How to Block Someone on Facebook: A Comprehensive 2600+ Word Guide

As one of the world‘s most popular social media platforms with over 2.96 billion monthly active users as of Q4 2022 (source), Facebook plays an outsized role in online interactions. However, the size and openness that makes Facebook invaluable for staying in touch with friends and family around the world can also enable unwanted, distracting, or even harassing connections.

Fortunately, Facebook offers privacy settings and blocking controls that allow users to manage precisely who interacts with them on the platform. In this expanded 2600+ word definitive guide, we will explore:

• Recent trends around online harassment and why blocking matters
• What happens when you block someone on Facebook
• Step-by-step blocking instructions for profiles, messages, posts and account settings
• How blocking alters visibility, communications and notifications
• Approaches for unblocking users
• Pros and cons of alternatives like unfriending and unfollowing
• Special blocking considerations for mobile apps
• What to do for persistent harassment from fake accounts
• Facebook safety resources for additional help

Let‘s dive into the data behind online harassment trends before outlining how Facebook blocking can help mitigate bad actors.

Online Harassment Statistics and Why It‘s Important

With over 210 million Facebook users in the US alone checking their accounts daily (source), users have plenty of opportunities to make connections that turn unpleasant. Numerous studies have found online harassment remains prevalent across popular social networking apps:

• Over 41% of Americans have experienced some form of online harassment or bullying (source)
• 70% of 18-29 year olds in the US have been the target of harassment online (source)
• 1 in 5 Americans have experienced online sexual harassment (source)
• 51% of US parents with teens are concerned their child will be bullied or harassed online (source)

And harassment statistics for just Facebook show similar issues:

• In a poll, 37% of American Facebook users said they were subjected to harassing content (source)
• 27% experienced harassment directly through messages, texts and emails (source)
• Over 50% felt online harassment made them less likely to speak their mind about contentious issues (source)

With such prevalent harassment aimed directly at one third of Facebook users, tools that protect personal privacy and sanity are vital. Blocking unwanted followers provides escape without having to delete your account entirely.

New Facebook Safety Features

Outside of blocking capabilities, which we will cover shortly, Facebook continues introducing new tools to help curb harassment trends:

Safety Check

Allows users in crisis scenarios like natural disasters to notify friends and family they are safe. Tapping into Facebook‘s awareness of location, Safety Check helps separate legitimate safety emergencies from potential bullying/harassment situations.

Crisis Response Features

In response to rising mental health crises and self-harm incidents associated with cyberbullying on the platform, Facebook now detects posts indicating suicidal intent and provides resources to intervene. Similar resources exist for intimate privacy violations and revenge porn type content.

Comment Filtering

Artificial intelligence now automatically hides comments assessed as "toxic" like hate speech, bullying, and harassment so other users don‘t see them as readily. Users can still manually unhide comments to view everything.

While still a work in progress, Facebook actively invests in improving content moderation and safety features. However, blocking individuals who persistently harass you remains an important self-help tool, which leads us to…

What Happens When You Block Someone on Facebook

Now that we have established critical context around online harassment and Facebook’s evolving role combating it, understanding what technically changes when blocking a user informs smart utilization of the feature.

Specifically, blocking someone on Facebook:

Removes Profile Access
The blocked user can no longer search for or view your Facebook profile, posts, photos, videos or other visible content. Friends in common would also be unable to see any of their comments or activity involving your profile through newsfeed visibility.

Prevents All Contact
Blocking eliminates all forms of direct communication and interaction initiated by the blocked person, including messages, wall posts, comment reactions, event invitations, etc.

Stops Notifications About You
In addition to cutting off access and interactions, blocking stops notifications alerting the person to any of your Facebook activity. They no longer receive updates when you post, comment, change relationship status or get tagged by others.

Now let’s go through the step-by-step process for leveraging this vital safety functionality.

How to Block Someone on Facebook

Facebook offers various pathways to block unwanted users depending on where harassment is coming from. You can block directly from user profiles, message threads, posts/comments, or search settings.

