Howdy,
Great question! Having followers on Facebook indicates that individuals have chosen to view your public posts in their News Feed.
Here’s a simple breakdown:
When someone follows your personal profile, they will see the posts, photos, and videos you share publicly. Private posts are only visible to your friends, not followers. To enable this, ensure that you have allowed public followers in your profile settings under “Followers and public content.” If your profile is set to “Professional Mode,” it’s tailored to cultivate a public following in this manner.
In the case of following a Facebook Page (for businesses, brands, or public figures), individuals opt to receive updates from that Page. Pages do not have friends like personal profiles; instead, they have followers or people who have “liked” the Page (which essentially means following it).
The key distinction from being friends is that friendship is mutual – both parties need to agree. When friends, mutual following occurs, and both can view content meant for the “Friends” audience. Following, however, can be one-sided. A person can follow your public content without you reciprocating or following them.
In essence, followers are individuals interested in staying informed about your public posts, whether from your personal profile (if permitted) or a Page. It offers a way to receive updates without requiring a two-way friendship link.
Best regards,
Sean