Facebook in 2025: How to Fix Your Feed and Actually Enjoy It Again

Let’s be real – Facebook isn’t cool anymore, but with 3 billion monthly active users, it’s clearly doing something right.

Whether you love Facebook, hate it, or just tolerate it for Marketplace deals, here’s what actually works (and what doesn’t) about the social network that refuses to give up.

The Features That Still Matter on Facebook

Your News Feed: How to Stop Seeing things that doesn`t matter at this point for you

The algorithm shows you what it thinks you want, not what you actually want. Here’s how to fight back:

• Favorites List: Pin up to 30 friends/pages to always see them first

• Snooze Button: Mute annoying relatives for 30 days (no drama!)

• “Show More/Less”: Long-press posts to train the algorithm

Pro Tip: Your feed improves after about a week of active curation.

Meta AI Search: Actually Useful Now

Forget just finding old posts – try these searches:

• “Restaurants open now near me with outdoor seating”

• “How to fix [appliance] model [number]”

• “Events this weekend for kids under 10”

It combines Yelp, YouTube, and Google into one decent result.

Reels: Facebook’s TikTok Clone

Yes, they’re everywhere. No, you can’t disable them completely. But:

• Long-press any Reel → “Not Interested” helps

• Watch gardening/cooking Reels → Get more of those instead of pranks

Marketplace: The Last Good Craigslist

Where to find deals:

• Wednesday nights (people post before trash day)

• College move-out weeks (free furniture galore)

• Search “[item] $1” to find mispriced listings

Safety Tip: Always meet at police station parking lots.

Groups: The Only Reason Many Still Use Facebook

The good ones:

• Local “Buy Nothing” groups (free stuff)

• Hyper-specific hobbies (vintage Pyrex collectors unite)

• Professional networks (real ones, not LinkedIn spam)

What Sucks (And How to Fix It)

The Autoplay Nightmare

To silence videos forever:

1. Go to Settings & Privacy → Settings

2. Tap “Media and Contacts”

3. Set “Videos and Reels” to “No Sound”

The “Suggested For You” Plague

You’ll see:

• Pages your ex liked in 2012

• “Popular near you” posts from strangers

• Random celebrity gossip

Partial fix: Tap the three dots → “Hide all from [page]”

The Algorithm Whiplash

Every few months, Facebook:

• Changes what “Most Recent” actually shows

• Moves Marketplace/Groups tabs

• Adds then removes features (RIP Facebook Dating)

Your only defense: Google “[current year] Facebook [feature] location”

What Users Say

Pro

• “I’ve furnished my entire apartment through Marketplace for under $500.”

• “My baking group taught me more than culinary school.”

• “Messenger is still the only app my whole family will use.”

Con

• “I see more ads than my friends’ baby photos now.”

• “Why does Facebook think I want to watch minion memes?”

• “Groups are overrun with spam bots.”

Facebook Marketplace Safety

Always have a better look at:

1. Fake rental listings: Always visit in person first

2. PS5/Xbox “deals”: If it’s 50% off, it’s stolen or fake

3. Pet scams: Reverse image search those “rehoming fee” puppies

4. Payment scams: “I’ll send a check for extra” is always fraud

5. Fake tickets: Only use goods/services payment for digital items

Essential safety checklist:

 Meet during daylight in public
Bring a friend/family member
Test electronics on the spot
No shipping/payments without buyer protection
Trust your gut – if it feels off, walk away

Reporting bad actors:

1. Click ⋯ on their profile → “Report”

2. Select “Scam or misleading”

3. Add details (screenshots help)

4. Block immediately

How Facebook Stacks Up Against Other Platforms

 

The Facebook Advantage: It’s the only place where you can simultaneously:

• Buy a vintage dresser from your neighbor

• Argue about local politics in a town group

• Watch your cousin’s baby take first steps

• Find a plumber who can come tomorrow

Pro Tips You Probably Don’t Know About

Customizing Your News Feed (Finally!)

The algorithm doesn’t own you. Here’s how to fight back:

1. Favorites First:

   • Go to Settings → News Feed → Favorites

   • Add up to 30 friends/pages that always show up first

   • Perfect for close friends/family or must-see pages

2. Snooze/Silence:

   • Tap ⋯ on any post → “Snooze [person] for 30 days”

   • No drama, no unfriending, just temporary peace

3. The Nuclear Option:

   • Settings → News Feed → Most Recent

   • It’s not perfect, but shows posts chronologically

Pro Tip: Interact more with posts you want to see (likes, comments) and less with what you don’t. The algorithm notices.

Secret Emoji Reactions

• Long-press the “Like” button for hidden options

• = Actually funny (shows Facebook you want humor)

• = Surprising (gets you more news content)

• = Important life updates (prioritizes personal posts)

Marketplace Hacks That Save Money

• Price Drop Alerts: Save a search → Get notifications when prices decrease

• Vague Searches: Try “wooden thing” or “metal stuff” for hidden gems

• Evening Hunts: Best deals get posted after dinner when people clean out garages

Privacy & Safety: What Actually Matters

Settings to Change Right Now

1. Limit Old Posts:

   • Settings → Privacy → Limit Past Posts

   • Locks down everything you’ve ever shared

2. Facial Recognition Off:

   • Settings → Face Recognition → No

   • Stops Facebook from suggesting tags in photos

3. Ad Preferences:

   • Settings → Ads → Ad Preferences

   • Remove sensitive categories like politics or health

Meta Safety Center (Actually Useful Parts)

• Reporting Tools: Faster response for harassment reports

• Login Alerts: Get notified about suspicious logins

• Profile Lock: Makes your info visible to friends only

Important: Check “Apps and Websites” monthly to remove sketchy connected apps.

Conclusion you need to think of:

Keep Facebook If:

• You actually use Marketplace (it’s better than Craigslist now)

• Your family only communicates through Messenger

• You’re in active local groups (buy/sell, community alerts)

Delete It If:

• You open it just to close it immediately

• The ads to friends posts ratio is 10:1

• You get angry scrolling more than happy scrolling

Facebook’s like that cluttered drawer – annoying but occasionally useful when you need a screwdriver or spare batteries.

FAQ

Where can I download the Facebook app?

Get it on Google Play Store or visit the official site. For troubleshooting, check the Facebook Help Wiki.

How do I make Facebook show more friend posts?

Go to Settings → News Feed → Favorites and add friends you want to see first. Also, like/comment on their posts, the algorithm notices.

Can I control who sees my profile info?

Yes. Tap your profile → “Edit public details” → Adjust visibility for each section (e.g., workplace, education).

Why does Facebook keep suggesting random groups?

It’s based on your activity. To reduce this, tap ⋯ on suggestions → “Hide all from [group].”

How do I stop Facebook from showing my “Joined Date”?

Currently, you can’t hide it completely, but you can limit who sees it under profile privacy settings.