5 Easy Steps to Unfollow Friends Discreetly on Facebook

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Facebook can be a great way to stay connected in the modern world. However, there are times when you may want to unfollow certain individuals to clean up your feed or maintain emotional distance. Here are some tried-and-tested methods to gracefully unfollow friends on Facebook without causing any drama.

One way to unfollow a friend on Facebook is to access the friend’s profile. Once you’re on their profile, look for the “Following” button. Click on the button and select “Unfollow” from the drop-down menu. This will unfollow the friend without notifying them. Another method is to go to your own profile and click on the “Friends” tab. From there, you can hover over a friend’s name and click on the “Following” button next to their name. Select “Unfollow” from the drop-down menu to complete the process.

Additionally, you can adjust your privacy settings to control who can see your posts. By limiting the audience for your posts, you can prevent certain individuals from seeing your updates even if you’re still friends with them. To do this, navigate to your privacy settings and select “Friends” from the “Who can see your posts?” drop-down menu. This will ensure that only your friends can see your posts. If you want to further restrict your audience, you can use the “Custom” option to create a list of specific friends who can see your posts.

Reasons for Unfollowing Friends

Toxicity and Negativity

If someone’s social media presence consistently creates a negative atmosphere, draining your energy or making you feel down, it may be time to unfollow them. Constant complaints, drama, and hateful or disrespectful posts can have a detrimental impact on your well-being. Social media is supposed to be a positive and uplifting space, so it’s perfectly reasonable to remove sources of toxicity and negativity from your feed.

Examples:

  • A friend who constantly rants about their job or relationship
  • A family member who shares inflammatory or biased political content
  • An acquaintance who posts frequent selfies with captions that seek validation

Different Interests and Values

As you grow and evolve, your interests and values may change, and the same goes for your friends. It’s natural to unfollow someone if their content no longer resonates with you or if your paths have diverged significantly. Maybe a friend who used to post about travel adventures now only shares cooking recipes, or a classmate who once shared your passion for soccer has moved on to other hobbies.

Examples:

  • A former coworker who posts updates about their new workplace
  • A friend from college who now focuses on raising a family
  • A distant relative who shares posts about conspiracy theories

Unfollowing via the User Profile Page

**Step 1: Navigate to the User’s Profile**
Open Facebook and search for the individual you wish to unfollow in the search bar.

**Step 2: Access the Following Options**
Hover over the “Following” button on their profile page.
A drop-down menu will appear, providing several options.

**Step 3: Select “Unfollow”**
In the drop-down menu, click on the “Unfollow” option.
A confirmation prompt will appear, verifying your intent to unfollow the user.

**Step 4: Confirm Unfollow**
Click “Unfollow” again to complete the process.
The user will no longer appear in your “Following” list, and their posts will no longer be visible in your News Feed.

Bulk Unfollowing Using Friends List

This method involves using the “Friends” list feature on Facebook. It allows you to unfollow multiple friends at once, even if they’re not listed in your “Following” list.

  1. Go to your Facebook profile and click on the “Friends” tab.
  2. Select the “Manage Friends” option from the drop-down menu.
  3. Click on the “Following” tab to view a list of all the people you’re following.

    Select the “Unfollow” checkbox next to each friend you want to unfollow.

    You can also use the “Select All” option to unfollow everyone in your “Following” list.

  4. Click on the “Unfollow” button to confirm your changes.

    5. *Note: Facebook does not have a native bulk unfollow feature. However, there are third-party browser extensions and apps that claim to offer this functionality. Use such tools at your own discretion and only from reputable sources.*

    Hiding Friends without Unfollowing

    Hiding friends on Facebook allows you to remove their posts from your news feed without actually unfollowing them. This can be useful if you want to temporarily avoid seeing their content without completely cutting off communication.

    To hide a friend, hover over their name in your news feed and select the “Hide” option from the drop-down menu. You can also hide friends from your profile page by clicking the “Friends” tab and selecting the “Hidden” option from the left-hand menu.

    Once you have hidden a friend, their posts will no longer appear in your news feed. However, you can still view their profile and interact with them through Messenger.

