Question from Kelly: I’m an admin on a large Facebook group that now has over 60,000 members.
This is a wonderful group that discusses ways for people to assist loved ones who suffer from a certain debilitating disease.
The problem is the person that created the group (who is also an admin) has stopped making useful posts and now posts nothing but SPAM. I have a feeling he’s selling posts on the group to third-party businesses.
My question is do you know of a way to kick that person out of the group and ban him? Everything I’ve read says I can’t but I thought maybe you know of a way to do it.
Rick’s answer: I’m afraid the answer to your question is no, Kelly. And there’s a good reason for that.
First of all, let me say that I truly sympathize with you and your fellow group members for having to watch such a beneficial group be used in a negative way.
But that being said, I believe Facebook is correct in preventing other admins from removing and banning a group’s creator.
If just any admin could kick the person that created a group out of it that would leave every group creator vulnerable to losing control of his/her own group.
Surely you agree that it would be horrible if you were to create a Facebook group and work hard to grow it over time only to have another admin come in and boot you from your own group so he can enjoy the fruits of YOUR hard work.
The fact is, the person that created a group can use that group in any way he/she sees fit as long as he/she doesn’t violate Facebook’s ‘Terms of Service’.
Having said all that, I do feel bad for you and the other members of the group. This is what I recommend that you do:
1 – Create a new group of your own for discussing the disease in question.
2 – Invite the members of the old group to join your new group (be sure to explain why you created it).
If the SPAM problem is as bad as you say it is, I believe a large percentage of the current group’s members will be eager to join your new group.
You’ll then be able to interact with your group’s members in a constructive way while also working to grow your own group instead if someone else’s.
Bottom line: While I certainly sympathize with the situation you’re in, I don’t believe booting the group’s creator from his own group would be the best way to handle the situation, even if it were possible to do so.
I hope this helps, Kelly. Good luck!
Bonus tip #1: Click here to read about several scams that are making the rounds on Facebook right now.
Bonus tip #2: Want to make sure you never miss one of my tips? Click here to join my Rick’s Tech Tips Facebook Group!
Want to ask Rick a tech question? Click here and send it in!
If you found this post useful, would you mind helping me out by sharing it? Just click one of the handy social media sharing buttons below.