While testing out Google Reader’s new feature for following changes to any website, I realized that many Facebook Pages were already accessible in an RSS format. While the feeds were previously accessible via any web browser, it appears that access has now been restricted just to feed readers. If you want to make sure you get all of a Page’s updates, subscribing to the Page feed is a great alternative.
While we haven’t figured out how page feeds are being restricted, when tested on Google Reader, each post receives its own feed item. This means one of two things: Facebook is limiting RSS access to RSS readers and blocking web browsers or Google is automatically formatting pages into an easily digestible format. My guess is that it’s the former. Each post also can have an image and the feed content displayed.
While Facebook may have been publishing content via RSS for months now, this is the first time we’ve actually used the service. Given that Facebook already filters out a lot of Facebook Page content, subscribing to Facebook Pages via RSS can be extremely useful. The functionality appears to be sketchy though as Google Reader is reporting to us that it is encountering parsing errors on pages that we have been testing.
Despite the questionable functionality, it does appear to work for the time being. While many users have asked for the stream to be digestible in RSS format, Facebook has been hesitant to provide such functionality. Facebook has gone so far as to shut off those applications that convert the stream into RSS. The aim is most likely to keep users coming back to the site. Even if Facebook Pages are accessible through RSS, there’s a good chance users will still visit Facebook on a daily basis to see what their friends are up to.
We will be sure to post any updates as we hear more information about Facebook Page RSS functionality. Do you think RSS subscriptions to Facebook Pages is a useful feature?
Rather than speculate, why don't you hit facebook with http requests spoofing the browser string of an RSS reader that works? You should see then if they have exposed RSS feeds.
Baring that, have you heard that Google Reader can now create an RSS feed of pages that don't have one?
Cheers!
Comment by Joe Vitosky — January 27, 2010 @ 12:06 pm
Yeah, unfortunately, didn't do enough research on this post. Google Reader has expanded capabilities as of late.
http://googlesystem.blogspot.com/2010/01/track-pa...
Comment by Rob Olague — January 27, 2010 @ 1:35 pm
IE: It means the SECOND thing. Not the first.
Comment by Rob Olague — January 27, 2010 @ 1:36 pm
well it's a great feature from facebook. I am surely will use it.
Comment by jacobian — January 27, 2010 @ 2:34 pm
I posted a solution to this problem here:
http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?uid=23798139265...
People say that it is up and down but for the most part it works for me. Knowing my luck, sharing it on this post will get the functionality removed.
To summarize you just use the following format:
http://www.facebook.com/feeds/page.php?format=ato...
where xxxxxxxxxxxx is your page id.
Comment by Elijah — January 27, 2010 @ 7:30 pm
yo posteo en español
Comment by Facebook User — January 28, 2010 @ 9:59 am
yo posteo en español 2. queda en facebook?
Comment by Facebook User — January 28, 2010 @ 10:01 am
It's not rocket science folks, just view the source for the FB page and search for "atom" – there be yer feed URL.
Comment by Jesse Ferrell — January 29, 2010 @ 8:18 am
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b0xQxHClg2M&fe...
Comment by pekomeri — February 6, 2010 @ 5:37 am
Jesse,
That didn't work for locating the atom feed in my own profile. I am not looking for my news feed that includes other members, but just in fact my OWN updates only. Any way for that?
Comment by Ken — February 12, 2010 @ 7:13 am
Elijah's method is great! But how to get the feeds that fans write the page's wall?
Comment by Anderson Liang — March 8, 2010 @ 2:58 am
As of March 17 none of the options above work. Unbelievable.
Comment by Peter — March 17, 2010 @ 6:49 pm
I'm thinking the RSS feed is gone now. I sure would like to find it again. Come on FB!
Comment by Webdesign Waco TX — May 8, 2010 @ 9:30 am
I do love facebook but have not yet try the pages RSS for this social network…just updating my status one in a while…
Comment by car dolly — May 9, 2010 @ 12:26 am
Only pages with the age restrictions set to "13+ (anyone)" have RSS feeds – if you have any age restrictions at all, then no feed!
Comment by Ben Lancaster — May 18, 2010 @ 2:50 am
Hi, i would like to find RSS Facebook Pages (Wall) including all posts (fan).
A solution ???
Comment by jmjm — September 5, 2010 @ 12:40 am
The solution above has been outdated.
I'm using this to solve my RSS
http://www.justin.my/2010/09/how-to-import-rss-fe...
Comment by juzhax — October 9, 2010 @ 3:03 am
@juzhax – i think you got i wrong. The idea is to extract an RSS-feed from a facebook page. Not to add one.
Comment by Jonas Thomsen — November 10, 2010 @ 11:30 am
can't see the whole link… can't get it from clicking either (goes to facebook home page) and can't find where you posted the info on the other link…
Comment by Sarah — December 23, 2010 @ 4:35 pm
I've made a quick little guide on getting the RSS feed of a Facebook page. This method works as of today and with any Facebook page. You can get the feed as RSS or Atom and it will work in Google Reader as well.
Here's the link: Read the RSS feed of any facebook page.
Comment by ahrengot — January 23, 2011 @ 5:16 pm
All the posts of pages you have 'liked' when "using Facebook as a Page" are aggregated in your News Feed when you are "using Facebook as a Page"
How abou getting an RSS feed of that News Feed ??
Comment by @davidsanger — February 14, 2011 @ 7:41 pm
My Feed only shows content created by a page admin, not anything listed by people that Like the page, but can post on its wall. Any idea how I can get ALL the content via RSS?
Comment by James Bielefeldt — March 7, 2011 @ 5:56 pm
hi
Comment by elvie joy uy — March 28, 2011 @ 8:17 am
That is so great! I didn't see an rss link on my facebook page and I was ready to assume that you cant have rss feeds… Thanks a TON!!
Comment by Angelo — April 5, 2011 @ 9:36 am
This is still working. Thanks!
Comment by Tomek — May 4, 2011 @ 2:17 pm
[...] quietly began to publish content via RSS early in 2010. At the time, we praised the move because it really made it useful to keep up with [...]
Pingback by Has Facebook Killed RSS For Pages? — May 9, 2011 @ 11:42 am
can you help me, i want to feed my facebook page this http://www.facebook.com/pages/Tour-in-Indonesia/2...
i want to feed it from my blog , what can i do? i just registered twitter feed, and it works but only on my dasboard, not in my facebook page like link above. anyone who can help my problem?
Comment by cheap hotel in bali — May 17, 2011 @ 5:36 am
Right click and you can copy the whle link then paste it somewhere.
I've had some problems in the last week – and it's not a standards compliant feed entirely – but does seem to work like a charm.
Comment by Nancy Shoemaker — May 20, 2011 @ 2:46 pm
Hi there, I am trying to do the same. Have you found a solution yet?
Comment by Ugnius — June 22, 2011 @ 12:47 pm
Hi Anderson,
I am trying to do the same. Have you found a solution?
Thank you,
Ugnius
Comment by Ugnius — June 22, 2011 @ 12:50 pm
I'm trying to add the feed (http://www.facebook.com/feeds/page.php?format=atom10&id=122809444465650) to my blog (http://battlereporter.blogspot.com) but it's showing old posts. Has Facebook switched off the RSS feed provider (or something like that) ?
Thansk for your help,
Sigmar
Comment by Sigmar — February 2, 2012 @ 6:52 am