Can I block someone on Facebook so that I can't see *them*?

July 6, 2013 10:32 PM

I've just discovered that the person I've been dating has been cheating on me. I found this out by looking at his FB profile (we're not 'friends') and finding that he's changed his profile pic to one of him with another woman. I want to block his FB profile so that I can't see him. Ever. I want his profile to be inaccessible to me, to stop me from checking it. Is this possible? Or should I just shut down my own profile for a while? What else can I do to make him 'dead' to me? I'm hurting really badly at the moment. I tend to obsess about things, so I need to clear him out of my life. Thanks.
posted by Salamander to Computers & Internet (13 answers total)

There is a block option somewhere on his profile page (in the friend settings I think), that will stop you seeing him just as much as it stops him seeing you.
posted by shelleycat at 10:42 PM on July 6, 2013

Response by poster: I've looked around on his page, but I can't find it.
posted by Salamander at 10:46 PM on July 6, 2013

ok, first things first: is it at all possible that the photo is of him and his sister? or him and a friend? or do you have concrete evidence (concrete evidence being the words "I am cheating on you with the woman in my Facebook profile photo" coming out of his mouth) that he is seeing this other woman?

otherwise yes, I believe you can do this though you cannot 100 percent guarantee that you'll never see things about them on your Facebook. the facebook help section tells you how to block and also some instances where it might not give you the results I think you're hoping for.

good luck.
posted by kerning at 10:46 PM on July 6, 2013 [7 favorites]

Yeah, facebook likes to hide stuff. In the mobile app it's the little square with an arrow at the upper right hand corner. On the web version it's wherever the square+arrow is (probably on the sidebar?). Or follow kerning's link.
posted by shelleycat at 10:54 PM on July 6, 2013

Go to the settings page (click on the little cog in the very upper right). Click on "Blocking" on the left side. Type the person's name in the "Block users" section, click "Block", and select the correct person from the list that shows up.

You won't be able to see his profile or any other activity from him.
posted by Maladroid at 10:54 PM on July 6, 2013 [1 favorite]

Yes, you can do this.

On the blue menu bar at the top of your facebook page, there is a gear symbol on the far right side. Click on this and select 'Account Settings'. On the next page, click on 'Blocking' on the menu on the left side of the page. Type in his name and you're done.
posted by chara at 10:55 PM on July 6, 2013

Or, go to his fb page. Up by the friend request / message area there is a little gearlike thingy. Click on it and choose Block.
posted by maggieb at 10:55 PM on July 6, 2013

Response by poster: ok, first things first: is it at all possible that the photo is of him and his sister? or him and a friend? or do you have concrete evidence (concrete evidence being the words "I am cheating on you with the woman in my Facebook profile photo" coming out of his mouth) that he is seeing this other woman?

He doesn't have a sister, or any other female relatives that it could be. Also, it's very much a couple-y photo. And he's been acting evasive for a while. And I texted him 2 hours ago, to the mobile from which he had just posted the picture, asking what the heck. Nothing.

I was worried that if I blocked him, it would just prevent him from seeing me, but not vice versa. So I did it, and I can still see the thumbnail of his page (unfortunately), with his new woman, but it won't let me see his actual page.

Thanks all,
posted by Salamander at 11:05 PM on July 6, 2013

If you are using adblock you should be able to block the actual offending image.
posted by elizardbits at 12:13 AM on July 7, 2013 [2 favorites]

Block him on your settings, and he won't be able to see you and you can't see him.
posted by Ideefixe at 7:25 AM on July 7, 2013

Blocking totally erases him from your feed, you can't find his profile, he does not exist. If you have mutual friends you may occasionally find them talking to themselves as his comments are stripped but their's aren't, but that should be the only sign of his existence.
posted by yellowbinder at 8:27 AM on July 7, 2013

Everyone else has covered how to block him, but can I suggest deactivating your account? I went through that a few years ago (finding out my ex was cheating on me via social media) and I can tell you it is best to stay away from social media for a while after something difficult. There have been studies that show that spending time on social media decreases your overall happiness (comparing your insides to other's outsides), and during a time when you're already hurting it is a recipe for even more badness. I personally deactivated my Facebook earlier this year (unrelated reasons, just wanted to see if I missed it). It has been so refreshing not to have that in my life anymore, and I really do feel happier without it. So, just a thought.
posted by bluloo at 8:30 AM on July 7, 2013 [4 favorites]

Just seconding bluloo. I've been Facebook free for two years now and I really love it. The amount of drama in my life is absolutely ZERO and that is so refreshing.
posted by WalkerWestridge at 8:57 AM on July 7, 2013 [1 favorite]