Facebook Page Admins Spread Messages in Attempt to Bypass EdgeRank and Sponsored Posts

We spend a lot of time debunking viral Facebook posts as scams, hoaxes, and half-truths. Currently, there are messages being posted by Facebook page administrators encouraging fans to take certain actions so they will continue to receive their updates, and these happen to be factual.

Recent reports indicate that only 10% of a Facebook page’s fans may actually see their posts. Also, the introduction of sponsored posts is causing panic, annoyance and desperation from some page owners. Many believe that Facebook purposefully reduces the visibility of page updates to increase the utilization and revenue generated from sponsored posts.

Here are a few examples:

ATTENTION fans of [Facebook Page Name] !

Since FB has begun to ask page administrators to pay to promote their pages, only 10% of page fans receive the updates we post here. To receive ALL of our posts, you must do the following:

1) Go to our page.

2) Hover your mouse over where it says “LIKED” and click on “Add to Interests Lists”

By doing this, you will continue to receive ALL of our posts and our page will not be “removed” by Facebook from what shows up in your feed!

And another:

ATTENTION loyal [Facebook Page Name] Fans. Since FB has begun to ask page administrators to pay to promote their pages, only 10% of page fans receive the updates we post here. To receive ALL of our posts, you must do the following:

1) Go to our page.

2) Hover your mouse over where it says “LIKED” and click on “Add to Interests Lists”

3) It’s also a good idea to comment or click “like” on our page every once in a while. This will keep us on your Newsfeed.

By doing these steps, you should continue to receive ALL of our posts and our page will not be “removed” by FB from what shows up in your feed! Thanks!

**Update** The following message began circulating January 2013

“check your page for a new tab on the left called ‘pages feed’ with a little orange flag. We are now getting 2 separate news feeds. Our usual news feed will have all of our personal friend’s posts and all posts that are sponsored (paid for). Then a separate feed for the rest of us who do not pay for every post we make. Even though you “like” the page, all those pages will be put into the new tab called ‘pages feed’. You will need to physically click on to see posts and majority of all your other favorite pages…”

What most people don’t realize is that Facebook uses an algorithm called EdgeRank to determine what populates a user’s news feed. Just liking a page doesn’t guarantee that their updates will show up for you, even if you click the ‘Show In News Feed’ option. The actions recommended by the messages shown above are intended to raise the EdgeRank score for the page. The more you like, share or comment on a page’s content, the more likely that page’s updates are to show up in your News Feed.

We have often recommended that our users use custom lists, and adding a page to a list totally bypasses EdgeRank. Personally, I have a list called “All” that I have put all of my friends and pages on. When I login to Facebook, I simply click that list to get updates from everyone, and not just the friends and pages Facebook wants me to see. For more information about custom lists see our complete guide:

How to use Facebook Lists for better Organization, Privacy and Security

So, keep these facts in mind as you browse around Facebook. Throwing some ‘like’ love to your favorite pages will help you both! Also check out our related article:

How to Never Miss A Post From Your Favorite Facebook Pages