Facebook allows users to connect, share updates, and stay informed about others through its follow feature. Following someone on Facebook ensures you see their public updates in your News Feed, even if you’re not friends. Similarly, you can unfollow someone to stop seeing their updates without unfriending them.
This guide walks you through the steps to follow and unfollow someone on Facebook, highlighting the differences between the two actions and their practical applications.
What Does Following Mean on Facebook?
- Following Someone: Allows you to see their posts in your News Feed.
- For friends, you automatically follow them by default.
- For non-friends, you can follow their public posts if their profile or page settings allow it.
- Unfollowing Someone: Stops their updates from appearing in your News Feed without unfriending them.
How to Follow Someone on Facebook
For Friends
You automatically follow people when you add them as friends. However, if you previously unfollowed a friend, you can follow them again:
- Open their profile:
- Search for their name in the Facebook search bar.
- Click on the “Friends” button:
- A drop-down menu will appear.
- Select “Follow”:
- You’ll start seeing their updates in your News Feed.
For Non-Friends
If someone has enabled the follow option:
- Open their profile or page:
- Search for the person or page you want to follow.
- Click the “Follow” button:
- It’s located near the top of their profile/page.
- You will now see their public updates.
How to Unfollow Someone on Facebook
For Friends
Unfollowing a friend will stop their posts from appearing in your News Feed, but you’ll remain connected as friends.
- Go to their profile:
- Use the search bar to find their name.
- Click on the “Following” button:
- It’s located near the top of their profile.
- Select “Unfollow”:
- Their updates will no longer appear in your News Feed.
For Non-Friends
If you’ve followed someone who is not your friend:
- Visit their profile or page:
- Click the “Following” button:
- Select “Unfollow”:
Alternative Ways to Follow or Unfollow
From the News Feed
If you see a post from someone and want to follow or unfollow them directly:
- Click the three dots (···) on their post.
- Select “Follow [Name]” or “Unfollow [Name]” from the menu.
From Settings
- Go to your Facebook Settings:
- Click your profile picture and select Settings & privacy > Settings.
- Select “News Feed Preferences”:
- Manage the people and pages you follow from here.
Key Differences Between Friends and Followers
| Feature | Friends | Followers |
|---|---|---|
| Connection | Mutual connection. | One-sided connection. |
| Post Visibility | See all posts (based on settings). | See only public posts. |
| Unfollow Option | Can unfollow without unfriending. | Simply stop following. |
Practical Use Cases
- Follow Public Figures or Pages:
Stay updated on celebrities, organizations, or influencers without sending a friend request. - Unfollow Without Offending:
Stop seeing posts from friends or family members without cutting ties. - Control Your News Feed:
Manage your News Feed content by customizing who you follow.
Privacy Considerations
- Who Can Follow You:
- Go to Settings & privacy > Settings > Public posts to control who can follow you.
- Options: Public, Friends, or Friends of Friends.
- Notifications:
- You can control whether you get notifications about new followers.
The follow and unfollow features on Facebook provide flexibility in managing your social media interactions. Following helps you stay updated on people and pages, while unfollowing lets you declutter your News Feed without impacting relationships. By mastering these features, you can create a personalized and meaningful Facebook experience.