Facebook and Instagram basics: privacy and posting
Facebook and Instagram can be useful ways to keep in touch, share photos and follow people, groups and interests. They can also feel confusing, especially when the apps use different words for similar things.
You do not need to use every feature. Start with one or two things you feel comfortable doing, and build from there.
This guide explains the difference between Posts, Stories and Reels, how to check who can see what you share, and how to use the three dots to manage your feed.
The apps may look slightly different on an iPhone, iPad or Android device, and buttons can move after an update. Look for the words and symbols described here rather than relying on an exact menu location.
Posts, Stories and Reels: what is the difference?
Posts
A Post is a photo, video, link or written message that appears in the main feed and on your profile. It normally stays there until you remove or archive it.
Posts are useful for family news, photos, useful information and updates you want people to find later.
Stories
A Story is a temporary photo, video or message. It is usually shown near the top of Facebook or Instagram and normally disappears from view after 24 hours. Some Stories can be saved in an archive or as an Instagram Highlight.
Stories are useful for quick, informal moments or updates that do not need to stay on your profile.
Remember that a Story disappearing does not guarantee that nobody saved a copy or took a screenshot.
Reels
A Reel is a short video, often shown vertically, that may include music, words or effects. Reels can be shown to people who do not already follow you, particularly when an account is public.
Reels are often used for short demonstrations, entertainment, hobbies and discovering new people or ideas.
Feed or News Feed
Your Feed is the changing stream of posts, photos, videos and suggestions you see while using the app. It may include content from friends, people you follow, groups, pages and accounts that the app recommends.
Before you post: stop and check
Facebook and Instagram Privacy Settings: Simple Checks Everyone Can Make Today to Protect Yourself
Look for Settings and privacy, Privacy Checkup or Accounts Centre.
Before selecting Post, Share or Your story, pause for a moment and check:
✅ ️ What am I sharing? Look at the photo, words, location and people shown.
✅ ️ Who can see it? Look for an audience choice such as Public, Friends, Close Friends or Your story.
✅ ️ Is anything private visible? Check for addresses, identity documents, number plates, travel details, medical information or information about another person.
✅ ️ Am I happy for this to be copied or shared? Privacy settings reduce who can see something, but a viewer may still take a screenshot or show it to someone else.
If you are unsure, save it as a draft, choose the smallest audience available, or do not post it yet.
Choosing who can see your content
Facebook audience choices
Facebook commonly lets you choose an audience for each post. The audience setting controls who can see that particular post. It does not necessarily change who can see everything else on your profile.
Only me: Only you can see the post. It’s a safe way to practise posting, save a note or keep a reminder. It is easy to forget that a later post may use a different audience; still check before posting
Friends: Your accepted Facebook friends can see it. It’s a useful middle ground for everyday updates and family photos. Your Facebook friends may include people you no longer know well; friends can still copy, screenshot or share it
Friends of friends: Your friends and people who are friends with them may be able to see it. It can be useful for a community event or a family update when you want it to travel a little further than your own friends. You may not know many of the people who can see it; the audience can be much larger than expected and may change as people add friends
Friends except…: Most friends can see it, except people you choose. It is useful when you want to leave out a particular person or group. Check the selected names carefully; it can become complicated and may create a false sense of privacy
Specific friends / Close Friends: Only the friends you select can see it. It can be helpful for a small family group or a particular event. Make sure you have selected everyone who needs to see it; the post may still be copied or reshared
Public: Anyone may be able to see it, including people outside Facebook. It is useful for public events, community information or sharing a message widely. It can reach people you do not know, appear in searches or be shared beyond Facebook; avoid personal details like email address, date of birth, location and friends lists being Public setting
A good starting point: use Friends for ordinary personal updates, Only me for practice, and a smaller audience when the information is personal or intended for only a few people. Be cautious with Friends of friends because it can include many people you do not know. Use Public only when you are comfortable with the message travelling beyond your own network.
Look for the audience symbol or words near your name before posting. The choice you make may become the starting choice for your next post, so check it every time.
Facebook also provides Privacy Checkup, which helps you review who can see information on your profile and how your account is protected.
Instagram public and private accounts
Instagram usually controls the audience through whether your whole account is Private or Public:
Private account: only followers you approve can see your posts, Stories and Reels.
Public account: anyone may be able to see your profile and content.
For Stories, you may also be able to share with all eligible followers, use Close Friends for a smaller chosen group, or hide your Story from selected people.
Close Friends is useful for a smaller, chosen group, such as family or people you know well. The benefit is that you can share more comfortably with fewer people. The risk is that the list may change over time, and someone in the group can still take a screenshot or show the Story to someone else.
Even with a private account, think carefully before sharing personal information.
Privacy settings worth checking
Look for Settings and privacy, Privacy, or Audience and visibility. The exact location may change, but these are useful areas to review:
Who can see your posts and Stories?
Is your Instagram account private or public?
Who can send friend or follow requests?
Who can comment or send messages?
Who can tag or mention you?
Can you review tags before they appear on your profile?
Who can see your friends or followers?
Which accounts have you blocked or restricted?
Is two-factor authentication turned on?
Privacy and security are different. Privacy controls who can see and contact you. Security helps stop someone else getting into your account. Both are important.
The three dots: more choices
The three dots (…) usually mean More options. What appears depends on whether the content belongs to you or someone else.
On your own Post, Story or Reel
The three dots may let you:
edit the words;
change the audience on some Facebook posts;
turn comments on or off;
save or archive the item;
hide it from your profile; or
delete it.
Hide from profile is not always the same as delete. A hidden item may still exist elsewhere or remain in your activity history. Read the message on the screen before confirming.
On something in your Feed
+ — create or add a Post, Story or Reel
… — more options
Heart or thumbs up — like or react
Speech bubble — comment or reply
Paper plane or arrow — send or share
Bookmark — save privately to look at later
Person with + — add friend or follow
Globe — public audience
People — friends or a selected group
Padlock — private or restricted audience
The same symbol can do slightly different things depending on where you see it. If you are unsure, tap once, read the choices, and look for Cancel or the back arrow if you do not want to continue.
A few tips for when something goes wrong or is bothering you
Posted by mistake?
Open the item, select the three dots and look for Delete, Archive or an audience option.
Do not want to see a post?
Use the three dots and choose Hide, Not interested, Show less or Unfollow.
Passwords remains one of the biggest online safety risks particularly for seniors, carers and people building digital skills. You don’t need to change everything today - but start with one of the important ones.
Someone is bothering you?
Consider Restrict, Block or Report. Ask someone you trust for help if needed.
Your account may have been accessed by someone else?
Change the password, check where the account is logged in, turn on two-factor authentication and use the app’s security checkup.
You receive an urgent or unusual message from a friend?
Contact them another way before sending money, sharing a code or selecting a link. Their account may have been taken over.
A safe way to practise
Try creating a simple Facebook post and choose Only me as the audience. Add a harmless photo, check the audience symbol, post it, and then use the three dots to edit, archive or delete it.
On Instagram, practise with a private account and a non-sensitive photo. Ask a trusted person to help you check how the post looks to a follower.