Thumbnail not showing up on Facebook when shared

The featured image is not showing up as a thumbnail when I share my post of Facebook. I read that if I put an image in the article that would do the trick, so I hid the featured image from the post so it wouldn’t show up twice and set the picture in the post via Instagram link. This didn’t work either. What should I do?

Thanks,

Douglas Cuomo

Okay, I followed the instructions but still no thumbnail when I post to Facebook as you can see here:
https://www.facebook.com/aretenous

This is an issue with FB; they don’t always grab the image due to either filename, size, dimensions, format, or their system overloaded. You can often use the down arrow toggle from the post itself on FB by clicking the “time since” posted link, then down arrow, then “refresh attachment.”

You cannot “enforce” that FB always grabs the photo. It’s impossible. However with proper file/image, unique file name, right size (not too small), and OG tags, they will get it “most” of the time unless your page also generating a lot of HTML errors.

(admin: I nominate you add this topic to a FAQs page — as it’s been 2 years of same question……)

Okay, so can you recommend or give some insight to what you mean by:

-proper file/image
-unique file name
-right size
-appropriate OG tags

Regards,

Douglas Cuomo

Worthwhile to actually go to Facebook and read up on their “requirements” for sharing content.
https://developers.facebook.com/docs/sharing/best-practices

Right, I have been there. That is why I asked for clarification from you on what you suggested.

I like your theme so far and you guys have been quick with replies on the questions I asked. I am however a bit bummed that this issue has been going on for two years, as it seems, without being resolved. Makes me nervous about future. What is the issue with resolving this problem with Facebook? I have never, not once, had this issue when sharing content on Facebook from other peoples websites including WordPress sites.

a) not my theme
b) this issue has to do with ALL sites sharing to FB — nothing to do with the theme, as stated previously.

I have this issue all the time, but then I have a wide variety of news portals I manage and am sharing content every day of the week for many years now.

Welcome to WordPress! 🙂