How to access user-specific app privacy settings in Facebook API?

Other Questions API
1

Need help with Facebook’s new app-specific privacy controls

I’m working on a web app that posts to users’ Facebook feeds. Recently, Facebook introduced a feature allowing users to set privacy levels for individual apps. This is causing issues with my app’s posting feature.

Here’s the problem:

  • My app lets users choose privacy settings for posts
  • If a user’s app-specific setting is more restrictive, it overrides my app’s setting
  • This leads to confusion when posts don’t appear as expected

I’m looking for a way to check these app-specific privacy settings through the API. Ideally, I’d like to:

  1. Fetch the user’s current setting for my app
  2. Show appropriate privacy options in my UI
  3. Warn users if their app setting conflicts with their post preference

Has anyone found documentation or an API endpoint for this? Any tips on handling this new privacy feature would be super helpful. Thanks!

2

hey, I’ve faced this too. FB’s api is a pain sometimes. what i did was make a test post first with the user’s chosen privacy. if it fails, you know the app setting is stricter. then you can warn the user or adjust. it’s not perfect but works ok. good luck with your app!

3

As someone who’s dealt with Facebook’s API extensively, I can confirm there’s no direct way to access app-specific privacy settings. It’s frustrating, but Facebook prioritizes user control over developer convenience.

One approach I’ve found effective is to implement a ‘test post’ system. Before the actual post, create a temporary post with the desired privacy setting. If it succeeds, delete it and proceed with the real post. If it fails, you can infer that the app’s privacy setting is more restrictive.

Additionally, consider caching the last successful privacy level for each user. This won’t be 100% accurate if they change settings on Facebook, but it can reduce the need for constant testing.

Remember to clearly communicate to users that their Facebook app privacy settings may override your app’s settings. Transparency is key in maintaining user trust.

4

I’ve run into this issue as well with a project I was working on. Unfortunately, Facebook doesn’t provide an API endpoint to directly access app-specific privacy settings. It’s a deliberate choice to give users more control over their data.

What I ended up doing was implementing a workaround. Before posting, I’d attempt to publish a test post with the user’s chosen privacy setting. If it failed due to more restrictive app settings, I’d catch the error and inform the user.

It’s not ideal, but it at least prevents unexpected behavior. You could also consider adding a disclaimer about potential privacy conflicts and link to Facebook’s app settings page.

Another approach is to always default to the most restrictive setting (e.g., ‘Only Me’) and let users manually change it on Facebook if they want broader visibility. It’s extra work for them, but it avoids surprises.

Hope this helps give you some ideas to tackle the problem!