# Using Facebook for Surprise parties?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-facebook-for-surprise-parties/583104>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [May 25, 2011, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-facebook-for-surprise-parties/583104 "2011-05-25T02:39:26Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![aaelghat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c5a1d2/32.png) [@aaelghat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aaelghat)\
**Post date:** [May 25, 2011, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-facebook-for-surprise-parties/583104/1 "2011-05-25T02:39:26Z")

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Let’s say my wife is on Facebook, we’re friends on Facebook, and her surprise birthday party is coming up.

Is there a way for me to put a posting out to all my Facebook “friends” but ensure that she doesn’t see it?

Thanks.

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**Author:** ![AlsoNamedBort](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alsonamedbort/32/3213_2.png) [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)\
**Post date:** [May 25, 2011, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-facebook-for-surprise-parties/583104/2 "2011-05-25T02:42:28Z")

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You can make the event private so only the people who have been invited can view it. Just uncheck the “make public” button when you create it.

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**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\
**Post date:** [May 25, 2011, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-facebook-for-surprise-parties/583104/3 "2011-05-25T02:48:18Z")

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If you wanna make a status about it, write your status and before you post it, click on the little lock sign. Click customize and choose Specific people. Then find Hide From These People and put your wife’s name in the box. Ta-dah, everyone but your wife will see the status.

This is also fun for the inverse. Know a secret about one of your friends? Write the status and choose specific people and put their name in the box. Post the status and watch the hilarity as your friend panics about your loose-lippedness.

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**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\
**Post date:** [May 25, 2011, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-facebook-for-surprise-parties/583104/4 "2011-05-25T15:11:15Z")

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FWIW, I’m going to a Facebook-created surprise birthday party this very weekend. 🆒

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**Author:** ![aaelghat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c5a1d2/32.png) [@aaelghat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aaelghat)\
**Post date:** [May 27, 2011, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-facebook-for-surprise-parties/583104/5 "2011-05-27T20:27:24Z")

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> [@Inner\_Stickler](#):
>
> If you wanna make a status about it, write your status and before you post it, click on the little lock sign. Click customize and choose Specific people. Then find Hide From These People and put your wife’s name in the box. Ta-dah, everyone but your wife will see the status.
> 
> This is also fun for the inverse. Know a secret about one of your friends? Write the status and choose specific people and put their name in the box. Post the status and watch the hilarity as your friend panics about your loose-lippedness.

Inner Stickler - that’s exactly what I was looking for. Thanks for the information!