your newsfeed.