What Does "Unfollow" Mean on Facebook?
Unfollowing on Facebook means hiding someone's posts from your News Feed while staying friends with them. When you unfollow a person, page, or group:
- Their posts stop appearing in your feed
- You remain connected (friends, liked page, or group member)
- They are not notified that you unfollowed them
- You can still visit their profile and interact manually
- You can re-follow them anytime
How unfollow works on Facebook
What happens when you unfollow
Unfollowing removes posts from your feed without affecting your friendship or connection status.
Create content, post everywhere
Create posts, images, and carousels with AI. Schedule to 9 platforms in seconds.
Start your free trialAfter unfollowing:
- Their posts stop appearing in your News Feed
- You remain friends (if it was a friend)
- You can still visit their profile
- You can still like, comment, and message them
- They won't be notified you unfollowed
- You can refollow anytime
Unfollow vs Unfriend vs Snooze: Quick Comparison
Unfollow vs Unfriend: Key Differences
Unfollowing:
- Stays friends, hides posts from feed
- No notification sent
- Can interact on their profile
- Easily reversible
Unfriending:
- Removes friendship completely
- They may notice you're no longer friends
- Can't see their private posts anymore
- Requires new friend request to reconnect
How to unfollow on Facebook
Unfollow a friend
From News Feed:
- Find a post from the person
- Click the three dots (⋯) in top right of post
- Select "Unfollow [Name]"
- Confirm your choice
From their profile:
- Go to their Facebook profile
- Click "Following" button
- Select "Unfollow" from dropdown
- Posts will no longer appear in feed
Unfollow a Facebook page
From News Feed:
- Find a post from the page
- Click three dots (⋯) on post
- Choose "Unfollow [Page Name]"
From page directly:
- Visit the Facebook page
- Click "Following" button
- Select "Unfollow" option
- Page posts removed from feed
Unfollow Facebook groups
From group post:
- Click three dots on group post in feed
- Select "Unfollow Group"
- Stay member but hide posts
From group page:
- Go to group page
- Click "Joined" button
- Choose "Unfollow Group"
- Remain member without feed posts
Why people unfollow on Facebook
Common reasons for unfollowing
Content overload, too many posts flooding your feed
Irrelevant content, posts don't match your interests
Political differences, avoiding divisive or controversial posts
Life changes, different priorities or interests now
Drama avoidance, reducing exposure to negative content
Privacy and mental health benefits
Cleaner feed, see only content you care about
Reduced stress, avoid posts that upset or trigger you
Better focus, eliminate distracting or irrelevant content
Preserve relationships, stay friends without constant updates
Managing your Facebook feed
Who to consider unfollowing
Pages posting too frequently, overwhelming your feed with content
Friends sharing excessive content, multiple posts daily
Controversial accounts, if you want to avoid debates
Inactive connections, people you rarely interact with
Business pages, if content is no longer relevant
Alternatives to unfollowing
Snooze for 30 days, temporarily hide posts
See fewer posts, reduce frequency without unfollowing
Turn off notifications, stop alerts for specific people
Hide specific post types, like shared articles or check-ins
Adjust News Feed preferences, customize what you see
Facebook unfollow features
Bulk unfollow options
News Feed Preferences:
- Go to Settings & Privacy
- Click "News Feed Preferences"
- Select "Unfollow people and groups"
- Choose multiple accounts to unfollow
Activity Log method:
- Visit your Activity Log
- Filter by "Following"
- Review who you're following
- Unfollow in bulk
Following management
See who you're following:
- Go to your profile
- Click "Friends" section
- Select "Following" tab
- Review and manage following list
Re-follow someone:
- Search for their profile
- Click "Follow" button
- Their posts return to your feed
- No notification sent about re-following
Privacy implications
What unfollowing reveals
No direct notifications, Facebook doesn't tell them you unfollowed
They might notice, less engagement from you over time
Mutual friend activity, they can still see your interactions elsewhere
Story views, you can still view their Facebook Stories
Protecting your privacy
Review following list, regularly clean up who you follow
Adjust story settings, control who sees you viewed their stories
Limit profile visibility, restrict what unfollowed people can see
Consider friend lists, organize friends into categories for better control
Using unfollow strategically
Social media wellness
Curate positive content, follow accounts that inspire and inform
Reduce information overload, unfollow sources of excessive content
Maintain relationships, use unfollow instead of unfriending
Regular feed cleanup, monthly review of following list
Professional networking
Unfollow inactive business contacts, while maintaining connection
Keep relevant industry content, unfollow outdated business pages
Manage promotional content, reduce marketing posts in feed
Preserve networking opportunities, stay connected without feed clutter
Troubleshooting unfollow issues
Common problems
Still seeing posts, may take time for feed algorithm to adjust
Can't find unfollow option, check if you're looking at correct button
Accidentally unfriended, use unfollow instead of unfriend
Want to re-follow, simply click follow button again
Facebook algorithm and unfollow
Algorithm learning, Facebook notes your unfollow patterns
Similar content reduction, may show less similar content over time
Engagement priority, Facebook prioritizes content you interact with
Feed customization, unfollowing helps personalize your experience
Best practices for unfollowing
When to unfollow vs unfriend
Unfollow for content issues, when you want to preserve relationship
Unfriend for relationship changes, when connection is no longer relevant
Consider snoozing first, temporary break before permanent unfollow
Use sparingly, avoid mass unfollowing that might affect relationships
Maintaining relationships
Stay engaged occasionally, visit profiles and interact sometimes
Remember special events, check in for birthdays and milestones
Respect their content, don't criticize after unfollowing
Be genuine, unfollow is about feed management, not personal judgment
Unfollow etiquette
Don't announce, no need to tell people you unfollowed them
Avoid drama, unfollow quietly to prevent conflicts
Stay respectful, continue positive interactions when you do engage
Keep it private, unfollowing is personal feed management
Tools for better Facebook experience
Optimize your Facebook experience with these resources:
Facebook Tools, complete toolkit for managing your Facebook presence
Facebook Post Generator, create engaging content for your feed
Social Media Planner, organize your Facebook content strategy
Engagement Calculator, measure your Facebook interaction rates
Unfollowing on Facebook is a useful tool for managing your social media experience without damaging relationships. Use it strategically to create a more positive and relevant News Feed while maintaining valuable connections.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can someone tell if you unfollow them on Facebook?
No. Facebook does not send notifications when you unfollow someone. The only way they might notice is if they check their followers list or notice reduced engagement from you over time.
What's the difference between unfollow and unfriend on Facebook?
Unfollowing hides posts from your feed while keeping the friendship intact. Unfriending removes the connection entirely. With unfollow, you stay friends and they won't know. With unfriend, you're no longer connected and they may notice.
How do I see who I've unfollowed on Facebook?
Go to Settings & Privacy → Settings → News Feed Preferences → Reconnect with people you unfollowed. This shows everyone you've unfollowed and lets you re-follow them.
Can I unfollow someone temporarily on Facebook?
Yes. Use the "Snooze for 30 days" option instead of unfollow. Click the three dots on their post and select "Snooze [Name] for 30 days." Their posts will automatically return after 30 days.
Will unfollowing affect my Facebook friendship?
No. Unfollowing only affects your News Feed. You remain friends, can still message each other, see each other's profiles, and they can still see your posts (based on your privacy settings).