How can I block Facebook apps from posting on my Wall?

I keep seeing messages posted on my Facebook wall from friends of mine who are running Facebook applications like "Pillow Fight". How can I block these messages from being posted on my wall?

Dave's Answer:

Recently, a number of recent Facebook applications that have become popular seem to have gained the ability to post automatic messages on the walls of their Facebook friends. Not so good and if you have friends like I do, you'll find that without some sort of response, these updates can take over your timeline.

A typical automated post from one of these applications looks something like this:

That's is a post that a Facebook friend of mine left on my wall using the "Pillow Fight" application. Other common applications that leave automated posts on your Facebook wall include "Angels", "Quiz Creator", "Smiles", "Friend Secrets", "iHeart", and "Snow Fight". While some people might find these automated posts mildly amusing, it got old for me pretty fast, partly because I have about 4,900 Facebook friends as a result of people adding me after they receive e-mails from the proxy mailing list that I run. Among other things, the wall posts from Facebook applications started to crowd out the thoughtful personal messages that friends were leaving on my wall (like, "Hey!"). If it's already starting to get old for you as well, here's how to block those types of applications.

(Note that if you have an application that is posting updates not on your Facebook wall, but posting updates about you so that they show up in your friends' news feeds as entries that look like status updates authorized by you, that's a separate problem, and indicates that you may have inadvertently authorized a Facebook app to post updates about you. See the separate article, "How do I remove a Facebook application?" for more information about that. For the purposes of this article, I'm assuming that what you actually want to do is to stop other people's Facebook applications from writing to your wall.)

First, click on the words "Pillow Fight" (or whatever the name of the application is) at the bottom of your wall post:

facebook pillow fight post pillow fight circled

(Note that the words are not underlined, so they don't exactly "look like" a link, but you can click on them).

This will take you to the home page for the Pillow Fight application on Facebook. On the Pillow Fight page, you can click a link in the left-hand column labeled "Block Application":

Click on that link, which will bring up the following dialog box:

This is somewhat confusingly worded, because where it says "You can prevent Pillow Fight from getting any info about you", what that means for these purposes is that you can block other users from using the Pillow Fight application to post on your wall. To confirm that this is what you want to do, click the "Block Pillow Fight" button.

This will not, however, remove the "Pillow Fight" posts that have already been posted to your Facebook wall. To remove those, go back to your own Facebook profile, and for each post that you want to remove, move the mouse pointer over the post so that the "Remove" button appears in the upper-right corner:

facebook pillow fight post with remove button

(The "Remove" button will not actually appear until you move your mouse pointer over your Facebook post.)

Unfortunately there does not seem to be a general method to block all Facebook applications from leaving automated posts on your Facebook wall. You have to look at the name of each app that's leaving posts on your wall, and decide if you want to block it using the steps above.

Bennett Haselton is a technology and political blogger whose other major contribution to humanity for today was making a page about how to bypass the Blue Coat web filter / K9 Web Protection.

Categorized: Facebook Help (Article 9274, Written by Dave Taylor)
Tagged: facebook, facebook apps, facebook wall, privacy
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Comments

I don't get a "remove" button on each post, all I get is a "hide" button. I can hide the post, or hide all "pillow fight" apps. But no remove button.

Posted by: Deb at January 23, 2010 10:43 AM

Dave,
It's a guaranteed thing that every time I come to your site I find at least one item that's really worthwhile. You're doing great work here...thanks.

Posted by: Christian Nelson at January 23, 2010 3:33 PM

Is there a way to adjust my Newsfeed settings so that I will no longer see it in the news stream when someone joins a group? Thank you!

Posted by: Julie Thomasson at January 26, 2010 3:07 PM

Just be aware, if you use the app that you want blocked from your wall, you will no longer be able you use that particular app until you allow it to contact you. Its ok if you dont play pillow fight, but if you do play say, FarmTown or w/e you wont be able to any more. This is a MAJOR FB issue, and I'm sure many of you have seen requests to fix it.
my $.02

Posted by: skipperjett at February 14, 2010 6:35 PM

So, I've been doing this method, but now when I go to the page to block the app, when I go back to my profile the post is simply gone from that particular app. At first I thought this was nice, because it saved me the extra step of removing the post...but other logged in users can still see those posts if they go to my wall! So they don't exist for ME to remove them, since I can't see them, but others have to see those stupid things if they go to post on MY wall. Any ideas?

