The visibility of Facebook stories, specifically who is included in the ‘others’ section, refers to a category of viewers distinct from those explicitly listed. This segmentation indicates that the story has been viewed by individuals who are not directly connected to the story poster as Facebook friends, or whose viewing activity might be categorized differently by the platform’s algorithms. For example, a public figure posting a story might see a large segment of ‘others’ due to the broader reach of their content beyond their immediate network.
Understanding this distinction is important because it provides insights into the reach and potential impact of shared content. Recognizing that a significant portion of viewers are categorized as ‘others’ can help individuals and businesses gauge the effectiveness of their content in reaching new audiences. Historically, social media analytics have evolved to provide increasingly granular data on audience engagement, and the ‘others’ category represents one facet of this ongoing development, aiding in understanding content diffusion beyond core networks.