Facebook Launches New Tool Explaining Post Visibility
(Facebook Introduces “Why Am I Seeing This Post?” Tool)
MENLO PARK, Calif. – Facebook today announced a new feature called “Why Am I Seeing This Post?”. This tool gives users clearer information about why specific posts appear in their News Feed. It aims to increase transparency about how content is selected.
People can now tap a menu option in the top right corner of most News Feed posts. They will see “Why Am I Seeing This?”. Selecting this reveals details about that post. The explanation shows factors influencing its placement. These factors include the user’s past activity on Facebook. Interactions with specific people or Pages matter. The general popularity of the post matters too. Location information can also play a role.
Adam Mosseri, Head of News Feed, stated the company wants people to understand their experience better. He said Facebook knows users want more control. This tool helps explain the complex system simply. Mosseri noted feedback requested more insight into feed sorting. This feature directly responds to that request.
The explanations are based on actual reasons the post appeared. They are not general descriptions. Facebook uses machine learning to predict what users find meaningful. The tool shows which signals contributed most to showing that particular post. It might highlight a user frequently interacting with the poster. It might show the user often reacts to similar content. It might indicate the post has many reactions locally.
(Facebook Introduces “Why Am I Seeing This Post?” Tool)
This builds on the existing “Why Am I Seeing This Ad?” tool. That feature explains advertising choices. Facebook states it is committed to giving users more context. The company believes informed users have better experiences. The new tool is rolling out globally starting today. It will appear on Android, iOS, and desktop versions. Facebook plans to update the feature based on user input.