How to Block People from Seeing Your Facebook Story: Your Definitive Guide

So, you want to curate your Facebook Story audience, eh? You’ve come to the right place. In this digital age of oversharing (and sometimes underthinking before you post), mastering the art of audience control is paramount. Let’s dive into exactly how to block people from seeing your Facebook Story, and explore all the nuances that come with it.

The direct answer is straightforward: You have a couple of options to control who sees your Facebook Story. You can either hide your story from specific individuals or change your story’s overall privacy settings. Let’s break down each method step-by-step.

Method 1: Hiding Your Story From Specific People

This approach allows you to selectively block individuals without affecting the default visibility of your future stories. It’s perfect for that overbearing aunt, former flame, or competitive colleague you’d rather not share your daily life with.

Step-by-Step Guide:

1. Access Facebook Settings: On your Facebook app (iOS or Android) or website, navigate to your Settings & Privacy. The exact location might differ slightly depending on updates, but generally, it’s found by clicking the downward-facing arrow in the top right corner of the website or the three horizontal lines (hamburger menu) in the app.
2. Locate Story Settings: Within the Settings & Privacy menu, find Settings. From the Settings menu, scroll down until you see the “Stories” option and click on it.
3. Hide Story From: Inside the Story Settings, you’ll see an option labeled “Hide Story From.” Click on this.
4. Select Individuals to Block: A list of your Facebook friends will appear. Simply select the names of the people you want to prevent from seeing your future stories. As you select, their profile pictures will likely appear at the top of the list.
5. Confirm Your Selections: Once you’ve chosen everyone you wish to block, tap or click outside of the list (or a designated “Done” button if there is one). These individuals will now be unable to view any stories you post moving forward.

Key Consideration: Remember, this blocking is unilateral – they won’t be notified that you’ve hidden your story from them. They will simply no longer see it.

Method 2: Adjusting Your Story’s Overall Privacy Settings

This method changes the default visibility of all your Facebook Stories. This allows you to make your stories visible only to your friends, to a custom list, or only to yourself (effectively archiving them).

Step-by-Step Guide:

1. Access Facebook Settings (As described in Method 1): Navigate to Settings & Privacy, then Settings.
2. Locate Story Settings (As described in Method 1): Find the “Stories” option and click on it.
3. Story Privacy: Instead of “Hide Story From”, look for “Story Privacy” or a similar option defining the default audience.
4. Choose Your Audience: You’ll typically have three main options:
   • Public: Anyone on or off Facebook can see your story. This is usually the default.
   • Friends: Only your Facebook friends can view your story.
   • Custom: Allows you to create a list of specific people who can see your story. This is different from the “Hide Story From” option, as it allows only selected users to view the story.
5. Save Changes: Select your desired audience and ensure your changes are saved. The specific save process varies depending on the Facebook version, but look for a confirmation message or a clear indication that your settings have been updated.

Important Note: Changing your Story Privacy affects future stories. Past stories retain the privacy settings they had when they were originally posted.

FAQs: Demystifying Facebook Story Privacy

Here are 12 frequently asked questions to deepen your understanding of Facebook Story privacy.

1. If I hide my story from someone, can they still see my profile?

   Yes. Hiding your story only prevents them from seeing your stories. It doesn’t affect their ability to view your profile, posts, or other content you’ve shared with a wider audience.

2. Will the person know if I’ve hidden my story from them?

   No. Facebook doesn’t notify users when you hide your story from them. They will simply no longer see it in their story feed.

3. Can I hide my story from someone without unfriending them?

   Absolutely. Hiding your story is a separate action from unfriending. You can maintain your friendship while controlling what content they see.

4. How do I unhide my story from someone I previously blocked?

   Return to the “Hide Story From” section in your Story Settings. The people you’ve previously blocked will be listed. Simply uncheck their names, and they will regain access to your future stories.

5. Can I block someone from seeing a specific story, but not future ones?

   Unfortunately, Facebook doesn’t offer this granular level of control directly. The “Hide Story From” setting applies to all future stories until you change it. The best workaround is to use the “Custom” privacy setting when posting that specific story and then revert to your original setting for subsequent posts.

6. If someone is tagged in my story, will people I’ve blocked from seeing my stories still see it?

   If the tagged person has their own privacy settings set to allow it, yes. The tagged person’s privacy settings override your blocking for their friends. This is because the story also appears on their profile, subject to their privacy controls.

7. What’s the difference between “Hide Story From” and using the “Custom” story audience?

   “Hide Story From” actively blocks selected individuals from seeing any of your future stories. The “Custom” story audience only allows specified individuals to see your story. It’s essentially the opposite approach.

8. If I block someone on Facebook, are they automatically blocked from seeing my stories?

   Yes, blocking someone on Facebook prevents them from seeing everything you post, including your stories, profile, and posts shared with friends.

9. Can I create a “close friends” list specifically for stories, like on Instagram?

   Not precisely. While Facebook doesn’t have a designated “close friends” feature specifically for stories, you can achieve a similar effect by using the “Custom” audience setting and creating a list of close friends.

10. Does hiding my story also affect Live videos?

    No, hiding your story doesn’t automatically impact Live videos. However, Live videos also have separate privacy settings. You can choose who can see your Live videos when you start broadcasting. These settings are independent of your story settings.

11. I can’t find the “Stories” section in my Facebook settings. Where is it?

    Facebook’s interface is frequently updated. If you’re struggling to find the “Stories” section, try the following: First, ensure your Facebook app is updated to the latest version. If it’s still not visible, try searching for “Stories” in the Facebook settings search bar. Alternatively, try accessing your settings from a different device (e.g., if you’re using the app, try the website).

12. If someone screenshots my Facebook Story, will I know who it was?

    No, Facebook does not notify you when someone screenshots your story. It’s always a good practice to be mindful of what you share online, even in ephemeral formats like stories.

By mastering these techniques and understanding the nuances of Facebook Story privacy, you can curate your online experience and share your life with the people who matter most, while keeping the rest at bay. Now go forth and story responsibly!