Blocking someone on social media or messaging platforms can be a liberating experience, especially if you’re dealing with harassment, spam, or toxic individuals. However, have you ever wondered what the other person sees when you block them? In this article, we’ll delve into the world of blocking and explore what happens from the other side of the digital divide.
Understanding Blocking on Different Platforms
Before we dive into what the other person sees when you block them, it’s essential to understand how blocking works on different platforms. Each social media and messaging platform has its unique features and settings, which affect how blocking is implemented.
Facebook Blocking
On Facebook, when you block someone, they won’t be able to:
- See your profile or posts
- Tag you in posts or photos
- Invite you to events or groups
- Start a conversation with you
- See your online status
However, if you have mutual friends, the blocked person may still see your name and profile picture in their friends’ posts or comments.
Instagram Blocking
On Instagram, blocking someone prevents them from:
- Seeing your posts, stories, or reels
- Following you or viewing your profile
- Liking or commenting on your posts
- Tagging you in posts or stories
- Sending you direct messages
Additionally, Instagram will not notify the blocked person that they’ve been blocked.
Twitter Blocking
When you block someone on Twitter, they won’t be able to:
- See your tweets or replies
- Follow you or view your profile
- Mention you in tweets
- Send you direct messages
- See your tweets in search results
However, the blocked person may still see your tweets if they’re shared by someone else or if they use a third-party app.
WhatsApp Blocking
On WhatsApp, blocking someone prevents them from:
- Sending you messages or making voice or video calls
- Seeing your online status or last seen timestamp
- Viewing your profile picture or status updates
However, the blocked person may still see your messages in group chats, and you may still receive messages from them in group chats.
What Does the Other Person See When You Block Them?
Now that we’ve covered how blocking works on different platforms, let’s explore what the other person sees when you block them.
The Blocked Person’s Perspective
When you block someone, they may notice that:
- Your profile or posts are no longer visible to them
- They can’t send you messages or make calls (on WhatsApp)
- They can’t tag you in posts or photos (on Facebook and Instagram)
- They can’t see your online status or last seen timestamp (on WhatsApp)
However, the blocked person may not receive a notification that they’ve been blocked. They may only realize they’ve been blocked when they try to interact with you or view your content.
Can the Blocked Person Tell They’ve Been Blocked?
While the blocked person may not receive a notification, there are some signs that can indicate they’ve been blocked:
- If they try to send you a message on WhatsApp, they may see a “message not delivered” error
- If they try to view your profile on Facebook or Instagram, they may see a “page not found” error
- If they try to tag you in a post on Facebook or Instagram, they may not see your name in the tagging suggestions
However, these signs don’t necessarily confirm that they’ve been blocked. The blocked person may still be unsure whether they’ve been blocked or if there’s another issue.
What Happens to Existing Messages and Posts?
When you block someone, what happens to existing messages and posts?
Existing Messages
On most platforms, existing messages will still be visible to both parties, even after blocking. However, the blocked person won’t be able to send new messages or respond to existing ones.
Existing Posts
Existing posts will still be visible to the public, but the blocked person may not be able to see them. On Facebook and Instagram, the blocked person may still see your posts if they’re shared by someone else or if they use a third-party app.
Can the Blocked Person Contact You Through Other Means?
While blocking someone on social media or messaging platforms can prevent them from contacting you directly, it’s essential to remember that they may still be able to contact you through other means.
Alternative Accounts
The blocked person may create alternative accounts to try to contact you. This is especially common on platforms like Twitter, where creating new accounts is relatively easy.
Third-Party Apps
The blocked person may use third-party apps to try to contact you or view your content. These apps can bypass some of the blocking features on social media platforms.
Real-Life Contact
In some cases, the blocked person may try to contact you in real life, either through mutual friends or by showing up at your workplace or home.
Best Practices for Blocking Someone
Blocking someone can be a necessary step to protect your online safety and well-being. Here are some best practices to keep in mind:
Block and Report
If someone is harassing or spamming you, block them and report them to the platform’s moderators. This can help prevent them from contacting you or others in the future.
