The severing of a connection on the social media platform Facebook results in the removal of one individual from another’s list of designated acquaintances. This action prevents the unfriending party’s content, including posts, photos, and status updates, from appearing in the former connection’s news feed. Similarly, the person who initiated the removal will no longer see the other’s content. An example would be if individual A removes individual B, then A’s future activity will no longer be visible to B unless privacy settings allow, and vice versa.
The ability to manage one’s online social network is a feature that provides users with control over their digital interactions. This control allows for the maintenance of relationships deemed important while distancing oneself from connections considered irrelevant, negative, or outdated. Historically, social networking sites have evolved to offer increasingly granular controls over privacy and connections, reflecting changing user expectations and a growing awareness of the impact of online interactions on offline life.