Many of us thought it would be a fad, but social media seems like it’s here to stay. To maintain a harmonious symbiosis between your real life and your virtual one, it’s important to shave off the scabs that make social media…bothersome. Here are five people who, if they’re bogging down your feed, you should unfriend asap.
The 5 Types of People You Should Unfriend on Social Media
1. Debby Downer
You know the one—the friend who is always complaining, always posting cryptic updates that beg for attention, and always has a pessimistic outlook on life.
You don’t have room for people like this in your life; they could suck the happiness right out of you. Go ahead and unfriend anyone on your feed who subsists on a steady diet of criticism, complaints, and negativity.
2. Anyone who makes you feel worse about yourself or your life
If you find yourself scrolling through your feed, harshly comparing ModelMegan’s perfect eyebrows to your gnarly ones, or AllHomesShouldLookLikeThis’s impeccably clean and decorated home to your cluttered and lived-in one, then stop. If you ever find yourself feeling worse about yourself or your life because of someone you are following on social media, unfriend them immediately.
3. The Total Fake
Unfortunately, so much of social media is made up of over-glamorized, over-edited, and over-exaggerated frames of life. What seems to be real life is often fake. If you’re following complete strangers whose lives seem too good to be true, they probably are. No one wakes up with smoky, smoldering eyes, flawless skin, and plump, pouty lips. Where are the eye boogers, the toxic morning breath, and pillow wrinkles? I’ll take real life over the fake stuff any day. #justwokeup
4. Ranting Randy
Some people just can’t help posting about politics and hot topics on social media. It’s a platform that just begs to be tap-danced on. But if you find yourself constantly annoyed by a particular friend’s rants, don’t feel bad about saying buh-bye. Individuals who go off on long-winded tirades and try to initiate heated debates clog up the Internet. Cut ties and your feed will feel much lighter.
5. Plain Old Weirdos
If someone on your social media account is giving off a weird vibe or making you feel uneasy, unfriend them immediately. In today’s world of cat fishing, hacking, and scamming, you have to be super careful about who you let into your virtual life. If you post photos and information about your family or your children, make sure your accounts are set to private. When accepting new friend requests, exercise caution. If it doesn’t feel right, it isn’t worth it.
Karla says
What type of personality would be one who doesn’t like her/his own friends, or is bothered by other’s perfect house and/or physical features, or cannot handle a difference of opinion?
I agree to not accepting strangers’ friend requests, or putting up with disrespectful posts, comments or debates; I’ve dealt with these in my wall and we still remain friends. They know where I stand, and I’ve gotten to know people on Facebook better… I like knowing how people really are. I rather see everyone’s true colors on Facebook, than see smiling faces and shake hands of people I don’t really know.
SJ says
Wow, I know this article had good intentions, but it felt a little harsh to me. Social media is really difficult for me at times. There are a lot of people I’d often like to unfriend and walk away from, but I stay because sometimes that “Debbie Downer” desperately needs a friend and sometimes those people who post about their religion, that religion they love and feel strongly about, are family members that I have to grit my teeth and listen to their opinions on anti-lgbtq issues because I still want them in my life. Those are the hardest. Your religion may feel loving and inclusive to you, touting families being together forever, but many of the beliefs are hateful toward me as a bisexual person and my son who is transgender. I hate seeing these posts from their leaders when I know what they believe about “apostates” and lgbtq people. How do I just throw those people out of my life if I love them and want to still know how they’re doing? It’s not always so simple to just hit that unfriend button because someone makes me hurt. I find that learning to just not engage in those situations is the best way to deal with them. Putting myself in their shoes, realizing they don’t always know any better. Sometimes, I wish I could stand up for myself and my family, but politics and religion are always tough ones to deal with. I try to be aware of that when I want to share something that might feel like I’m shoving my beliefs in their face and hurt them. You just don’t always know what’s going on in people’s lives. Sometimes looking beyond the perfect posts, the complainers or the ones who think they should share their religious or political beliefs help us to be better and more compassionate people than we might otherwise be than if we just cut everyone out who doesn’t live in our same bubble.
Karen Boyd says
I have one comment about unfriending facebook frineds on FB. If it is someone you barely know then go ahead. But it is a family member or part of your social network, I suggest you unfollow or hide them. This way they will not know. That will avoid potential awkwardness when they discover you unfriended them.
Dianne Coates says
Your article is spot on–sometimes you just have to let folks go–and you feel so much better about yourself for it!
Amber G says
I disagree with number two… It seems a bit small person, to be deleting people that are doing well in life or maybe DO have it together in this moment, because you don’t feel good about yourself WHILE looking at it.
JB says
If it takes you to a “bad place” about yourself, then it best just not to look. It has nothing to do with the friend. It’s more about yourself at that moment in your life.
Regean says
Don’t forget about “Seeking Sally” You know the friend who is always ISO (in search of) something. Or “Borrowing Ben” depending on the gender. These types of people will without a doubt drain the life out of you. My experience with these types of friends is that they will borrow the item and then, if returned, it may be broken, missing pieces, dented or just plain not treated respectfully. I have found it best to remove or hide their posts so you do not feel obligated to accommodate their constant needs.