Un-Friending Or Un-Following Is Not Un-Friendly
When involved in the Twitter universe or inhabiting the virtual world of Facebook, getting out of a “relationship” in either case can be a sticky situation. Some people will take it very personally when a follower on Twitter decides not to follow them anymore, and others think the world has come to an end when they are dropped from someone’s Facebook roster.
First of all, there is a big difference between a Twitter and Facebook account. Twitter is designed to find new connections; a framework for which you can choose the content based on your interests. Facebook appears to be for friends and family, family friends, etc. so the connection is much more personal. Therefore, handling an un-friending on Facebook is liable to cause more problems than an un-following on Twitter.
When someone drops you from Twitter, it is safe to assume that person just isn’t interested in the same things you are, and the action should not be taken personally. It’s better for you both to move on to what benefits you the most, and just like offline life, people will come and go. It’s best to just forget about it, because in all likelihood it’s not meant as a personal attack or have anything to do with you at all – other than a failure to connect. It happens.
By the same token, although an un-friending on Facebook could have more serious connotations, taking it personally is a mistake. If you know the person offline and it’s really bothering you, pick up the phone and discuss it in an adult manner. Otherwise, make the same assumption as the drop on Twitter and just move on. There are plenty of other people out there with whom to connect, and unless it is a really close family member or friend doing the dropping, chances are you won’t really feel much of a void.
On the other hand, if it’s you doing the dropping, sometimes a simple message or e-mail will ease the sting, if any. This is strictly a judgment call. Most veteran Twitter users understand how Twitter works, and if someone isn’t interested or interacting with their Tweets, it makes sense to clean up the Twitter stream and move along.
On Facebook, depending on your reasons for dropping someone from your roster and your relationship, you may send a message just to state your intentions and assure the other person it’s nothing personal. If it is a truly sticky situation, Facebook offers privacy settings whereby you can restrict the person from accessing your Facebook account, and that might be all you need to do.
It may be difficult at times, but try not to take an un-friending on Facebook or un-follow on Twitter as a personal affront. Sometimes, it’s just time to move on.
9 Responses to “Un-Friending Or Un-Following Is Not Un-Friendly”
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A great post topic, some people I have unfriended for business reasons really took it the wrong way. I had to call them and let them know that is was not personal. It was a very tough situation for me.
I can definitely understand that.
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There are way too many people of the net with similar tastes to get mad about getting unfollowed. If someone unfollows move on.
Amen
Couldn’t have said it better myself: De-Friending/Un-Following is not necessarily unfriendly. http://bit.ly/6aDftN
Thanks. Really educational writing.
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