The reason for wrong data while sharing a content on Facebook can be caused by two issues on your site:1Wrong, duplicate or missing open graph meta data in your sites source code2Facebook is using cached site data
Case 1: Wrong, duplicate Missing Open Graph Meta Data in Your Sites Source Code #
Whenever you share a post on your site Facebook is using early generated and cached data for images and sharing content. These data comes from specific meta tags in your sites source code. These tags are called Open Graph Meta Tags
For example: The meta tag for the Facebook sharing image is called og:image
and the sharing description, it is og:description
tag.
These tags must contain the image URL and the sharing description!
If the image URL is leading to a wrong, missing or too small image. Facebook might not show any image at all or Facebook might show an image which is collected from the content of your page / post which might be unwanted or a wrong image.
Mashshare is capable of managing / working side-by-side with JetPack, Yoast and Warfare plugins OG meta tags. Mashshare simply can disable them. However it’s possible that you are using another plugin that injects open graph meta tags into your sites header than this lead to conflict with the MashShare generated data and you have to disable either the MashShare open graph function or the open graph function from the another plugin.
How to check your site for duplicate open graph meta data: #
Open your site in the source code view.
You are opening the source code view with clicking with the right mouse button into a free part of your website. Than you see something like:
Now press the buttons CTRL + F and search for the string og:description. You should only see that string one time in your site. If you get that string multiple times you know that your site is using duplicate open graph meta data and you have to resolve this first.
This meta data can be injected by your theme or a third party plugin. So check if you are able to deactivate it. Otherwise you have to deactivate MashShare Open Graph data from Settings->Social Networks:
After resolving it and to see immediate effect when sharing you have to tell facebook that it is resolved. To do so open the post editor and click on VALIDATE OPEN GRAPH DATA
A new window i opening. Now click on fetch new scrape information:
Now you are able to share the text on your site with the correct image and description.
Case 2: Facebook is Using Cached Site Data #
If you are already using open graph data on your site, its possible that Facebook is still showing old and cached open graph data. It needs some time until Facebook updates its internal caching system but you are able to inform Facebook about changes on your site. As a result the Facebook cache is updated immediately and your open graph changes with the correct image and description is reflected.
You can fix both cases with following the two steps below:1Enable the MashShare open graph integration from Settings->Open Graph Integration or use any other plugin which embeds open graph data into your site like the Yoast SEO Plugin2Go to the post editor and the social media settings. Click on the button ” Validate Open Graph data“.
You will be redirected to the Facebook debugger where you have to click on ” fetch new scrape information“
This will force Facebook to purge the internal cache and to scrape your site again and to use the updated open graph data on your site.
Alternatively, open manually the Facebook debugger for any post1Open the facebook debugger https://developers.facebook.com/tools/debug/2Enter your post / page URL then click “ Debug”
Click “ Fetch new scrape information”
If there are any warnings or notifications, fix these issues accordingly