How to Hide Your Friends List on Facebook
This differs slightly from my usual posts, but I've noticed more friends reporting fake Facebook profiles.
By default, the Friends section on your profile is public, allowing anyone—even those you're not connected with—to view it. However, you can easily adjust this setting to keep your friends list private.
Why is this important
Securing your Facebook friends list is a crucial step to protect your personal privacy and your friends from being targeted by fake profiles. When your friends list is publicly visible, it becomes an easy target for scammers who use this information to build believable fake profiles. By replicating connections, interests, and mutual friends, these profiles can look authentic, making it easier for cybercriminals to deceive others into accepting friend requests, sharing information, or even falling for scams.
Fake profiles often spread misinformation, phishing attempts, or scams, putting your connections at risk. Scammers rely on the trust factor that comes from having mutual friends, and with access to your list, they can manipulate this trust to reach a wider network. Securing your friends list limits this exposure, making it harder for these fake profiles to gain traction. Adjusting your privacy settings can help prevent these potential issues and create a safer online environment for you and your friends.
Adjust who can see your Friends section (from a web browser)
Click your profile picture in the top right of Facebook.
Select Settings & privacy, then click Settings.
On the left of your screen, scroll down to Audience and visibility and click How people find and contact you.
Click Who can see your friends list?
Select the audience of people (such as Friends) you'd like to have access to your friends list.
Remember, your friends control who can see their friendships on their own profiles. If people can see your friendship on another profile, they'll be able to see it in News Feed, search, and other places on Facebook.
If you set your friend list to Only Me, only you will be able to see your full friend list on your profile. Other people will see only mutual friends.
Take control of your privacy today! Update your Facebook settings to keep your friends list secure and protect your connections from fake profiles. A few simple steps can make a big difference—keep your profile and friends safe by making this change now!
*The five step instructions are from Facebook with minor edits for ease of use and are accurate as of October 15, 2024.
