How to Unfriend Someone on Instagram?
Want to curate your Instagram experience? Unfriending, also known as removing a follower, is the best way to do it. This guide explains how to unfriend someone on Instagram, step-by-step, and answer the most frequently asked questions.
Why You Might Want to Unfriend Someone on Instagram
Instagram is all about community, but sometimes, that community needs a little curating. There are numerous reasons why you might want to unfriend someone.
- Privacy: Maybe you’ve decided to make your account private and only want to share your content with close friends and family.
- Negative Interactions: Perhaps a follower is leaving unwanted comments or sending direct messages that are harassing or inappropriate.
- Irrelevant Content: Their content simply doesn’t align with your interests anymore. It’s your feed, and you get to decide what you see.
- Avoiding Drama: Sometimes, unfriending is simply a way to avoid social drama with people from your past.
- Mental Wellbeing: Curating your feed can significantly improve your mental health and reduce stress.
The Two Main Ways to “Unfriend” Someone on Instagram
While Instagram doesn’t have a direct “unfriend” button like Facebook, you have two primary methods to control who sees your content:
- Removing a Follower: This method removes the person from your list of followers. They can still view your public profile and posts if your account is public, but they won’t automatically see your content in their feed.
- Blocking: This is a more drastic measure that prevents the person from viewing your profile, posts, stories, or contacting you through direct messages.
Step-by-Step: Removing a Follower on Instagram
Here’s how to unfriend someone on Instagram by removing them as a follower:
- Go to Your Profile: Tap your profile picture in the bottom right corner to go to your profile page.
- Tap “Followers”: Tap the “Followers” count at the top of your profile.
- Find the Person: Scroll through the list of followers to find the person you want to remove. You can also use the search bar at the top to type in their username.
- Tap “Remove”: Once you find the person, tap the “Remove” button next to their name.
- Confirm: A confirmation pop-up will appear. Tap “Remove” again to confirm.
Step-by-Step: Blocking Someone on Instagram
If removing a follower isn’t enough, and you need to completely restrict someone’s access, blocking is the way to go.
- Go to the Person’s Profile: Search for their username in the search bar and navigate to their profile.
- Tap the Three Dots: Tap the three dots (ellipsis) in the top right corner of their profile.
- Tap “Block”: Select the “Block” option from the menu that appears.
- Confirm: Confirm that you want to block the person. You usually have the option to block just the account or the account plus any new accounts they might create.
Public vs. Private Accounts: What’s the Difference?
The impact of unfriending (removing a follower) differs depending on your account’s privacy settings:
| Feature | Public Account | Private Account |
|---|---|---|
| Removing a Follower | They can still view your profile and posts if they search for you. They will no longer automatically see your content in their feed. | They will no longer be able to see your posts unless they send you a follow request and you approve it. |
| Blocking | Prevents them from viewing your profile, posts, or contacting you. | Prevents them from viewing your profile, posts, or contacting you. |
Common Mistakes and Considerations
When thinking about how to unfriend someone on Instagram, here are a few things to keep in mind:
- Accidental Removals: It’s easy to accidentally tap the “Remove” button. Double-check before confirming.
- They Might Notice: People often check their follower counts. The person you removed might notice and potentially be offended.
- Account is Still Searchable: Unless you block them, they can still search for your profile if your account is public.
- Blocking is Permanent (Until You Unblock): Blocking is a more serious action, so be sure it’s what you want.
- Alternative Strategies: Consider muting or restricting the account before taking drastic action.
FAQ Sections
What happens when I remove a follower on Instagram?
When you remove a follower, they are no longer following you, and your posts will no longer automatically appear in their feed. If your account is public, they can still view your profile and individual posts if they search for you. If your account is private, they will need to send you a follow request to see your posts again.
Will the person I remove know that I unfriended them?
Instagram does not send a notification when you remove a follower. However, they may notice if they check their following list or if they previously interacted with your content regularly and now no longer see it.
Can I remove multiple followers at once on Instagram?
Unfortunately, Instagram does not offer a built-in feature to remove multiple followers at once. You have to remove them individually, which can be tedious for large numbers of followers. Some third-party apps claim to offer this functionality, but use them with caution, as they may violate Instagram’s terms of service.
What’s the difference between removing a follower and blocking someone on Instagram?
Removing a follower simply removes them from your follower list. They can still potentially view your public profile and posts. Blocking, on the other hand, prevents them from seeing your profile, posts, stories, and contacting you through direct messages.
Can someone still see my stories if I remove them as a follower?
If your account is public, they can still see your stories if they visit your profile directly. If your account is private, they cannot see your stories unless they follow you (and you approve their request).
Is there a way to see who unfollowed me on Instagram?
Instagram does not provide a built-in feature to see who unfollowed you. However, there are third-party apps that claim to offer this functionality. Be careful when using such apps, as they can pose security risks and may violate Instagram’s terms of service.
If I remove a follower, can they still message me?
If you remove a follower and your account is public, they can still send you direct messages. If your account is private and they are no longer following you, they can send you a message request, which you can choose to accept or decline. Blocking them prevents any messages.
What happens if I block someone on Instagram?
Blocking someone completely restricts their access to your profile. They cannot see your posts, stories, or profile information, and they cannot message you. You also won’t be able to see their profile.
Can someone tell if I blocked them on Instagram?
While Instagram does not explicitly notify someone when they’ve been blocked, they can usually figure it out. If they try to search for your profile and it doesn’t appear, or if they can’t see any of your posts when they previously could, it’s a strong indication that they’ve been blocked.
Can I unblock someone after I’ve blocked them on Instagram?
Yes, you can unblock someone you’ve previously blocked. To do so, go to your settings, then “Blocked Accounts,” find the person you want to unblock, and tap the “Unblock” button next to their name.
What is ‘restricting’ someone on Instagram, and how is it different from unfriending or blocking?
Restricting someone on Instagram is a middle ground between unfriending and blocking. When you restrict someone:
- Their comments on your posts are only visible to them (unless you approve them).
- Their direct messages to you are moved to your message requests folder.
- You won’t see when they are active on Instagram.
Restricting is a way to limit their interactions without them necessarily knowing.
Does removing a follower or blocking someone delete our previous message history?
Removing a follower will not delete your existing message history. However, blocking someone will often, but not always, remove the message thread from your inbox (though it might still be accessible to the blocked user). It’s advisable to save any important messages before blocking if the conversation is important.