How To Clean House: A Guide to Removing Followers on Facebook

So, you’re ready to prune your Facebook garden, eh? Whether you’re trying to curate a more engaged audience, dealing with unwanted attention, or simply tidying up your digital space, you’ve come to the right place. Removing followers on Facebook is thankfully quite straightforward, though the approach differs depending on whether you’re managing a personal profile or a Facebook Page. Let’s dive in.

How To Remove Followers From Your Facebook Profile

The term “delete” is a bit strong here. You can’t outright delete someone from following you unless you block them. Blocking completely severs the connection: they can’t see your profile (unless it’s completely public), they can’t message you, and they definitely can’t follow you. However, you can remove someone from following you, which is the kinder, gentler approach. This doesn’t prevent them from seeing your public posts if they stumble across them, but it does stop them from automatically receiving updates.

Here’s how to do it:

1. Navigate to your profile. Click on your name or profile picture in the top-left corner.

2. Find the “Friends” tab below your cover photo.

3. Click on “Followers.” If you don’t see this, it might be because you haven’t enabled followers in your privacy settings. We’ll address that in the FAQ section.

4. Locate the follower you want to remove. You can scroll through the list or use the search bar.

5. Click the three dots (ellipsis) next to the follower’s name.

6. Select “Remove Follower.”

7. Confirm your choice. A confirmation window might appear.

That’s it! The person is no longer following you. They’re still your Facebook “neighbor,” but they won’t be getting your daily updates directly. If things get hairy, you can always resort to blocking.

How To Remove Followers From Your Facebook Page

Facebook Pages are different beasts than personal profiles. They’re designed for businesses, organizations, and public figures. Luckily, removing followers from a Page is more granular and direct than a personal profile. You can indeed “ban” people.

Here’s how:

1. Go to your Facebook Page.

2. Click “Settings” at the top right of your Page. You may need to click “Manage Page” first, then look for “Settings” in the left-hand column.

3. Click “People and Other Pages” in the left-hand column.

4. Use the search bar to find the follower you want to remove or scroll through the list.

5. Check the box next to the person’s name.

6. Click the gear icon and select either “Remove from Page Likes” or “Ban from Page.”

   • Remove from Page Likes: This simply unfollows the person. They can still like your Page again if they choose.

   • Ban from Page: This prevents the person from liking or following your Page in the future. They also won’t be able to see your Page’s content (unless you’re running ads targeting them, which is a whole other discussion!).

7. Confirm your action.

Banning someone from your Page is a more decisive action. Use it judiciously. For simple unfollows, removing them from Page Likes is sufficient.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are some common questions regarding managing your followers, ensuring you are fully equipped to handle any Facebook following related situation.

1. How do I enable the “Follow” button on my profile?

If you don’t see the “Followers” tab on your profile, it likely means you haven’t enabled the “Follow” feature. Here’s how:

1. Go to your Facebook Settings. Click the downward-facing arrow in the top-right corner and select “Settings & Privacy,” then “Settings.”

2. Click “Public Posts” in the left-hand column.

3. Under “Who Can Follow Me,” select “Public.”

Enabling this allows people who aren’t your friends to still follow your public updates.

2. Will someone know if I remove them as a follower?

No. Facebook does not notify people when they are removed as a follower, either on a personal profile or a Page. They may notice if they regularly engage with your content and suddenly stop seeing it, but they won’t receive a direct notification.

3. Can I remove multiple followers at once?

Unfortunately, Facebook doesn’t offer a bulk removal option for personal profiles. You have to remove followers one at a time. For Pages, you can select multiple people to ban or remove from Page Likes, making the process slightly faster.

4. What’s the difference between “Friends” and “Followers” on Facebook?

Friends are people you’ve mutually connected with. You both have to accept a friend request. You see their posts, and they see yours (based on privacy settings). Followers, on the other hand, are people who see your public updates but haven’t sent you a friend request (or you haven’t accepted theirs). They’re essentially subscribing to your public content.

5. Can I see who is following me on Facebook?

Yes, you can see a list of your followers by going to your profile, clicking the “Friends” tab, and then selecting “Followers.” For Pages, you can see a list of people who like your Page under “People and Other Pages” in your Page settings.

6. Is blocking someone the same as removing them as a follower?

No. Blocking is a much more drastic action. When you block someone, they can’t see your profile (unless it’s completely public), they can’t message you, and they are automatically unfollowed. Removing someone as a follower simply stops them from automatically receiving your updates.

7. How do I prevent unwanted followers in the first place?

The best way to prevent unwanted followers is to adjust your privacy settings. You can limit who can send you friend requests, who can see your posts, and who can find you using your email address or phone number. Regularly review and adjust your privacy settings to stay in control.

8. What if I accidentally remove someone as a follower? Can they re-follow me?

Yes, unless you’ve blocked them, they can simply visit your profile or Page and click the “Follow” or “Like” button again.

9. I’m getting spammy followers. What should I do?

Spammy followers are a nuisance. Remove them immediately and consider reporting them to Facebook. You can report a profile by going to their profile, clicking the three dots (ellipsis) next to their name, and selecting “Report Profile.”

10. How do I manage followers if I have a professional mode profile?

Professional mode on Facebook operates similarly to a Page. You can remove followers and ban users from your profile in the same way you would on a Facebook Page, by going to your profile settings and selecting “People and Other Pages.”

11. Does removing inactive followers improve my engagement?

It can. Having a large number of followers who never interact with your content can negatively impact your engagement rate, making it harder for your posts to reach genuinely interested people. Removing inactive or irrelevant followers can potentially boost your engagement.

12. Can I remove followers from a Facebook Group?

Yes. If you’re an admin or moderator of a Facebook Group, you can remove members. To do this, go to the group, click on “Members,” find the person you want to remove, click the three dots (ellipsis) next to their name, and select “Remove from Group.” You also have the option to ban them from rejoining. This is key to maintaining a healthy and engaged community within your group.

Removing followers is a straightforward process that allows you to curate your Facebook experience. Whether you’re managing a personal profile or a Facebook Page, understanding the difference between removing, banning, and blocking is crucial. By regularly reviewing and adjusting your follower list and privacy settings, you can maintain a more engaged and positive online presence.