What Does Tagged Mean on Facebook? A Complete Guide
Social media has revolutionized the way we connect and share experiences with friends, family, and the world. Facebook, one of the most popular social networks, offers a feature called “tagging” that allows users to link people, pages, and places to their posts.
At Social Think, we specialize in social media strategy and analytics to help businesses leverage platforms like Facebook to achieve their goals. In this article, we’ll dive into what tagging means on Facebook, how it works, and tips for using it effectively.
What Does Tagged Mean on Facebook?

When you see the word “tagged” on Facebook, it means that someone has linked another Facebook user, page, or place to their post, photo, or status update. Tagging creates a connection between the content and the tagged entity, making the post visible to a wider audience.
For example, if you tag a friend in a photo, that photo may appear on their timeline and be visible to their friends, depending on their privacy settings.
What Is Facebook Tagging and How Does it Work?

Facebook tagging is a way to mention and link to other Facebook users, pages, or places in your posts and photos. When you tag someone, you create a link to their profile. The tagged person will receive a notification about the tag, and the post may appear on their timeline.
To tag someone in a post, simply type “@” followed by their name. Facebook will suggest matching profiles as you type. Select the correct person, page, or place from the dropdown menu and continue composing your post. You can tag up to 50 people or pages in a single post.
Why Do People Tag Others on Facebook?

There are several reasons why people tag others on Facebook:
- To share content with specific friends or family members
- To give credit or mention someone relevant to the post
- To invite others to like a page or attend an event
- To engage with a wider audience by tagging influential accounts
- To make posts more discoverable through the tagged accounts’ networks
Tagging can be a powerful tool for increasing the visibility and engagement of your Facebook posts, but it’s important to use it thoughtfully and sparingly to avoid spamming others.
You can choose how you wish to receive tag notifications (push notifications, email, and/or SMS) on the Facebook app or your phone’s browser.
How to Tag Someone on Facebook?

Tagging someone on Facebook is a simple process. Here’s how to do it:
- Start composing a post, comment, or caption for a photo/video
- Type “@” followed by the person’s name you want to tag
- Select the correct profile from the dropdown suggestions
- Finish your post and click “Post“
You can also tag people in existing posts by clicking the “Tag Friends” button below the post and searching for the person you want to tag.
For photos, click the photo to open it, then click “Tag Photo” at the bottom. Click on the face or area where you want to add a tag, start typing the person’s name, and select them from the suggestions.
How to Tag Someone on Facebook When Sharing a Post?
If you want to tag someone while sharing another post on Facebook, follow these steps:
- Find the post you want to share and click “Share“
- In the “Write something…” box, type “@” and the name of the person you want to tag
- Choose the correct profile from the dropdown menu
- Add any additional text to your shared post
- Select your audience using the privacy settings at the bottom
- Click “Post“
Remember, tagging someone in a shared post will send them a notification and may make the original post visible to their friends.
What Happens When You Tag Someone in a Facebook Photo?
When creating a post, you have the option to tag people from your contacts by clicking on the “Tag people in your post button” whether you are sharing text, image(s), or a video. When you tag someone in a photo on Facebook, several things happen:
- The tagged person receives a notification about the tag
- The photo appears on the tagged person’s timeline (depending on their privacy settings)
- The photo becomes visible to the tagged person’s friends (depending on the post’s privacy settings)
- The tagged person can remove the tag if they don’t want to be associated with the photo
Tagging can be a fun way to share memories with friends, but it’s important to respect others’ privacy and only tag them with inappropriate photos.
Who Can See a Tagged Photo on Facebook?
The visibility of a tagged photo on Facebook depends on the privacy settings of both the person who posted the photo and the tagged individual.
If the post is set to “Public,” anyone can see the photo, including people who are not friends with either party. If the post is set to “Friends,” only mutual friends of the poster and the tagged person can see it.
Tagged individuals can control who sees posts they’re tagged in on their timeline by adjusting their tagging privacy settings.
How to Remove a Tag on Facebook?

