If you do not want others to have insight into your friends on Facebook, you can protect your friends list. In this article we explain how to do that for both the desktop version and the mobile app of Facebook.
Before we start, it’s good to know that you don’t have to protect your friends list for both versions of Facebook. If you screen the list on your mobile device, you will see that the changes are implemented on all devices where you are logged in with Facebook.
On Facebook you can protect your friends from everyone who visits your profile, but also from specific people. So you decide for yourself who has insight into your friends. However, mutual friends will always remain visible, even if you have shielded your friends list from everyone.
On a PC
Are you using a Windows PC, Mac or Chromebook then go to Facebook’s website to make your friends list private. Click on the down arrow in the top right corner of the screen, next to the bell icon. Go to Settings and privacy and then to Settings.
In the left menu you will find the option Privacy and this is where you should be to shield your friends list. At the section How people can find and contact you click next to Who can see your friends list? on To process. You will then find several options in the drop-down menu to protect your friends list.
If you want no one to have insight into your friends, choose Only me and the change takes effect immediately.
On a mobile device
To hide your friends list on an iPhone, iPad, or Android phone, open the Facebook app and tap the hamburger menu at the bottom right or top of the screen, depending on the device you’re using. Scroll down and open the drop-down menu below Settings and privacy.
Go back to Settings and scroll to Audience and visibility. Just like on your PC, here you will have the option How people can find and contact you find. Tap this and go through the same steps as on your computer. There is nothing more to it.
Finally, keep in mind that your friends list is slightly different from your followers list. When someone follows you, that person will see the personal updates you post publicly in their News Feed. In another article, we’ll explain how to monitor Facebook followers.
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