Facebook has added many new features, and users have also started some of their own trends, like ‘bumping’ posts. What does a ‘bump’ on Facebook mean, though? 

A ‘bump’ is a method of moving a Facebook post to the top of the ‘New Activity’ feed in a Facebook group. In the Messenger app, a ‘bump’ resends a previously sent message to emphasize it.

A ‘bump’ can be great in some cases but bothersome in others. This article covers the pros and cons of ‘bumping’ and other strategies to improve engagement on Facebook. 

How Does a ‘Bump’ Work on Facebook?

A ‘bump’ is a method emphasizing something that has been previously posted or sent in Facebook groups or Messenger. People may use a ‘bump’ to:

  • Emphasize a previous message in the Messenger appBring a post to the top of a Facebook group’s feedTurn on automatic notifications for a post

Message Bump

In the Facebook Messenger app, users can ‘bump’ a message previously sent in a conversation. 

You can ‘bump’ a message by: 

  • Opening the Messenger app on your phone or tabletPressing the message you want to ‘bump’ for a few seconds  The emoji menu and then a bottom menu will appear. Select “more”Then select ‘Bump’ from the options that appear

This means you can resend a message on your phone without having to screenshot or copy and paste, and your friends won’t have to scroll back to see what you said. 

Facebook Group Bump

In Facebook groups, the posts are organized based on new activity. That means that older posts in a group can get buried below all of the new posts and be harder for users to find. 

To prevent posts from being buried, users comment ‘bump’ (which stands for ‘Bring Up My Post’) on the post.

That engagement brings the post back to the group’s top of the ‘New Activity’ feed. 

Pros of the ‘Bump’

The ‘bump’ feature on Messenger is great for emphasizing something you’ve already said in your messages.

In Facebook groups, many users ‘bump’ posts to increase engagement or ensure important posts remain visible in a group. 

Users may also comment ‘bump’ to get notified about any updates to a post because commenting on a post automatically turns on post notifications. 

Cons of the Facebook ‘Bump’

The ‘bump’ feature on Messenger is great for efficiently sharing information and really has no cons. However, the trend of ‘bumping’ posts in Facebook groups has some drawbacks. 

While it may initially seem harmless, some Facebook users are firmly against the ‘bump’ method for several reasons. ‘Bumps’ can result in:

  • Unnecessary notificationsGenuine comments are being buriedFalse engagement

Unnecessary Notifications

When someone comments ‘bump’ on a Facebook post, everyone else who has commented or turned on notifications for the post will be notified on their phone, tablet, laptop, or all three. 

Facebook users may receive notifications for a post they care about only to find multiple comments reading ‘bump.’ Annoying, right?

Genuine Comments Get Buried

If users regularly comment ‘bump’ on a post to move it to the top of their group, the comment section can get flooded with virtually empty comments.

Facebook users who want to join the conversation may have to sort through some one-word comments before finding any content or information in the comment section. 

While a ‘bump’ brings the post to the top of the feed, it pushes genuine comments further down. 

False Engagement

If a post is ‘bumped’ multiple times, it can create a false picture of engagement.

For example, a post with five ‘bump’ comments and a post with five genuine and engaging comments will be shown as having five comments. 

Some users find it unfair that posts can stay in the ‘New Activity’ feed without any genuine new activity. 

Alternatives to the Facebook ‘Bump’

Several alternative methods Facebook users can try might work better than the Facebook post ‘bump.’ 

How to Move Posts Up the Feed

If Facebook users want to move a post to the top of the feed in a group, they can try commenting on something useful rather than the word ‘bump.’ 

For example, if someone sees a post in their local parent Facebook group about a new park in the neighborhood, they could add a comment tagging friends who live near the new park.

The comment will move the post up to the top of the feed, and tagging friends could lead to even more genuine comments and engagement with the post. 

This method cuts down on unnecessary post notifications and empty comments. 

How to Get Post Notifications

If Facebook users want to be notified about new activity on a post, they don’t have to comment. 

You can turn on notifications for any post on Facebook by clicking the three dots on the corner of the post and selecting the “turn on notifications for this post” option. 

Facebook users can avoid adding unnecessary ‘bump’ comments to posts to receive notifications by simply turning the notifications on manually. 

So, What Does ‘Bump’ Mean?

A ‘bump’ on Facebook Messenger is an excellent feature that resends a message to emphasize it. 

A ‘bump’ in a Facebook group is a method of moving posts to the top of the feed or staying engaged with a post by commenting on the word ‘bump,’ although it’s usually not the best option.