According to some Facebook Group administrators, Facebook has today rolled out merit badges. So far in the wild, we’ve spotted “Conversation Starter” which praises the admin (or user) for starting engaging posts that got the conversation going.
We have asked numerous users if they’ve seen these badges, and so far it appears that only one badge has been rolled out, potentially with more on the way. Upon logging into the group where you have earned a badge, you’ll see a notification at the top of the feed informing you of your new badge (get out your vest, it’s time to start collecting them all)!
The merit badge that you’ve earned shows up in your profile when other group members (where you’ve earned the merit badge) click on your face:
Currently, when an Admin posts in the group, it still only has their Admin badge next to their name, not the “Conversation Starter” or other badges lined up next to it, but if a regular group member has posted something engaging, the badge appears next to their name (it may be a one-badge-limit so far, maybe hold off on buying a Girl Scout vest for your badge collection):
Lastly, users apparently do have control over the display of whichever neato merit badges we eventually earn or collect:
There is no word on what the ultimate plan is or what merit badges will be awarded, and it appears to be limited to Facebook Groups at the present.
We’ve reached out to Facebook for comment and will update the story as we learn more. For now, if you want a badge, you can at least get a “Conversation Starter” badge in Facebook Groups, so go get ’em – we’ll soon know which other badges we can earn slash collect slash compete for slash game.
Kiel
August 22, 2018 at 10:07 pm
Ive recently received this badge in a onewheel group im in.. interesting
Glenda
August 23, 2018 at 12:07 am
I want to know how to turn OFF my Conversation Starter badge.
jess
August 24, 2018 at 12:00 am
Did you not read the part of where you can turn the badges off?
Lis
September 18, 2018 at 4:22 pm
Who gives you these « conversation starter » badges and also who takes them away? I have had both happen to me.
Lani Rosales
September 18, 2018 at 6:36 pm
It’s automated and not within any human’s control, so it’s completely based on current activity levels. We’re unsure if it’s on an hourly cycle or daily, but it appears to be frequently updated by the Facebook robots. 😉
Adam
September 19, 2018 at 7:06 pm
Do you know how big a group needs to be in order to get these badges? Can’t find difinitive info anywhere.
Lani Rosales
September 21, 2018 at 1:10 pm
They have not stated publicly, but we can share from experience that any of our groups with under 25,000 members are the ones without badges.
Jordi
September 25, 2018 at 11:26 pm
No longer true. There are now merit badges in smaller groups. We’re all competing to earn them. ??
Lani Rosales
September 26, 2018 at 11:58 pm
Okay in fairness, they’re making updates every day, so you’re right – things are changing!
Suze
November 25, 2018 at 1:23 pm
I know this post is a few months old, but wondering if you or anyone else has noticed that in some groups, the admin/mod badges have suddenly disappeared. Two groups I admin show the icon/badge for admins and mods, but they’ve suddenly disappeared in another group I help admin, along with the badge setting. Anyone know anything about it?
Lani Rosales
November 26, 2018 at 9:52 pm
Suze, they kind of seem to be in and out – we’ll have them for a few weeks, then they’re gone, then they’re back. You’re not alone in that experience, and it is a pilot program, so we’re not surprised. 🙁