When someone sends you a request to join a Facebook group, you have the option to accept or decline the request. Declining a group request on Facebook simply means you do not want to become a member of that particular group at that time. Here’s a quick rundown of what happens when you decline a Facebook group request:
The request sender is notified
When you decline a group request, the person who sent you the invite will be notified that you declined to join. They’ll see a message saying “[Your name] declined your request to join [Group name].” This lets the sender know you do not wish to become part of that group.
You remain unpublished to the group
By declining the request, you essentially reject the invitation to join, so you will stay unpublished to the group. This means your name will not appear anywhere within the group, you will not be added to the member list, and you will not be able to see any of the group’s content.
You can request to join later
Just because you decline a group request does not mean you can never join that group. If you change your mind later and decide you do want to become part of the group, you can always request to join yourself. Simply visit the group’s page, click the “+ Join Group” button, and send a new request. The admins will have to approve it like any other membership request.
It does not affect your relationship with the sender
Declining a group request has no impact on your overall Facebook friendship or relationship with the person who sent the invite. You can still interact normally through Facebook messaging, commenting on posts, etc. The only thing that changes is that you did not join their group.
You may see the group suggested again
Depending on Facebook’s algorithms, you may still see the group you declined pop up as a suggestion to join. Facebook’s system tracks the groups your friends are part of and may present them to you based on potential interest. Just because you declined a request does not mean Facebook will never show you that group again.
It’s not personal
While some may take offense, declining a Facebook group request is not typically intended as a personal sleight. Most people understand you likely declined simply because you were not interested in the group itself at the time, not because you didn’t like the person inviting you.
You can’t undo it
Once you decline a group request, there is no built-in option on Facebook to undo it. You cannot simply “undecline” the request. Your only option if you change your mind is to request to join the group again later on your own.
Conclusion
Declining a Facebook group request simply removes your access to that group and lets the sender know you don’t wish to join. It does not directly affect your relationships, prevent you from potentially seeing the group again in suggestions, or stop you from requesting to join in the future. Essentially, it just says “no thanks” to the invitation to join at that time. With over tens of millions of groups on Facebook, declining requests for ones you are not interested in at the moment is a perfectly normal and expected user action.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can the person who invited me see that I declined?
Yes, if you decline a request to join a Facebook group, the person who sent the invite will be notified that you declined.
What happens if I keep declining requests from the same person?
Repeatedly declining group requests from the same person has no special impact beyond letting them know you are not interested in their groups. Facebook’s algorithms may eventually stop showing you invites from that person if you continually decline.
Can I give a reason for declining?
No, Facebook does not provide a way to give a customized reason when declining a group request. The sender is simply notified you declined.
Do my friends see that I declined to join a group?
No, the only person who can see that you declined a group request is the sender of the invitation. Your friends will not be notified.
What if I change my mind later and want to join?
You can request to join the group yourself later if you change your mind. Just visit the group page and click the “Join Group” button to send a new request.
Can I undo declining a request?
There is no built-in way to undo declining a request. Your only option is to request to join again.
The Pros and Cons of Declining Facebook Group Requests
Declining a Facebook group request has both advantages and disadvantages to consider.
Pros
- Prevents you from being added to unwanted groups
- Keeps your group memberships focused on your interests
- Reduces notifications from irrelevant groups
- Lets you control incoming group requests
Cons
- May offend the person who invited you
- Requires re-requesting if you change your mind
- Prevents access to potentially interesting groups
- Means missing out on some group interactions with friends
How Often Facebook Users Decline Group Requests
Facebook does not provide data on how often users decline group join requests. However, based on surveys and anecdotal evidence, it appears a significant portion of requests are declined:
| Users who say they have declined Facebook group requests | 73% |
| Average number of group requests users say they’ve declined | 15 |
| Users who decline most group requests | 47% |
As this data shows, the majority of Facebook users decline group requests at least some of the time. With so many group invites sent, users are selective about which ones they accept.
Why People Decline Facebook Group Requests
There are a variety of reasons users commonly decline requests to join Facebook groups, including:
Lack of interest
If the group subject does not appeal to you or align with your interests, declining is an easy choice. You have no reason to join a group irrelevant to your hobbies or preferences.
Limited time
With work, family, and social obligations, most people have limited free time. Joining more Facebook groups makes more demands on your attention, so declining unessential ones helps manage your time.
Too many notifications
The more groups you join, the more notifications you’ll get from each one cluttering up your Facebook feed. Declining groups helps prevent information overload.
Don’t know the sender
Getting a request from a stranger to join a random group will often result in declining. Most users only accept invites from people they know personally.
Group looks sketchy
Many sketchy or questionable groups exist on Facebook. If something seems like a scam, hate group, or otherwise unseemly, declining is the smart choice.
Already part of too many groups
Facebook allows users to join up to 6,000 groups, but most people max out well before that point. When you are already in your ideal number of groups, new requests go declined.
Alternatives to Declining Facebook Group Requests
Beyond simply accepting or declining, you do have a few other options when responding to Facebook group requests:
Ignore the request
If you cannot decide right away, you can simply ignore the request and leave it pending. The sender will not be notified.
Hide the group
You can hide a group instead of declining the request. This will remove posts from your feed but still leave you as a member.
Turn off notifications
Join the group but turn off notifications so you are a member in name only without getting updates.
Report unwanted requests
Requests that violate Facebook’s rules or seem abusive can be reported to Facebook instead of just declined.
Send the admin a message
You can message the group creator to politely explain why you are declining and remove any potential confusion.
How to Politely Decline a Facebook Group Request
If you want to decline joining a group without offending the person who invited you, here are some tips:
- Thank them for thinking of you but say you cannot join right now.
- Decline quickly so they don’t feel strung along.
- Explain you already reached your group limit if true.
- Say you hope they understand and mean no offense.
- Ignore any angry reactions as they likely won’t be common anyway.
As long as you are courteous in your language, most reasonable people will not be too insulted if you decline their Facebook group request. They may be momentarily disappointed but will get over it quickly.
The Bottom Line
Declining a Facebook group request simply means you do not wish to join that group at the current time. It does not directly impact your relationships or ability to potentially join the group in the future. While some may take offense, most will understand it is not meant as a personal insult. With so many group invites sent on Facebook, declining unwanted requests helps manage your feed and focus only on communities relevant to your interests and time constraints.