Use Strong Privacy Settings
Use strong privacy settings to control who can see your content and contact you. This can help prevent unwanted interactions and reduce the need to block someone.
Be Cautious with Alternative Accounts
Be cautious when interacting with alternative accounts, especially if you’ve already blocked someone. These accounts may be created by the same person to try to contact you.
Conclusion
Blocking someone on social media or messaging platforms can be a liberating experience, but it’s essential to understand what happens from the other side of the digital divide. By knowing what the other person sees when you block them, you can take steps to protect your online safety and well-being. Remember to use strong privacy settings, block and report harassers, and be cautious with alternative accounts.
What happens when I block someone on social media?
When you block someone on social media, you are essentially restricting their ability to interact with you on that particular platform. The blocked person will no longer be able to see your posts, send you messages, or tag you in their posts. Additionally, you will not receive any notifications from the blocked person, and their comments or messages will not appear in your inbox.
However, it’s essential to note that blocking someone on social media does not necessarily mean they will be completely unaware of your presence. They may still be able to see your public posts or profile information, depending on your privacy settings. Moreover, if you have mutual friends or followers, the blocked person may still be able to see your interactions with those individuals.
Can the blocked person still see my profile information?
The visibility of your profile information to a blocked person depends on the social media platform and your privacy settings. On some platforms, blocking someone will completely restrict their access to your profile, while on others, they may still be able to see your public profile information, such as your name, profile picture, and bio.
To ensure that the blocked person cannot see your profile information, you may need to adjust your privacy settings to make your profile private or limit who can see your information. It’s also a good idea to review your profile information and remove any sensitive or personal details that you don’t want the blocked person to see.
Will the blocked person know that they have been blocked?
Most social media platforms do not notify the blocked person that they have been blocked. However, they may be able to infer that they have been blocked if they are unable to see your posts or interact with you on the platform. Some platforms may also display a message or error when the blocked person tries to view your profile or send you a message.
It’s worth noting that some platforms, like Facebook, allow you to block someone without them knowing. However, if the blocked person is tech-savvy, they may be able to figure out that they have been blocked by using third-party tools or searching for your profile.
Can I still see the blocked person’s posts and profile information?
When you block someone on social media, you will typically no longer be able to see their posts or profile information. However, if you have mutual friends or followers, you may still be able to see their interactions with those individuals. Additionally, if the blocked person has a public profile, you may still be able to see their public posts or profile information.
Some social media platforms also allow you to view the blocked person’s profile information or posts if you log out of your account or use a different device. However, this is not always the case, and the specific behavior may vary depending on the platform and your settings.
Can I block someone on social media without them knowing?
Most social media platforms allow you to block someone without them knowing. When you block someone, the platform will typically not send them a notification or alert them in any way. However, as mentioned earlier, the blocked person may be able to infer that they have been blocked if they are unable to see your posts or interact with you on the platform.
It’s worth noting that some platforms, like Facebook, have a feature called “Restrict” that allows you to limit someone’s access to your profile without blocking them entirely. This feature can be useful if you want to restrict someone’s access to your profile without them knowing.
How do I block someone on social media?
The process for blocking someone on social media varies depending on the platform. Typically, you can block someone by going to their profile, clicking on the three dots or the gear icon, and selecting “Block” or “Report/Block.” You may also be able to block someone from your settings or from a specific post or comment.
Before blocking someone, make sure you have reviewed the platform’s blocking policies and understand the implications of blocking someone. Additionally, consider reporting the person to the platform if they are harassing or abusing you, as blocking alone may not be enough to stop their behavior.
Can I unblock someone on social media?
Yes, you can typically unblock someone on social media by going to your settings or the person’s profile and selecting “Unblock.” The process for unblocking someone varies depending on the platform, but it’s usually a straightforward process.
When you unblock someone, they will typically regain access to your profile and be able to interact with you on the platform. However, keep in mind that unblocking someone does not necessarily mean you will start seeing their posts or notifications again. You may need to adjust your settings or follow them again to see their content.