Whether someone knows you blocked them on social media or messaging apps depends on the platform you use. Some platforms notify users if they have been blocked, while others do not. The notification settings and privacy controls on each platform determine how blocking works.
Does blocking notify the other person?
On most major social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok, the person you block will not receive any notification that they have been blocked. This allows you to quietly block someone without them knowing.
However, on messaging platforms like WhatsApp, iMessage, and Facebook Messenger, the person you block will be notified that messages can no longer be delivered to you. They will see that messages sent to you are marked as “unread.” Your last seen status will also no longer update for the blocked person.
In summary:
- On social media sites, blocking is silent and invisible to the blocked person
- On messaging apps, the blocked person is notified they can no longer message you
Social media blocking
If you block someone on Facebook, they will not get any notification about it. Your Facebook profile, posts, and information will completely disappear from their view.
However, any conversations you’ve had together in Facebook Messenger will still be visible to the blocked person. To fully block them, you’ll need to also block them on Messenger.
Blocking on Instagram works the same way as Facebook. The user will not know you’ve blocked them. They will no longer be able to view your profile or posts.
Your comments on their posts will also disappear from their view. If they visit your profile directly, they will see a message saying you don’t exist, as if your account was deleted.
If you block someone on Twitter, they will not receive any notification. Your tweets will disappear from their feed and they will be unfollowed from your account automatically.
If they visit your profile, they will see a message saying you’ve blocked them and your tweets are unavailable.
TikTok
Blocking on TikTok is also invisible to the blocked user. They will not know you’ve blocked them and will be unable to find your account or view your videos.
YouTube
When you block a user on YouTube, they will not receive any notification. They will be unable to comment on your videos or see your channel if they search for it.
Messaging app blocking
If you block someone on WhatsApp, they will immediately see that your profile photo and last seen status has disappeared. Any messages sent to you after blocking will show as “unread” to the blocked user.
After being blocked, if the user tries to add you to a group, they will get a message that reads “[Your name] isn’t available on WhatsApp anymore.”
iMessage
When you block a contact on iMessage, they will see messages they send you delivering as SMS text messages rather than iMessages. Your chat will also disappear from their list of conversations.
If they try to FaceTime call you, it will fail instantly. They will not get any specific notification that you blocked them.
Facebook Messenger
If someone is blocked on Messenger, they will see messages marked as “unread” when sent to you. An error message will inform them that messages can no longer be delivered to you.
They will still be able to see your profile information and any past conversations, unless you also block them on Facebook.
Can you tell if someone blocked you?
In most cases, it’s impossible to definitively confirm if someone has blocked you, since the platforms do not notify you. However, there are some signs that may indicate you’ve been blocked:
- Your messages to them suddenly go unread or send as SMS text messages
- You can no longer see their profile or posts on social media
- Calling them fails instantly or goes to voicemail every time
- You stop seeing their activity status updates on messaging apps
While these signs may indicate blocking, there could also be other reasons, like the person deactivating their account temporarily. The only way to know for sure is if the platforms directly notified users of blocks, which most choose not to do.
How does blocking work technically?
Behind the scenes, blocking prevents your account from interacting with the blocked account in any way on that platform:
- Your posts will not appear in their feed or search results
- You will not see any of their posts, comments, likes, etc.
- Messaging between you will fail or be restricted
- Profile/account information is hidden on both sides
Platforms achieve this by modifying the visibility and delivery settings between the two accounts. Your account privacy and posting settings essentially blacklist the blocked account.
On messaging apps, the send/receive functions are restricted to prevent communication. Blocking overrides any existing connections or follows between the accounts.
Can a blocked user still stalk you?
A blocked user is very limited in their ability to see your activity or interact with you. But they still may have some ability to indirectly view your public content:
- If you post publicly on social media, they could view those posts while logged out or from a different account
- Messages sent from a different number/account that you haven’t blocked would still reach you
- Any information about you that others post would be visible to them
So while blocking prevents direct access to your account, some indirect forms of viewing your content may still be possible. Maintaining strict privacy settings can help minimize this potential “stalking” behavior.
Should you notify someone before blocking?
It’s generally not necessary to notify someone before blocking them, since most platforms block silently anyway. However, in certain contexts it may be considerate to provide notice:
- If it’s someone you know well in real life, notifying them explains your absence
- In professional/work contexts, explain you are limiting contact
- When blocking could significantly impact them, like restricting business pages
In abusive or dangerous scenarios, do not notify them – just block immediately. Your safety takes priority over their right to an explanation in those cases.
Conclusion
Blocking allows you to control who interacts with you online. Most major platforms do not notify users when they’ve been blocked, so in most cases the user will not definitively know they’ve been blocked. However, messaging app platforms directly notify users that messaging has been restricted when blocked. Understanding platform notification policies allows you to block confidently and discreetly.