Facebook now lets group admins switch from private to public, with some protections

Meta is introducing several updates aimed at enhancing privacy and discoverability for Facebook groups. Group administrators will now find the option to convert their private groups to public directly within the group’s settings page. This change allows for easier community discovery and more open conversations.

When a private group becomes public, Facebook alerts all members to ensure transparency regarding the shift in privacy. While the group's visibility increases, Meta has implemented safeguards. Posts, comments, and interactions shared before the group went public remain accessible only to admins, moderators, and pre-existing members, protecting historical content.

Following this update, if a group that was made public is later switched back to private, only members approved by an admin can join. These approved members gain visibility into all group content, including material posted while the group was public and when it had been private, as well as the complete membership list.