Blocking a User From Their Profile

When repeated harassment comes directly through an unwanted “friend’s” Facebook profile, the fastest relief comes from blocking them outright. Simply:

1. Navigate to the profile page of the person you wish to block
2. Select the three-dot More button located in the upper right corner
3. Choose Block from the dropdown menu
4. Confirm your decision to block the user again when prompted

Just like that, their access and ability to message you instantly disappears.

Blocking From an Active Message Thread

Unwanted attention often comes directly through Facebook Messenger as well. Block them straight from an active chat:

1. Open the message thread containing the person you intend to block
2. Click their name at the top of chat window
3. Choose Block from the menu
4. Confirm decision to block when prompted

Blocking bans them from your message inbox without ever leaving the conversation.

Blocking on Posts or Comments

Harassment can also happen indirectly by tagging you in unwanted posts. Isolate the interaction and:

1. Find the undesirable content tagging you
2. Click the vertical three dots in the upper right corner
3. Select Block User from the dropdown menu
4. Confirm again to block

This quickly removes the content while preventing repeated public tag harassment.

Blocking Through Facebook Settings

The final option allows manually blocking individuals you want preemptively banned from contacting you by adding them to your blocked users list:

1. Click down arrow and select Settings & Privacy
2. Choose Settings then click Blocking
3. Type the name of the user to block in the search box
4. Select their profile to confirm accurate match
5. Click Block and confirm decision

Having outlined multiple blocking routes, let‘s detail the effects blocking has on visibility, communication and notifications.

Effects of Blocking on Privacy and Notifications

Blocking fundamentally limits a user‘s awareness of you by hiding your profile, messages, and activities. Specifically:

How Blocking Changes Visibility

As soon as you block someone, your public Facebook profile, timeline posts, photos, videos and other visible content becomes completely inaccessible to them. Your profile also gets removed from Facebook graph search results for your name or username.

However, content set to completely “Public” does remain visible to a blocked person who logs out of Facebook before viewing it. So blocking is only partially effective on entirely public posts, pages and profiles.

Blocking Stops All Direct Interaction

Blocking prevents unwanted users from directly interacting through:

• Sending private/group messages
• Adding reactions or comments to public timeline posts
• Tagging you in their own posts or photos
• Inviting you to groups or events
• Contacting you through third-party apps requiring Facebook login

Comments they make involving you in wider public threads also disappear from visibility.

Blocked Users Won‘t Get Your Notifications

Blocking also stops notifications about:

• Timeline posts, new profile/cover photos
• Your comments and reactions to public content
• Changes in relationship status visibility
• Tags from shared connections in groups or events
• Really any personal Facebook activity at all

Understanding these fundamental impacts of blocking sets clear expectations. But what if you go too far blocking someone and regret it later?

Unblocking Users on Facebook

Having a change of heart after blocking someone is perfectly normal. Fortunately, unblocking a user works nearly the same as initial blocking workflow depending on method used.

Unblocking in Facebook Settings

To unblock someone you previously blocked directly in settings:

1. Revisit Facebook Settings then Blocking
2. Locate user to unblock under Blocked
3. Click Unblock button next to their name
4. Confirm you want to remove block

This immediately gives them renewed access to contact you if needed.

Unblocking from Blocked Users List

To unblock based on the universal blocked users list in settings:

1. Go back into Settings, then Blocking
2. Select See All to view full blocked users list
3. Hover the entry for the person now allowed back
4. Choose Unblock
5. Confirm removal of restrictions

Just like that, access can be restored. But less severe options beyond outright blocking exist too…

Alternatives to Completely Blocking Someone on Facebook

For mildly irritating connections, contacts you want to temporarily quiet, or loose friend associations easily rekindled later, blocking may feel a tad over-reactive. Several intermediate steps allow cooling connections without severing ties.

