Let’s be real: Facebook’s "Anonymous Post" feature was a great idea on paper. It was designed to help people in sensitive groups—think health support or neighborhood watch—share personal stories without the fear of being judged by their weird uncle or a nosy coworker. But if you’re managing a group today, you probably know the reality is a bit more chaotic. Spammers love it. Trolls hide behind it. Honestly, it often turns into a massive headache for admins who just want a clean, productive community.
If you’re seeing too much drama or simply want more accountability from your members, you need to know how to turn off anonymous post in Facebook group settings once and for all. It’s not a hidden button, but Meta loves to move these toggles around every time they update the app.
Why Everyone Is Hitting the "Off" Switch Right Now
Accountability is a dying art on social media. When people post with their real names, they tend to think twice before being rude. When they hide behind that gray "Group Member" icon? All bets are off. I’ve talked to dozens of group moderators who say the same thing: anonymous posts account for about 10% of their content but 90% of their moderation alerts.
It’s exhausting.
Beyond the toxicity, there's the issue of brand or community identity. If your group is a professional networking hub or a local business circle, anonymity sort of defeats the purpose of "networking." You want to see faces. You want to know who is talking.
The Step-by-Step: How to Turn Off Anonymous Post in Facebook Group
You can do this from a desktop or your phone, though the desktop version is usually less glitchy when it comes to saving group settings. Here is the path you need to follow.
First, open your group and look at the left-hand sidebar. You’ll see a section called Group Settings near the bottom of the "Admin Tools" menu. Click that. Now, scroll down until you hit the Manage Discussion section. This is where Facebook hides most of the "fun" stuff.
Look for the line that says Anonymous posting.
Click the little pencil icon to edit it. You’ll see a simple toggle. Switch it to "Off" and—this is the part people miss—make sure you hit Save. If you just back out, the change won't stick, and you’ll keep seeing those "Group Member" posts flooding your queue.
What Happens to Old Posts?
One thing people worry about is whether turning this off will delete old anonymous contributions. It won't. Meta isn't that aggressive. Any post that was already approved and published while the feature was on will stay exactly as it is. However, from the second you hit save, the "Anonymous Post" button will vanish from the post creation box for every single member.
It's a clean break.
The Middle Ground: Post Approval
Wait.
👉 See also: How to Make an Emoji of Yourself Without It Looking Like a Generic Cartoon
Before you kill the feature entirely, have you considered just turning on Post Approval for anonymous content? Some admins prefer this because it keeps the "safe space" vibe for people who actually need it, while letting the mods trash the trolls before they ever go live.
If you keep anonymous posting "On," there is a sub-setting that forces all anonymous posts to go to the Pending Posts queue. This is the compromise. You get to see the author's real identity (as an admin, you always see who wrote it, even if the public doesn't), and you can decide if the post is genuine or just someone trying to stir the pot.
The Hidden Danger: Admins Can Always See You
Here is something most group members don’t actually realize, and it’s something you should probably mention in your group rules or "About" section.
Anonymity on Facebook is a lie. Well, it’s a partial lie. While the general public and other group members see "Group Member," the Admins and Moderators can always see the name and profile picture of the person who submitted the post. Facebook does this to prevent illegal activity and harassment.
If you're an admin, and you’re tired of someone abusing the anonymous feature, you don't necessarily have to shut it down for everyone. You can just deal with that one person. But let’s be honest: if you’re at the point where you’re searching for how to turn off anonymous post in Facebook group, you’re probably done with the whole experiment.
Why This Feature Is a Spam Magnet
Spammers have figured out that anonymous posts are a great way to bypass initial "vibe checks" from members. They’ll post a "sob story" anonymously, wait for it to get engagement, and then edit the post later to include a scammy link or a "crypto opportunity."
Because the post is anonymous, members can't easily click the profile to see that the account was created three hours ago in a different country. By turning this feature off, you're forcing every poster to put their reputation on the line. It's a huge deterrent for low-effort scammers.
A Quick Checklist for Group Cleanup
If you’ve decided to disable anonymity, you might want to do a quick "Group Health" check while you’re already in the settings menu.
- Update your Rules: Explicitly state that anonymous posts are no longer allowed. Explain why. Transparency builds trust.
- Check Membership Questions: If you’re worried about losing that "safe space" feeling, maybe make your entry questions more robust.
- Review your Mod Team: If you decide to keep it on but with "Post Approval," make sure your mods know the criteria for what gets through.
The "Bug" People Keep Reporting
Lately, some admins have reported that even after they turn the feature off, the option still appears for some members on mobile. This is usually a caching issue. Facebook’s app is notoriously heavy. If this happens, tell your members to force-close the app or clear their cache. On your end, try toggling it "On," saving, and then toggling it "Off" and saving again. It's the classic "unplug it and plug it back in" fix, but for social media algorithms.
Actionable Next Steps for Admins
Transitioning away from anonymous posts can sometimes cause a small dip in engagement, but the quality of the conversations almost always goes up. If you're ready to make the change, do it during a low-traffic time—like a Tuesday night—to avoid a sudden influx of "Where did the button go?" messages.
Your Immediate To-Do List:
- Navigate to Group Settings: Do this on a laptop if possible; the mobile UI can be finicky.
- Toggle Anonymous Posting to "Off": Located under the "Manage Discussion" header.
- Announce the Change: Pin a post to the top of the "Featured" section. Something simple like, "Hey everyone, we're disabling anonymous posts to keep the community more transparent and reduce spam. Thanks for understanding!"
- Audit Pending Posts: Check your queue one last time. Anything submitted anonymously before you flipped the switch might still be sitting there. Decide their fate before they get stuck in "limbo."
- Monitor the Vibe: Watch the comment sections for the next 48 hours. Sometimes the "trolls" who relied on anonymity will try to find new ways to act out once their shield is gone.
Removing anonymity isn't about being "strict." It's about protecting the culture of the group you worked hard to build. Most members will actually thank you for it because the "Anonymous Group Member" posts often feel like noise in an otherwise great feed. Stick to your guns, keep the settings updated, and enjoy a much quieter, more respectful notifications tab.