Social media is all about connecting with people, but sometimes, you may want to limit your network by removing certain connections. Whether it’s due to different interests, privacy concerns, or simply wanting a more streamlined feed, Facebook makes it easy to unfriend someone. Here’s a guide on how to unfriend someone on Facebook without notifying them.
What Happens When You Unfriend Someone?
Unfriending someone on Facebook removes them from your friends list. Here’s what changes after you unfriend someone.
Changes After Unfriending
- No Notifications: Facebook doesn’t notify users when they’ve been unfriended.
- Limited Profile Access: The person will no longer be able to see your non-public posts or content limited to friends.
- No Messaging Restrictions: Unlike blocking, unfriending still allows you to message the person if needed.
Unfriending is a discreet way to adjust your social circle without alerting the other person.
How to Unfriend Someone on Facebook (desktop)
If you’re using Facebook on a computer, here’s how to unfriend someone.
Steps
- Go to Their Profile: Search for the person’s name in the search bar or find them in your friends list.
- Click the ‘Friends’ Button: On their profile, you’ll see a button labeled Friends next to their name.
- Select ‘Unfriend’: From the dropdown menu, click Unfriend.
- Confirm: A pop-up will ask you to confirm. Click Confirm to complete the action.
The person will be removed from your friends list, and they won’t receive any notification about it.
How to Unfriend Someone on Facebook (mobile)
If you’re on the Facebook mobile app, follow these steps.
Steps
- Open the Facebook App and Find Their Profile: Search for their name or locate them in your friends list.
- Tap the ‘Friends’ Button: On their profile, tap the Friends button.
- Select ‘Unfriend’: From the options that appear, tap Unfriend.
- Confirm: Confirm your decision to remove them from your friends list.
The person will be unfriended immediately, and like on desktop, they won’t be notified.
Alternatives to Unfriending
If you want to distance yourself from someone’s content without unfriending them, consider these alternatives.
Unfollow
By unfollowing, you’ll stop seeing their posts in your feed, but you’ll remain friends. This can be a good option if you want to avoid their updates without ending the friendship.
Snooze
Facebook allows you to ‘snooze’ a friend’s posts for 30 days. This is ideal if you only need a temporary break from their content.
Restrict
Adding a friend to the Restricted list limits what they can see on your profile, showing them only posts that are public.
Closing Thoughts
The bottom line is that unfriending on Facebook is a quick and private way to manage your friends list, letting you control who can see your content and interact with you. No matter what your reason for unfriending is, following these steps will help you adjust your network easily and effectively.