There are times when our Facebook friends become unbearable or toxic on specific topics, particularly when it comes to politics, which can affect relationships and our mental health.
When this happens, you may want to unfriend, block, or unfollow them to avoid seeing their posts on your feed altogether. However, if you don’t want to go to the extremes, you may also use Facebook’s “take a break” feature – but not the Rachel and Ross kind.
What happens when you take a break from someone’s profile?
Here’s what will happen when you choose to use the take a break feature:
- You’ll remain friends but have less access and interaction with the profile of the one you took a break from.
- Your friend will not know that you took a break from them. After following the steps of how to take a break from friends, they will not be notified about it. Likewise, you will not be notified if someone did it to you.
- You’ll see less of someone’s profile. This will limit where you see someone’s profile on Facebook, but you can still visit their profile.
- You can hide your post. Despite remaining friends while you’re on a break, you can also put them on your Restricted List. This will restrict them from seeing the posts you shared with friends unless you tag their profile.
- You can edit access to your past posts. You’ll also have the option to edit individual posts or all your posts and posts that you’re tagged in that you want to make more private.
You can use the ‘take a break’ function from either the web or mobile versions.
How to take a break using the Facebook web
Here are the step-by-step instructions for using the web version.
Step 1: Go to https://www.facebook.com/take_a_break on your browser.
You should be logged into your account.
Step 2: Search the profile of the friend you want to see less of.
Once you start typing their name, it will appear on the drop-down menu, and you can select them.
Step 3: After clicking their profile, you’ll have several options for changing the restrictions and limits you want to adjust.
Here are the options you can choose from to better personalize how much posts you want to see or share:
- See less of your friend’s profile.
- See your friend’s profile anywhere on Facebook (default)
- Limit where you see your friend’s profile – their posts and posts they are tagged in won’t show up on your News Feed. You won’t be prompted to message or tag them in photos.
- Limit what your friend’s profile will see
- Keep current privacy settings (default)
- Hide your posts from your friend’s profile – put their profile on your Restricted List so they won’t see your posts that are shared with friends unless you see their profile.
- Edit all my posts and posts I’m tagged in
- Keep all posts as they are (default)
- Edit individual posts – review each post individually and decide which ones you’d like to make more private or untag.
- Edit all my posts and posts I’m tagged in – anything you’ve posted that your friend is tagged in will only be visible to you. You’ll also be untagged in your friend’s posts and other posts you’re both tagged in and anything you posted on each other’s timelines will be deleted.
Carefully select which options you choose to avoid deleting unnecessary posts.
Step 4: Click “Done.”
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How to take a break on Facebook using your mobile phones
Here are step-by-step instructions for using the mobile version, whether on your iPhone or Android.
Step 1: Open your Facebook app.
Please make sure that your app is updated to the latest version.
Step 2: Search for your friend’s name and go to their profile.
Step 3: Click “Friends,” then choose “Take a break.”
Step 4: After clicking their profile, you’ll have several options for changing the restrictions and limits you want to adjust.
Note: You can refer to the options available on the web version (Step 3) for taking a break.
Step 5: Click “Done.”
How to reverse take a break with your friend’s profile:
If one day, you feel that you want to reconnect with a friend and want to remove them from the “take a break” category, then here’s what you can do:
Note: This applies to both web and mobile app versions.
Step 1: Search and open your friend’s profile.
Step 2: Click “Friends.”
Step 3: Click “Edit Friends List.”
Step 4: Uncheck the “Restricted,” then tap “Done.”
By removing the “Restricted” option, your friend will be able to see your posts again.
Step 5: Follow them again (optional)
Now that you have removed their restrictions, you can also follow them again and allow their posts to appear on your news feed.