Anyone who can see a Facebook post is able to view its edit history, which details any changes made after the post was initially published. However, the ability to see who specifically made those edits is restricted to individuals with certain administrative roles on the Facebook Page where the post was shared.
Understanding Facebook Post Edit History Visibility
Facebook provides transparency by allowing anyone with viewing access to a post to see its revision history. This feature ensures that users can understand if content has been altered since they first viewed it.
What is Visible to Everyone?
- The sequence of edits: You can see each version of the post as it was edited, from the original to the most recent.
- The content of the changes: This includes any text added, removed, or modified.
- The timestamp of the edits: When the changes were made.
This transparency applies to all types of posts—text, links, photos, or videos—as long as they have been edited after their initial publication. If a post has been edited, you'll typically see a small "Edited" label next to the timestamp.
How to View Edit History for a Post:
- Navigate to the Facebook post you wish to inspect.
- Click the three dots (
...) located in the top right corner of the post. - From the dropdown menu, select "View edit history" (or sometimes "Activity log" which then leads to edit history).
This will open a sidebar or a new window displaying all previous versions of the post, allowing you to review the modifications.
Who Can See Who Made the Edits?
While the content of edits is broadly visible, identifying the specific person responsible for those changes is a privileged function. This information is only accessible to people who work on the Facebook Page from which the post originated and possess specific Page roles.
This distinction is crucial for brand management, team collaboration, and accountability within organizations managing Facebook Pages. Regular users, even those who follow the Page, cannot see the names of individuals who made the edits.
Page Roles and Edit Attribution
For Facebook Pages, different roles come with varying levels of access and permissions. Those with higher-level roles are typically able to see the specific administrator or editor who made changes to a post.
| Page Role | Can See Edit History (Content) | Can See Who Made the Edits |
|---|---|---|
| Admin | Yes | Yes |
| Editor | Yes | Yes |
| Moderator | Yes | Partially (may vary) |
| Advertiser | Yes | No |
| Analyst | Yes | No |
| Community Manager | Yes | No |
| Regular Facebook User | Yes (if they can see the post) | No |
Note: The specific capabilities for Moderators can sometimes depend on the context and type of edit, but generally, full attribution is reserved for Admins and Editors.
Why is This Feature Important?
- Transparency: It allows the audience to see if a post's message has changed over time, promoting trust.
- Accountability: For Page administrators, it helps track team contributions and identify who made specific changes.
- Correction of Information: If a post contained incorrect information that was later corrected, the edit history provides a transparent record of the correction.
For further information on managing content and roles on Facebook Pages, you can refer to the Facebook Help Center.
