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Why Can’t I See Some of My Facebook Friends in an App?
Why Facebook Feed Shows Strangers Instead of Friends’ Posts
If you’ve opened Facebook recently and thought, “Why can’t I see posts from my friends anymore?” you’re not alone. Many users report that their feed is now filled with posts from strangers, verified accounts, and suggested content — while actual friends seem to have disappeared.
In this guide, we’ll explain why this happens, what changed in Facebook’s feed algorithm, and how you can fix it.
Why Facebook Is Showing more Posts from Strangers than friends
Many users say that 80–90% of their feed now consists of:
- Suggested posts
- Public pages
- Verified accounts
- Reels from people they don’t follow
- Group recommendations
These are not ads. They are algorithmically recommended posts.
What Changed?
Facebook shifted heavily toward an AI-driven recommendation model. Instead of showing a chronological feed of your friends, the platform now prioritizes:
- Engagement probability
- Viral content
- Public posts
- Suggested content
This means your feed is no longer primarily “friends-first.”
Why You Can’t See Some Friends’ Posts
There are several possible reasons.
1. The “Feeds” Tab Is Hidden
Facebook still has a Friends-only feed, but it’s not the default view.
How to Access Friends-Only Feed:
- Tap the Menu button (three lines top right).
- Select “Feeds.”
- Tap “Friends.”
If you don’t see it, tap “Show More.”
You can also pin it permanently:
- Go to Menu.
- Tap the settings cog icon.
- Under Preferences, tap “Tab Bar.”
- Choose “Customize the Bar.”
- Pin “Feeds” to your top navigation bar.
This gives you a dedicated Friends tab again.
2. Facebook Algorithm Is Filtering Content
Even if your friend posted, Facebook may not show it in your main feed because:
- You rarely interact with that friend
- You haven’t liked/commented on their posts recently
- Their content gets low engagement
Facebook prioritizes engagement-based ranking.
If you want to see someone more often:
- Visit their profile
- Like/comment regularly
- Turn on “Follow”
- Add them to Favorites
3. You May Be Restricted (Without Realizing It)
If you can see:
- Only old posts (e.g., last visible posts from 2014)
- No timeline updates
- No cover photo
Possible reasons:
- They changed privacy settings
- You were added to a restricted list
- They limited post visibility
- You were unfollowed
Ask the friend directly to confirm.
4. Facebook App Issues (Especially Android)
Some Android users report:
- Friends tab disappearing after update
- Feed merging friends, groups, and pages
- Ads appearing every few posts
- Delayed friend posts showing days later
Try:
- Updating Facebook
- Clearing cache (Settings > Apps > Facebook > Storage > Clear Cache)
- Reinstalling the app
5. Browser vs App Differences
Some users report better results using Facebook in a browser instead of the app.
You can try:
- Using Chrome or Firefox
- Clearing browser cache
- Testing in a different browser
If one browser works and another doesn’t, it may be a cached data issue.
6. Account Suspension or Verification Issues
Some users report sudden account restrictions, including:
- Request for selfie video verification
- ID or passport upload
- Phone number confirmation
- Temporary suspension (e.g., 90 days)
If your account is suspended, features may break or behave unpredictably.
Unfortunately, if suspended, you often cannot delete your account until access is restored.
7. Friends’ Privacy Settings
If your friend:
- Posts publicly but excludes you
- Posts to “Friends Except…”
- Restricts profile visibility
You may not see their content even if they are still on your friends list.
Quick Fix Checklist
If you cannot see friends’ posts:
- Open Menu → Feeds → Friends
- Pin the Feeds tab
- Interact more with specific friends
- Add important friends to Favorites
- Clear app cache
- Try browser instead of app
- Check if friend restricted you
Why Facebook Feels Worse Than Before
Many long-time users (10–15+ years) feel the platform changed dramatically.
That’s because:
- Facebook prioritizes engagement over personal connection
- AI recommendations replaced chronological feed
- Reels and viral content dominate
- Ads increased significantly
The platform now competes with TikTok-style content discovery.
Alternative Strategy: How to See Only Friends
Some users adopt this habit:
- Avoid the main Feed
- Go directly to Search
- Click on specific friends
- Bookmark browser version
- Use browser extensions (advanced users)
