Can Someone You Blocked on Facebook See Your Public Posts? The Definitive Answer

The short answer is a resounding no. When you block someone on Facebook, you erect a digital wall that prevents them from seeing anything on your profile, regardless of your privacy settings. This includes your public posts, profile pictures, and any other content you’ve shared. Let’s delve into why this is the case and explore the nuances of Facebook’s blocking mechanism.

Understanding Facebook Blocking: A Fortress of Privacy

Think of Facebook blocking as building a digital fortress. When you initiate a block, you’re essentially telling Facebook: “This person is not allowed access to my online life on this platform.” This isn’t just about preventing them from interacting with you; it’s about completely severing their ability to view your content.

The Blocking Mechanism: More Than Meets the Eye

The beauty (and the power) of the Facebook blocking mechanism lies in its comprehensiveness. It’s not just about hiding your posts from a specific user’s newsfeed. Here’s what happens when you block someone:

• Profile Invisibility: Your profile becomes completely invisible to the blocked person. If they try to search for you, your name won’t appear in the search results. Even if they have a direct link to your profile, they’ll see a message indicating that the content is unavailable.
• Communication Cut-off: They can no longer send you messages, tag you in posts, or invite you to events or groups.
• Friend Removal: They are automatically unfriended from your friend list. You are also removed from theirs.
• Content Lockdown: Critically, they cannot see your posts, photos, or videos, regardless of whether they are set to “Public,” “Friends,” or “Friends of Friends.” Public posts are not an exception to the block.

This total severance ensures that the blocked individual cannot circumvent the privacy measures you’ve put in place. The core functionality of blocking is to make your profile and content unavailable to the blocked individual.

Public Posts and the Blocking Paradox

The concept of “public” posts often causes confusion in relation to blocking. While public posts are theoretically visible to anyone on the internet, the blocking mechanism overrides this general visibility. Facebook prioritizes the blocking setting, ensuring that a user’s explicit desire to restrict access takes precedence over the default visibility of public content. This protects the user’s privacy wishes above all else.

In essence, a block acts as a personalized privacy override.

Facebook Blocking: FAQs to Deepen Your Understanding

Here are some frequently asked questions to provide further clarity on the intricacies of Facebook blocking and how it impacts your online presence.

1. Can a friend of someone I blocked show them my public posts?

Potentially, yes. If a mutual friend shares your public post with the blocked person directly (outside of Facebook itself, like taking a screenshot and sending it), the blocked person could see it. However, within Facebook, the blocked person cannot access your profile or content directly, even through a mutual friend’s profile. The blocked person will not be able to see your posts if the mutual friend shares the post on their timeline.

2. If I unblock someone, will they automatically see my old posts?

No, unblocking someone doesn’t automatically grant them access to all your previous posts. They will only be able to see posts that are currently visible to them based on your privacy settings at the time they are viewing your profile. If a post was public when you made it and still is, they will be able to see it. If you’ve since changed the privacy setting or deleted the post, they won’t.

3. Does blocking someone prevent them from seeing my comments on other people’s posts?

It depends. If you comment on a public post, the blocked person might see your comment, as it’s accessible to anyone on the internet. However, if you comment on a post shared with a limited audience (e.g., “Friends Only”), the blocked person won’t see your comment unless they are also friends with the person who made the original post and that person has allowed “Friends of Friends” to see the post.

4. Can the person I blocked see if I visited their profile?

No. Facebook does not notify users when someone visits their profile, regardless of whether they are blocked. You can browse profiles without the fear of alerting the profile owner to your presence.

5. Does blocking someone on Facebook also block them on Messenger?

Yes. Blocking someone on Facebook automatically blocks them on Messenger, and vice-versa. They will no longer be able to send you messages through either platform.

6. Will the person I blocked know they’ve been blocked?

Facebook doesn’t send a notification explicitly stating “You have been blocked by [Name].” However, the blocked person will likely realize they’ve been blocked when they can no longer find your profile, send you messages, or interact with your content. The absence of your profile is a very strong indicator.

7. If I block someone, can they still see my likes or reactions on mutual friends’ posts?

It depends. If the mutual friend’s post is set to “Public,” the blocked person might see your like or reaction. However, if the post is set to a more restrictive privacy setting, the blocked person will not be able to see your interactions. Facebook prioritizes the privacy settings of the original post.

8. Can I block someone from seeing only specific posts and not my entire profile?

Unfortunately, Facebook doesn’t offer a feature to selectively block someone from viewing specific posts. The blocking feature is all-or-nothing. If you want to restrict access to certain posts, you can adjust the privacy settings of those individual posts to “Friends,” “Only Me,” or a custom list of friends excluding the person you want to restrict.

9. What’s the difference between blocking and unfriending someone?

Unfriending simply removes someone from your friend list. They can still see your public posts and potentially interact with you through mutual friends’ posts. Blocking, on the other hand, is a much stronger action that completely restricts their access to your profile and content.

10. Can someone create a fake account to circumvent a block?

Yes, technically, someone could create a fake account. However, Facebook actively works to identify and remove fake accounts. If you suspect someone is using a fake account to harass or stalk you, you should report the account to Facebook. Additionally, consider adjusting your privacy settings to further limit who can find and interact with you.

11. If I block someone from my Facebook page can they still see the page?

No, blocking someone from your Facebook page will hide the page from the user, and remove them if they liked the page. They will not be able to see posts, videos, and comments on the page.

12. If I block someone and they block me, is there any difference?

The result is practically the same. If you block someone and they block you, neither of you can see the other’s profile or content. The main difference is the initial action; one person initiated the block first. This scenario is essentially a mutual agreement to avoid each other on the platform.

Conclusion: Blocking for Peace of Mind

Blocking someone on Facebook is a powerful tool for maintaining your privacy and controlling your online experience. While public posts are generally accessible, the blocking mechanism acts as a personalized privacy override, ensuring that the blocked individual cannot see any of your content, regardless of your privacy settings. Understanding the nuances of blocking empowers you to use the feature effectively and safeguard your digital well-being. Remember to review your privacy settings regularly to ensure they align with your comfort level and desired level of online visibility.