Posted by: Tiffany at February 19, 2010 9:58 AM

thanks so much for the heads up!

Posted by: fokern at February 20, 2010 1:23 AM

I have the same issue as Tiffany...I blocked the applications but they still show up on my profile because they are being blocked to me and I can't see them to remove them.

Posted by: Keri at March 6, 2010 2:01 PM

why isn't facebook protecting the legal privacy of people! someone has impersonated me, creatred a profile and put my personal information, pictures and made rude comments on the profile of me! i have no access nor information how to delete this account! this has violated my privacy and i am suffering public ridicule!to date i have made many reports on the impersonators profile emailed facebook and yet nothing has been done! i am being humiliated and yet facebook dont give a damn cause that profile is just another to build their popularity! i need help people what more can i do!
please help urgently!

Posted by: mala at March 10, 2010 5:25 PM

I agree - I don't want to get rid of some of the games and stuff, but I DO get really tired of seeing "So and so posted something on your wall" and it's some stupid gift thing. Why are these now posting to the walls instead of being in notifications? My wall's my wall, darn it! ;) Facebook needs to fix it - it's annoying for those "friends" who are game obsessed!

Posted by: kel at April 16, 2010 8:12 PM

to Mala - the FBI typically handles internet harassment and this is also identity theft especially since could impact your job, etc. I would report it to the FBI - start making phone calls and emphasize how this is impacting your life, relationships, work, etc. It's sad that someone else has so little to do.

Posted by: calamtykel at April 16, 2010 8:17 PM

I'm having the Same issue as Tiffany and Keri it looks like the ones that I didn't delete before I blocked the application are still on my wall and I just can't see them but everyone else has to look at that garbage how do I get rid of it?

Posted by: Mako at April 21, 2010 8:06 AM

Thank you so much... I couldn't figure it out on my own!

Posted by: Logan at June 27, 2010 2:55 PM

Hi. People are carrying on posts with THEIR FRIENDS
on my wall instead of the friends wall. Like, I teach writing. My friend made a comment, his friend
lik3ed it and wanted his number and he gave it to
the other ON MY SITE. How can I stop this? I can't find a blocking box to x for something like this. Do I have to delete MY friends as 'friends' to keep their entire site from appearing on MY wall?
???
Thanks.
Sandy

Posted by: Sandy at October 10, 2010 2:52 PM

how can i block my own facebook account?

Posted by: maricar at October 19, 2010 11:44 PM

I play many of the games/applications, but I do NOT want to see "so and so sent you a gift from Farmville" on my Wall. How do I stop the postings without blocking the application? I want my wall for me! Not application. Quite frankly, I don't want everyone knowing just how many games I play, and when they send me a gift, it shows up on my wall. Not GOOd.I don't want to give up my Cafe' because I have worked so hard on it, but I don't want everyone else in my friend network to see I play these games more often than I should. How do I stop the postings without blocking the application?

Posted by: LAURIE REYNOLDS at November 20, 2010 9:31 PM

Go to Account (Top Right of Fbook Page): Privacy settings: Apps & Websites: Edit Settings: Apps You Use: Edit Settings. Then click on the edit settings button next to the app you want to block and click Remove App.

Posted by: amber at January 22, 2011 2:37 PM

Thanks Buddy..That was really helpful..

Posted by: Abhishek at March 13, 2011 10:36 PM

how do I stop posts I make on other people's walls appearing on my wall under recent activity (apart from actually manually deleting each one?

Posted by: Jean at March 15, 2011 2:35 AM

I have something to say, now that you mention it, but ...

I do have a lot to say, and questions of my own for that matter, but first I'd like to say thank you for all your efforts on this Web site by buying you a cup of coffee!

I do have a comment, now that you mention it!