TikTok is a popular short-form video app that allows users to create, upload, share, and view short videos. One of the main features of the app is the ability to follow other users in order to see their content in your feed. Following other users is part of the social experience on TikTok and allows you to curate the content you see.
When you follow someone on TikTok, their videos will appear in your Following feed. Similarly, when other users follow you, they will be able to see your videos in their feed. The number of followers a user has is often seen as a marker of their popularity and reach on the platform.
However, at times users may decide they no longer wish to see someone’s content or interact with them on the platform. In these cases, they can unfollow that user. But this raises the question – does the user you unfollowed get notified?
Removing A Follower on TikTok
Removing a follower on TikTok is a straightforward process that can be done in just a few steps:
- Open the TikTok app and go to your profile page.
- Tap on the “Followers” count below your profile photo and username.
- This will open up a list of all your followers. Scroll through and find the follower you want to remove.
- Tap on the three dots next to their username and select “Remove this follower” from the menu.
- Confirm that you want to remove the follower by tapping “Remove” on the pop-up.
And that’s it! The user will immediately be unfollowed and removed from your followers list. You can repeat these steps to remove multiple followers at once if needed.
According to this MakeUseOf article, there is no limit to how many followers you can remove in a certain period of time. You have full control over your follower list on TikTok.
Notifications for the Unfollowed User
When you unfollow someone on TikTok, the user you unfollowed will not receive a notification informing them of this action. TikTok does not currently send any type of alert to a user when someone unfollows their account.
This means that if you unfollow a TikTok user, they have no way of knowing that you unfollowed them unless they proactively check their followers list. According to sources, the unfollowed user will not get a notification, message, or any other alert that they have lost you as a follower (Source). There is no notice sent to them by TikTok if you remove them as a follower.
Therefore, a TikTok user typically has no indication if someone they were previously following has unfollowed them. The only way they would know is if they periodically check their own list of followers and notice your username is no longer there. Overall, you can unfollow a person without them being informed or notified at all on TikTok.
Impact on the Unfollowed User
When you unfollow someone on TikTok, their content will no longer show up in your Following feed. This means the unfollowed user loses visibility and reach for their content to you as a viewer. According to this Quora post, the unfollowed user’s videos will not appear on your For You page either after you unfollow them.
Essentially, by unfollowing someone on TikTok you remove yourself as an audience member for that creator. Their content will stop being recommended to you by the TikTok algorithm. This cuts down the potential views, likes, and comments the unfollowed creator may have received from you as a follower.
The impact on the unfollowed user’s visibility can be significant if they had built up a loyal following and engagement with you. Having followers unfollow means losing out on potential traffic and circulation for their content.
Why People Unfollow Others
There are many common reasons why someone may unfollow another person on social media. According to one source, some top reasons include:
- The content is no longer relevant or interesting to them (Source)
- Too much promotional content or sales pitches (Source)
- Overly personal or controversial posts (Source)
- Frequent but shallow content (Source)
- Account has become inactive or posts infrequently (Source)
- Too many posts in general (Source)
In summary, people may unfollow accounts that do not provide value, post too often or too rarely, share controversial opinions, or drift from their core focus and relevance. Maintaining an audience requires regularly posting quality content tailored to followers’ interests.
Best Practices
When it comes to unfollowing others on TikTok, it’s important to keep etiquette in mind. Here are some best practices around unfollowing:
- Be purposeful about who you follow – only follow accounts you genuinely want to see content from. That way, you likely won’t need to do much unfollowing.
- If you do unfollow someone, try not to make it obvious. Refrain from publicly commenting about it or making a big show of it.
- Avoid mass unfollowing sprees where you unfollow large groups of people at once. This can look aggressive and off-putting.
- If asked, be honest but kind about why you unfollowed someone. For example, “I’m trying to keep my feed relevant to my interests right now” or “I’m cleaning up my following list.”
- Don’t unfollow someone just because they didn’t follow you back. Give them time to decide if they want to follow you.
- Consider hiding instead of unfollowing if you want to temporarily remove someone’s content from your feed.
Following these tips can help maintain good relationships even if you unfollow someone. The key is to be thoughtful about your actions on social media.
Pros of Unfollowing
Unfollowing irrelevant accounts on social media can provide several benefits. It helps declutter your feed so you can focus on content that truly interests you (1). When you follow fewer accounts, the posts from those you do follow will stand out more in your feed. This allows you to better engage with the content you care about.
Additionally, unfollowing irrelevant accounts can improve your overall experience on social media. Accounts that don’t align with your interests or values can contribute to negative emotions like envy, anxiety, or loneliness (2). Eliminating these accounts helps curate a feed that makes you feel good when you log in. This creates a more positive space for connecting with friends and family.
Unfollowing can also help you focus your social media use. Accounts that constantly promote products or certain lifestyles can lead to mindless scrolling. Removing accounts that don’t add value to your life reduces distractions. This frees up more time for offline activities and connections.
Cons of Unfollowing
While unfollowing others on social media can have benefits, there are also some potential drawbacks to consider:
It can hurt someone’s feelings if they notice you unfollowed them, especially if it’s someone you know personally. According to an article on Headspace, “Perhaps what’s most hurtful is that losing touch with people happens naturally in the real world, while unfollowing on social media is a deliberate act.”
You may miss out on updates from people you unfollow. Even if some of their content is irrelevant, they may still occasionally post things that are interesting or important.
Excessive unfollowing can make your own follower count drop, which some people care about for branding purposes. According to an article on SCMP, “The more people you follow compared with your follower count indicates your level of engagement.”
It can look petty if you unfollow someone who follows you, especially if you do not know them well. Some people may take it as a personal snub.
If you unfollow friends or family, it could damage real-world relationships and make people think you are trying to avoid them.
Overall, being more selective with who you follow in the first place can reduce the need for hurtful unfollowing later on.
Alternatives to Unfollowing
While unfollowing is an option if you wish to curate your feed or manage your followers, there are other alternatives that can achieve similar goals. According to Product Hunt, some options besides unfollowing include:
- Using an app like Twindr to identify inactive followers or friends to remove
- Muting accounts instead of unfollowing so their content doesn’t appear but you remain connected
- Organizing friends/followers into lists so you can filter feed content
- Take a break from the platform for a while instead of mass unfollowing
- Gradually unfollow a few people at a time to avoid attracting attention
The key is to thoughtfully evaluate if you really need to unfollow, or if a less drastic option like muting or using lists can help curate your feed. Unfollowing should be done judiciously.
Summary
In summary, when you unfollow someone on TikTok, the other user is not directly notified. However, the unfollowed user may notice if they try to view your profile or content. There are pros and cons to unfollowing people on social media. The main reason people unfollow is to curate their feed and who they interact with. While it can be done discreetly, it’s best practice per social media etiquette to do so judiciously and with care. There are also alternatives like muting or restricting someone if you don’t want to fully unfollow. Overall, be thoughtful about who you follow and unfollow as it can impact your relationships and reputation.