Are Sent Messages Private on Facebook?

Facebook messages are private, but they can be forwarded by the recipient.

Facebook allows you to share information with people you know well and some you know only casually. It's very important to be careful with the information you add to your Facebook account to protect yourself from Internet fraud and identity theft. Protect your personal conversations by using tools Facebook provides to keep your messages private.

Public Messages

Facebook allows you to send several types of messages. If you comment on another user's status or post on her wall, the comments are not private. These comments can be seen by all her friends, and sometimes all Facebook users, depending on her security preferences. Be very careful not to post private information in public comments.

Private Messages

If you use the "Send Message" feature, you send a private message that is only seen by the two of you. No record of your message appears on the public News Feed. Also, using the "Chat" feature opens a box at the bottom of your friend's browser window and allows you to communicate privately in real time.

Forwarding

Although no one can see your messages if you use the "Send Message" feature, you or the recipient can forward the message to other Facebook users. The other users will then be able to see the entire conversation's history.

Groups

If you are chatting in a group, everyone in that group can see the messages. If you are chatting privately but then add someone to the chat group, that person will then be able to see the conversation's history. Previous posts will no longer be private.

References

• Facebook: Help Center: Are my Conversations Within Facebook Messages Private?