Want to join a Facebook group in the not so distant future? Well, get ready for a quiz.
But why? I hear you ask. Well, Facebook is ramping up its admin tools to help admins certify users that seek access to join their group.
To access this new feature group admins can now adjust their settings in the admin menu and turn on “Ask Pending Members Questions”. This allows them to choose up to three questions for budding members to answer, and lets admins screen potential members before they gain access to the group to confirm they’re a good fit and will add constructively to the discussion, not just spam or troll the other members.
Don’t worry, the answers are not posted – only admins and moderators of the group can see them. Answers are restricted to 250 characters, and users can edit answers until the point when they’re reviewed.
According to Facebook, the feature is now 100% available globally. A Facebook spokesperson told TechCrunch:
“Screening new membership requests requires time and legwork for admins – particularly for groups built around focused passions or purpose. For these groups, admins typically have specific criteria they require before admitting new members. Establishing these open-ended questions enables them to more quickly review and approve member requests; in turn, people seeking communities of support or shared interest can more quickly connect with others.”
Long gone are the days of stalking someone’s Facebook profile to make sure they don’t spam, or adding people and then removing them straight away as they seek to destroy your group’s mojo.
Or are they? I mean of course it’s going to make the process a little bit harder for spammers, but if someone wants to get into a group that badly they could always just lie. At the end of the day, you can only take them on their word. I think the main deterrent here is the time it will take for a troll or spammer to join; it requires a lot more effort.
I personally don’t see this a clear fix to the issue, but it will be interesting to see how many Group admins enable this feature, and if it will in fact improve Group discussion and atmosphere or just decrease the usage of the feature.