If you’ve been tagged in a post or photo that you don’t want to be associated with, you can remove the tag. Here’s how:
- Go to the post or photo you’re tagged in
- Click the three dots in the top right corner of the post
- Select “Remove tag“
Removing a tag will take the post off your timeline, but it will still be visible to others based on the post’s privacy settings
How to Change Your Facebook Photo Tagging Options?
Facebook offers several options to control your tagging preferences and protect your privacy. Here’s how to adjust them:
Change the Audience For Tagged Posts
- Click the down arrow in the top right of Facebook and select “Settings & Privacy“
- Click “Settings“
- In the left column, click “Profile and Tagging“
- Look for “Who can see posts you’re tagged in on your profile?” and click “Edit” to the far right
- Choose your preferred audience (e.g., “Friends,” “Only Me,” or “Custom”)
Reviewing Facebook Tags
You can turn on the tag review feature to approve or dismiss tags before they appear on your timeline:
- Follow steps 1-3 above
- Next to “Review posts you’re tagged in before the post appears on your profile?” click “Edit“
- Select “Enabled” from the dropdown menu
Disable Facial Recognition
Facebook uses facial recognition to suggest tags in photos. To turn this off:
- Click the down arrow in the top right of Facebook and select “Settings & Privacy“
- Click “Settings“
- In the left column, click “Face Recognition“
- Select “No” under “Do you want Facebook to be able to recognize you in photos and videos?“
Facebook Tag Notifications
By default, Facebook sends notifications when you’re tagged in a post. To adjust this:
- Click the down arrow in the top right of Facebook and select “Settings & Privacy“
- Click “Settings“
- In the left column, click “Notifications“
- Scroll down to “Tags” and click “Edit“
- Choose your preferred notification settings for tags
Review Your Activity Log
To see all posts you’re tagged in:
- Click your profile picture in the top right of Facebook
- Click “Activity Log“
- In the left column, click “Posts You’re Tagged In“
From here, you can manage tags by removing them or changing the audience
FAQ’s:
When Should You Tag People on Facebook?
Tag people on Facebook when the content is directly relevant to them, such as when they appear in a photo or are mentioned in a post. Avoid excessive tagging, as it can come across as spammy.
Can I Control Who Tags Me On Facebook?
Yes, you can control who can tag you in posts by adjusting your privacy settings. You can choose to review tags before they appear on your timeline or limit tagging to specific groups, such as friends.
What If You Mention or Tag on an Existing Facebook Post?
If you mention or tag someone in an existing Facebook post, they will receive a notification and the post may appear on their timeline, depending on their privacy settings.
What is the Difference Between Tagging and Mentioning?
Tagging and mentioning are similar, but tagging links to a person’s profile and may make the post appear on their timeline while mentioning only sends a notification without linking to their profile.
How Do I Tag Someone in a Post After It’s Already Been Published?
To tag someone in an existing post, click the three dots in the top right corner of the post and select “Edit Post.” Then, type “@” followed by the person’s name and select them from the dropdown menu.
Why Can’t I Tag Certain Friends in My Photos?
There could be a few reasons why you can’t tag certain friends in photos:
- They have disabled tagging for their profile
- They have blocked you
- They have deactivated their Facebook account
- You are not friends with them on Facebook
What Does It Mean When Someone Asks to Tag Your Photo on Facebook?
When someone asks to tag your photo on Facebook, they want to add a link to your profile on the photo. This may make the photo visible to your friends, depending on the privacy settings.
What Does It Mean When It Says Someone Is “With” Someone on Facebook?
When a Facebook post says someone is “with” someone else, it means they have tagged that person in the post to indicate they were together at the time or location mentioned in the post.
Conclusion
Facebook tagging is for connecting with friends, family, and audiences on the platform.
Knowing what tagging is and how it helps, you can use tags to boost post visibility and engagement. This also shows respect for others’ privacy choices.
At Social Think, we help businesses navigate the complexities of social media to achieve their marketing and growth goals. Our team of experts provides strategic insights and data-driven recommendations to optimize your Facebook presence and drive meaningful results.
Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you succeed on social media.