How to Unfollow on Facebook: Reclaim Your News Feed
Facebook's news feed can quickly become cluttered. Seeing updates from people you barely know or whose posts consistently bore you? Unfollowing is the solution! This guide will walk you through how to easily unfollow people on Facebook, regaining control of your newsfeed and making your Facebook experience more enjoyable. We'll cover various devices and scenarios.
Why Unfollow Instead of Unfriending?
Before diving into the how, let's clarify the why. Unfollowing someone on Facebook means you're removing their posts from your news feed without removing them from your friend list. This is a subtle but crucial difference. You maintain the connection, but avoid the constant stream of updates that might be cluttering your feed. Unfriending, on the other hand, completely severs the connection.
Choosing the right option:
- Unfollow: Ideal for acquaintances, distant relatives, or friends whose posts you find less engaging.
- Unfriend: Best for situations where you wish to completely sever ties with someone on Facebook.
How to Unfollow Someone on Facebook
The process is similar across devices, but the exact button placement may differ slightly.
Unfollowing on a Desktop Computer
- Locate the person's profile: Go to the Facebook profile of the person you wish to unfollow.
- Find the "Following" button: Look beneath their cover photo. You'll see a button that says "Following," "Friends," or a similar phrase.
- Click "Following": Clicking this button will present you with a dropdown menu.
- Select "Unfollow": Choose the option to "Unfollow" from the dropdown menu. A confirmation message will often appear, ensuring you're making the right choice.
Important Note: After unfollowing, you won't see their posts in your newsfeed, but they won't receive any notification that you've unfollowed them.
Unfollowing on a Mobile App (iOS and Android)
The mobile app process mirrors the desktop version.
- Navigate to their profile: Open the Facebook app and find the profile of the person you want to unfollow.
- Locate the "Following" button: It's usually located near the top of their profile, often below their profile picture and cover photo.
- Tap "Following": Tap the "Following" button. A menu should pop up.
- Select "Unfollow": Choose "Unfollow" to remove their posts from your news feed.
Troubleshooting Unfollowing
- Button not appearing: If you can't find the "Following" button, ensure you're viewing their profile and not their page (if they have one).
- Unexpected behavior: If you're still seeing their posts after unfollowing, try refreshing your newsfeed or restarting your app/browser.
Beyond Unfollowing: Managing Your News Feed
Unfollowing is a powerful tool, but it's only one aspect of managing your Facebook experience. Consider these additional steps:
- Snoozing: Temporarily hide posts from someone for a specified duration (30 days).
- Prioritizing: Choose specific friends or pages whose posts you want to see more frequently. Facebook allows you to prioritize certain contacts to ensure their updates appear in your newsfeed.
- Unfollowing pages: Similarly, unfollow pages that flood your feed with irrelevant content.
By mastering these techniques, you can curate a Facebook newsfeed that is informative, engaging, and above all, enjoyable. Take control of your online experience and reclaim your time!
