The basics: what blocking does and doesn't do
Blocking someone prevents them from finding your profile, seeing your posts, sending you messages, and contacting you through that platform. The blocked person will not receive a notification that you blocked them, though they may figure it out if they try to visit your profile and see an error message instead.
Blocking is not the same as unfriending or unfollowing. When you unfriend someone on Facebook or unfollow them on Instagram, they can still see your public posts and send you messages — they just won't see your updates in their feed. Blocking cuts off all contact. On most platforms, if you block someone and then unblock them later, they won't automatically be re-added as a friend or follower.
If someone is harassing you, blocking stops new messages from that account, but it does not delete messages they already sent you. If you need a record of harassment for reporting to the platform or to law enforcement, take screenshots before you block.
Key Takeaways
- Blocking prevents someone from messaging you, seeing your posts, and finding your profile, but does not notify them or delete past messages.
- The steps to block differ by platform: Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X (Twitter), and YouTube each have their own menu location and process.
- You can block someone from their profile, from a message thread, or from a comment on your post, depending on the platform.
- If someone creates a new account to contact you after being blocked, that is a violation of the platform's terms of service and can be reported.
How to block someone on Facebook
On Facebook, you can block from someone's profile, from a message, or from a comment. The fastest route is their profile: visit their name, tap or click the three dots in the top right corner of their profile header, and select "Block." On mobile, the three dots appear next to their name at the top of the screen.
If you are blocking someone who has messaged you, open the message thread, tap or click their name at the top, scroll down, and select "Block." If someone has commented on your post and you want to block them without visiting their profile, tap or click the three dots on their comment and choose "Block."
After you block someone on Facebook, they cannot see your profile, posts, or story. They also cannot send you friend requests or messages. If you had mutual friends before blocking, those friends will still see that person's posts — blocking only affects what that person can see from you.
How to block someone on Instagram
To block on Instagram, visit the person's profile, tap or click the three dots in the top right corner, and select "Block." On mobile, the three dots are in the upper right of their profile header. You can also block from a direct message by opening the conversation, tapping or clicking their username at the top, scrolling down, and selecting "Block."
When you block someone on Instagram, they cannot find your profile through search, see your posts or stories, or send you direct messages. If they try to visit your profile directly, they will see a message saying the user is not found. Unlike Facebook, Instagram does not show blocked people your follower list or let them see who you follow.
Instagram also offers a "Restrict" option, which is less severe than blocking. When you restrict someone, they can still see your public posts, but their comments on your posts go into a hidden folder that only you can see, and they cannot see when you are online or whether you have read their messages. Restrict is useful if you want to limit contact without a complete block.
How to block someone on TikTok
On TikTok, visit the person's profile, tap or click the three dots in the top right corner, and select "Block." You can also block from a direct message by opening the conversation, tapping the person's username at the top, and selecting "Block user."
Blocking on TikTok prevents that person from viewing your videos, sending you direct messages, and finding your profile through search. They will not be able to like or comment on your videos. If they try to visit your profile, they will see a message that the account is private or does not exist.
TikTok also allows you to block comments from specific people without blocking their entire account. If someone is leaving unwanted comments on your videos, tap the three dots on their comment and select "Block comments from this user." They can still see your videos, but their comments will not appear.
How to block someone on X (formerly Twitter)
On X, visit the person's profile, tap or click the three dots next to the "Follow" button, and select "Block @[username]." On mobile, the three dots appear in the top right of their profile header. You can also block from a post or reply by tapping the three dots on that post and selecting "Block."
When you block someone on X, they cannot see your posts, follow you, or send you direct messages. They will be automatically unfollowed from your account. If they try to visit your profile, they will see a message saying you have blocked them — X does notify the blocked person, unlike most other platforms.
X also offers a "Mute" option, which hides that person's posts from your feed without blocking them. Muting is useful if you want to avoid seeing someone's content but do not want to prevent them from following you or seeing your public posts.
How to block someone on YouTube
On YouTube, you can block someone from their channel or from a comment. To block from their channel, visit their channel page, tap or click the three dots next to the "Subscribe" button, and select "Block user." To block from a comment, tap or click the three dots on their comment and select "Block user."
Blocking on YouTube prevents that person from commenting on your videos, sending you messages, and viewing your channel if it is private. Their comments on your public videos will be hidden from view. They can still watch your public videos, but they will not be able to interact with you.
YouTube also allows you to hide comments from specific channels without blocking them. If someone is leaving unwanted comments, tap the three dots on their comment and select "Hide user's comments." This hides all their comments from your videos without preventing them from watching.
What to do if someone creates a new account to contact you after being blocked
If someone you blocked creates a new account to message or contact you, that violates the platform's terms of service. Most platforms prohibit "evading" a block by creating alternate accounts. Report the new account to the platform by visiting their profile, tapping or clicking the three dots, and selecting "Report." Choose "It's abusive or harmful" or "Harassment" as the reason.
When you report, include context: mention that this is a new account created by someone you previously blocked, and if possible, explain why you blocked the original account. Platforms take repeated contact after a block seriously, especially if there is a pattern of harassment. Save screenshots of messages from the new account as evidence.
If the harassment continues across multiple accounts or escalates to threats, contact law enforcement. Most platforms also have options to report to their safety team or to request additional help if you are being stalked or threatened.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will the person know I blocked them?
On most platforms — Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube — the blocked person will not receive a notification. They may figure it out if they try to visit your profile and see an error. On X, the blocked person is explicitly told they have been blocked.
Can I block someone and then unblock them later?
Yes, you can unblock anyone at any time. The process is the same as blocking: visit their profile, tap the three dots, and select "Unblock." When you unblock someone, they do not automatically become your friend or follower again — you will need to re-add them if you want to follow their content.
What if I block someone by mistake?
Unblock them when ready by visiting their profile and selecting "Unblock." There is no penalty for blocking and unblocking. The person will not be notified of the mistake unless they tried to contact you during the time they were blocked.
Does blocking delete messages I already received from them?
No. Blocking only prevents new messages and contact going forward. Past messages remain in your inbox. If you want to delete a conversation, you must do that separately — blocking does not erase message history.
Can I block someone without them seeing my profile first?
Yes. You do not need to follow or interact with someone to block them. You can search for their profile and block them directly, and they will have no record that you ever viewed their account.