Unfollowing Friends

Unfollowing stops posts from an oversharing friend flooding your newsfeed without completely removing the connection. To unfollow:

1. Visit their profile
2. Click Friends below cover photo
3. Select Unfollow in menu

Pros

• Reduces noise from frequent posters
• Maintains friendship connection
• Easy to re-follow later

Cons

• Profile remains visible including messages
• Limited control over notifications

Overall Rating: 👍👍👍

Snoozing Friends

Snoozing hides all content from a friend and halts notifications for 30 days. Quiet without disconnecting.

To snooze:

1. Go to their profile
2. Click the Friends button
3. Select Snooze for 30 days

Pros

• Temporarily hides all content
• Stops notificationsspam
• Auto-resumes friendship afterward

Cons

• Only lasts 30 days
• Doesn‘t prevent posts you‘re tagged in by others from appearing in feed

Overall Rating: 👍👍👍👍

Hiding Specific Posts or Tags

Unlike snoozing everything from a friend, hiding lets you selectively remove unwanted posts while maintaining a connection. This helps avoid blocking:

1. Click the three-dot menu on the problematic post
2. Select Hide Post

Similarly, review tags requires pre-approving specific tags before displaying them publicly on your profile while keeping ties.

Pros

• Handles one-off bad posts from good connections
• Adds oversight into public tags
• Generally maintains relationships

Cons

• Tags may still show up in newsfeeds
• Repeat offenders require more diligent management

Overall Rating: 👍👍

Balancing approaches prevents blocking friends and family without cause while still establishing boundaries. But what about persistent harassment from strangers hiding behind fake accounts?

Dealing with Repeated Harassment from Fake Profiles

Malicious users often create fake Facebook accounts to harass others while protecting their identity. Repeated blocks may barely slow them down as they setup new profiles from which to attack you.

Beyond blocking every new profile they generate, additional ways to guard against serial harassment include:

🔑 Making personal profile and posts fully private to friends/connections only
🔒 Restricting visibility of posts you are tagged in before they appear on your timeline
📝 Proactively filtering message requests to those with mutual friends
📑 Reviewing comment tags frequently to limit public association with harassers

Depending on sensitivity/visibility/engagement levels you maintain, tightening privacy to trusted networks protects from overwhelming waves of anonymous harassment.

For severe threats of harm though, directly contact Facebook support through their Personal Safety Hub providing any details around physical threats, credible violence or intimidation warnings based on protected characteristics. Safety teams investigate next steps disabling abusive accounts when properly reported.

Special Blocking Considerations on Mobile

Accessing blocking functions works consistently across Facebook‘s desktop website and mobile apps. But settings and menus reside in slightly varied locations:

Blocking People via Facebook‘s iOS App

How to block:

1. Tap the profile of the person harassing you
2. Select three-dot menu in top right
3. Choose Block option in menu
4. Confirm Block decision

Access settings:

• Tap right-side menu tab
• Scroll down and select Settings & Privacy
• Choose Settings then Blocking

Blocking People on Android

How to block:

1. Visit profile of user to block
2. Tap three-dot menu button up top
3. Pick Block from resulting options
4. Confirm Block decision

Access settings:

• Tap main menu icon ☰
• Select Settings & Privacy in menu
• Choose Settings then Blocking

And that covers core considerations unique to blocking on mobile!

Conclusion

Despite Facebook‘s steadily improving algorithms, moderators and reporting tools, individual users must continue managing connections with care. Establishing boundaries against harassment while keeping positive ties open remains an art and science unique to each person.

This 2600+ word definitive guide provided vital background on still problematic harassment trends before outlining step-by-step instructions leveraging Facebook’s own blocking tools and settings. Just remember:

🔏 Use blocking tools judiciously against clear violations of your personal boundaries online
🙅‍♂️ Only block trusted connections during temporary cooling off periods if less severe options like hiding posts fail
💬 Continue reporting severe threats of harm to Facebook Safety teams in addition to blocking fake accounts
👥 Find settings balancing open sharing with friends against completely locking down privacy

Stay safe online, stay tuned for potential harassment, but don’t let it stop you living life openly. And if things escalate, block without hesitation.