Facebook allows you to connect with friends, family, and others you know. While this can be a great way to stay in touch, you may sometimes want to limit what certain friends can see on your profile and in your news feed.
If you want to stop a friend from following you on Facebook, there are a few options available. Here’s what you need to know about limiting a friend’s access to your Facebook profile and feed.
Unfriend or Unfollow
The most straightforward way to stop a friend from following you on Facebook is to unfriend or unfollow them. Here’s the difference between the two options:
- Unfriend – This completely removes them from your friends list. They will no longer see your posts at all and you will no longer see theirs.
- Unfollow – This keeps them as a friend but stops their posts from appearing in your news feed. You remain connected but don’t see updates from each other.
To unfriend someone:
- Go to their profile page
- Click on the Friends button below their cover photo
- Select Unfriend from the drop-down menu
- Confirm you want to unfriend them when prompted
To unfollow someone:
- Go to their profile page
- Hover over the Friends button below their cover photo
- Select Unfollow from the drop-down menu
Unfriending or unfollowing prevents them from seeing your posts, stories, and other updates. It also removes your profile and feed from their view. However, they can still send you messages even if you unfollow or unfriend them.
Adjust Privacy Settings
Rather than removing them completely, you can use Facebook’s privacy settings to limit what a friend can see:
- Restricted List – Friends added to your Restricted List have limited access to your content. They can only see your public posts and information.
- Acquaintances List – Adding them here prevents them from seeing your posts at all. You also won’t see their posts.
- Custom Privacy – You can customize privacy on a granular level to restrict certain information, posts, photos and more from a specific friend.
To add a friend to these lists:
- Go to your Facebook Settings
- Select Privacy from the left menu
- Go to the Friends section on the Privacy page
- Search for and select the friend you want to restrict
- Choose to Add to Restricted List, Add to Acquaintances or Customize based on what level of restriction you want
Using these options prevents the selected friend from seeing certain parts of your profile without removing them completely.
Adjust Post and Story Audience
Whenever you share a post or story on Facebook, you can pick who gets to see it. By default, it goes to all friends and followers. But you can adjust the audience before posting to limit certain people.
When writing a post or creating a story, use the audience selector menu to choose from these options:
- Public – Anyone can see it
- Friends – All friends except acquaintances
- Friends except… – Block specific friends from seeing it
- Specific friends – Only people you select can view it
- Only me – Keep it private and visible only to yourself
Select the option that excludes the friend you want to stop seeing that particular post. Customizing the audience each time you post is one way to prevent certain friends from following parts of your Facebook activity.
Restrict Old Posts and Photos
If you don’t want a friend seeing your past posts and photos, you can restrict access to your previous timeline content. Here’s how:
- Go to your Facebook Settings
- Select Privacy from the left menu
- Go to the Your Activity section
- Click on Limit Past Posts
- Adjust the timeline limit to restrict content you’ve shared beyond a certain date
This prevents the selected friend from accessing posts, photos, videos or any other content you’ve shared up to that limit. You can also enter names to hide specific timeline content from certain people. Use this in conjunction with the other options to completely limit what a friend can view.
Block Them
The most restrictive option is to block a friend altogether. This makes it so they can’t find or contact you on Facebook at all. When blocked:
- Your profile, posts and information will be hidden from their view.
- They won’t be able to start conversations with you or add you as a friend.
- Any comments they make on your content will be hidden from public view.
To block a friend:
- Go to their profile
- Click on the three dots in the upper right corner
- Select Block from the menu
- Confirm you want to block them when prompted
Blocking someone completely removes you from their Facebook experience. Use this option if you want to eliminate all interaction with a friend on Facebook.
Prevent Contact Outside Facebook
Limiting what someone sees in Facebook only prevents interaction with you on the platform itself. They could still find ways to contact you or view your activity elsewhere online:
- Phone and text
- Other social media accounts
- Shared connections in real life
To cut off all contact, you would need to block their email address, phone number, social media accounts, and consider mutual friends who might share information about you.
Block Email
Add their address to your email blocked senders list. This prevents them from emailing you further. Instructions vary by email provider:
- Gmail – Enter their address under Blocked senders in Settings
- Outlook – Right-click their email and select Block Sender
- Yahoo – Click Add next to Blocked Addresses under Mail Options
Block Phone Number
Consult your mobile carrier on how to block someone’s number from calling or texting you further. Steps vary by provider but may include:
- Verizon – Use the Call Filter app or My Verizon account
- AT&T – Call 800.331.0500 or use account management site
- T-Mobile – Contact T-Mobile Support or use account tools
Block Social Media
Prevent them from viewing your other social media accounts by adjusting privacy settings and blocking where possible:
- Instagram – Tap , tap Privacy, tap Restricted Accounts and enter the username.
- Twitter – Select their profile, click the gear icon and choose Block.
- Snapchat – Tap and hold their name in Chat, tap More, scroll down and tap Block.
Reconsider Shared Connections
Mutual friends in real life may still mention you or share details from your life even if you block someone online. To prevent this:
- Talk to mutual friends and explain you’ve cut contact. Ask them not to share information.
- Avoid social situations where you may both be present.
- If necessary, reconsider how close you want to remain with friends who still interact with this person.
Get Support if Needed
If someone continues to harass you or crosses legal lines, get help:
- File a report with Facebook if they violate harassment, privacy or other policies.
- Consult law enforcement if you feel threatened or unsafe.
- Contact support organizations for specific issues like cyberbullying or stalking.
- Talk to a counselor or trusted friend for emotional support.
You have a right to control who interacts with you both online and offline. Take whatever steps are appropriate to protect your privacy and peace of mind when limiting contact with someone.
Conclusion
Facebook provides customizable options to control how much a friend can see and interact with you on the platform. From unfollowing and restricting to blocking completely, use the method that best fits your needs.
To fully prevent contact, you may also need to block them in other online and offline areas of your life. And don’t hesitate to seek outside support if someone continues to harass or threaten you.
Setting boundaries with an unwelcome Facebook friendship can help you reclaim your privacy within the network. Take steps to limit their access and visibility so you can comfortably connect with the people who matter most.