    Reasons for Hiding Friends
    • Temporary distractions or disagreements
    • Managing excessive or irrelevant content
    • Protecting privacy or managing group visibility
    • Maintaining positive mental health by limiting exposure to certain individuals
    • Avoiding awkward social situations or unaddressed conflicts

    Unfollowing Friends on Mobile Devices

    The steps for unfollowing friends on mobile devices vary depending on the device’s operating system. Here are the instructions for two commonly used mobile operating systems:

    Android

    1. Open the Facebook app on your Android device.

    2. Navigate to the profile of the friend you want to unfollow.

    3. Tap the “Friends” button below their profile picture.

    4. A pop-up menu will appear. Select “Unfollow.”

    5. Confirm your selection by tapping “Unfollow again.”

    iOS

    1. Open the Facebook app on your iOS device.

    2. Navigate to the profile of the friend you want to unfollow.

    3. Tap the “More” button (three dots) next to the “Message” button.

    4. Select “Unfollow” from the menu that appears.

    5. Confirm your selection by tapping “Unfollow.”

    Additional Features

    In addition to unfollowing friends individually, you can also use the “Snooze” feature to temporarily hide their posts from your News Feed. To do this:

    1. Navigate to the profile of the friend you want to snooze.
    2. Tap the “Friends” button.
    3. Select “Snooze” and choose the duration you want to snooze their posts for (30 days, 60 days, or 90 days).
    Device Steps to Unfollow
    Android Open Facebook app > Navigate to friend’s profile > Tap “Friends” button > Select “Unfollow” > Confirm
    iOS Open Facebook app > Navigate to friend’s profile > Tap “More” button > Select “Unfollow” > Confirm

    Managing Friend Lists for Targeted Unfollowing

    Facebook Friend Lists allow you to organize your friends into custom categories, making it easier to unfollow specific groups. Here’s a step-by-step guide to using Friend Lists for targeted unfollowing:

    1. Click on “Friends” in the left-side navigation bar.

    2. Select “Manage Friend Lists” in the top-right corner.

    3. Click “Create List” and give your list a name.

    4. Start adding friends to the list by entering their names or selecting them from the suggestions.

    5. Once you’ve created a Friend List, click “Done”.

    6. Return to your News Feed and click on the three dots in the top-right corner of any post.

    7. Select “Unfollow [friend’s name]” or “Unfollow [friend list name].”

    By using Friend Lists, you can quickly and easily unfollow friends in specific categories, allowing you to declutter your News Feed and see only the updates that matter most to you.

    Additional Considerations for Professional Unfollowing

    When unfollowing colleagues or professional contacts, consider these additional tips:

    • Consider a soft unfollow:Mute their posts instead of unfollowing them outright to minimize potential repercussions.
    • Send a personal message: If possible, explain your decision to unfollow in a brief, professional message to avoid any misunderstandings.
    • Review your shared content: Remove any sensitive or confidential posts you’ve shared with the person before unfollowing them.
    • Manage your notifications: Turn off notifications for the person’s posts and comments to avoid seeing their content in your newsfeed.
    • Use the “Close Friends” list: Add important contacts to your Close Friends list to ensure you continue to see their posts while unfollowing others.
    • Re-evaluate your following regularly: Periodically review your following list and unfollow anyone who no longer adds value to your professional network.
    • Be mindful of industry norms: Consider the potential impact of unfollowing colleagues within your industry and weigh the benefits against the risks.
    • Use a third-party tool: Utilize apps or extensions that allow you to mass unfollow or selectively unfollow based on criteria such as activity level.
    • Avoid unfollowing too many people at once: Gradually unfollow a few friends at a time rather than making a sudden, drastic change that could draw attention.
    • Be professional and respectful: Remember to maintain a professional demeanor throughout the unfollowing process and treat others with respect.

    How to Unfollow Friends on Facebook

    Unfollowing friends on Facebook allows you to stay connected without seeing their posts in your News Feed. It’s a great way to declutter your feed and focus on the updates you’re most interested in.

    To unfollow a friend on Facebook:

    1. Go to their profile page.
    2. Hover over the “Friends” button.
    3. Select “Unfollow” from the drop-down menu.

    You can also unfollow multiple friends at once by using the “Manage Friends” tool.

    1. Go to your profile page.
    2. Click on the “Friends” tab.
    3. Click on the “Manage Friends” button.
    4. Select the friends you want to unfollow.
    5. Click on the “Unfollow” button.

    People Also Ask

    Can I unfollow someone without them knowing?

    Yes, unfollowing someone on Facebook is a private action. The person you unfollow will not be notified.

    How can I tell if someone has unfollowed me?

    There is no way to tell if someone has unfollowed you on Facebook. However, if you notice that you’re not seeing their posts in your News Feed anymore, it’s possible that they have unfollowed you.

    What happens if I unfollow someone?

    When you unfollow someone, you will no longer see their posts in your News Feed. However, you will still be friends with them and you can still see their profile page and send them messages.