What blocking does and does not do
Blocking prevents someone from seeing your profile, sending you messages, and finding your posts. On most platforms, a blocked person cannot tag you, comment on your content, or see when you are online. The blocked person will usually know they have been blocked — they will see an error message or notice your profile is no longer visible to them.
Blocking is not the same as muting or unfriending. When you mute someone on Facebook or Instagram, you still follow them and they can see your posts, but their content stops appearing in your feed. When you unfriend someone, they can no longer see your profile unless it is public, but they can still message you and see your posts if they are shared publicly. Blocking cuts off contact entirely.
Blocking does not delete past messages or comments. If someone has already sent you a message or commented on your post, that content remains visible to you and to anyone else who saw it before the block. Blocking only stops future contact.
Key Takeaways
- Blocking prevents someone from messaging you, seeing your profile, and finding your posts, and they will usually know they have been blocked.
- The steps to block someone differ by platform — Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X (formerly Twitter), and YouTube each have their own blocking process.
- If someone is harassing you across multiple accounts, you may need to block each account separately, and some platforms allow you to report the behavior to their safety team.
- Blocking someone does not erase messages they already sent you or comments they already left on your posts.
How to block on Facebook
On Facebook, go to the person's profile by searching their name or finding them in your friends list. Click the three dots in the top right corner of their profile. Select "Block" from the menu. Facebook will ask you to confirm; click "Block" again.
If you are blocking someone who has already sent you a message, you can also block them directly from the message thread. Open the conversation, click the person's name at the top, and select "Block." On mobile, tap the three dots next to their name instead.
After you block someone on Facebook, they cannot see your profile, send you friend requests, message you, or see your posts. If you change your mind, you can unblock them by going to Settings, selecting "Blocking," finding their name, and clicking "Unblock."
How to block on Instagram
On Instagram, find the person's profile by searching their username. Tap the three dots in the top right corner of their profile. Select "Block" and confirm your choice. On a computer, click the three dots and choose "Block User."
You can also block someone from a comment or direct message. If they have commented on your post, tap the three dots on their comment and select "Block." If they have messaged you, swipe left on the conversation (on mobile) or right-click it (on desktop) and choose "Block."
When you block someone on Instagram, they cannot find your profile, see your posts or stories, or message you. They will not receive a notification that says "blocked," but they will see that your profile is no longer visible when they search for you. You can unblock them anytime by going to Settings, selecting "Blocked," and tapping "Unblock" next to their name.
How to block on TikTok
On TikTok, go to the person's profile by tapping their username or searching their handle. Tap the three dots in the top right corner. Select "Block" and confirm. On a computer, click the three dots and choose "Block user."
You can also block someone from their comment on your video. Tap the three dots on their comment and select "Block user." If they have sent you a direct message, swipe left on the conversation (mobile) or right-click it (desktop) and tap "Block."
After blocking on TikTok, the person cannot see your profile, videos, or likes. They cannot message you or comment on your videos. They will see that your profile is unavailable when they search for you. To unblock, go to Settings, select "Privacy," tap "Blocked accounts," and choose "Unblock" next to their name.
How to block on X (formerly Twitter)
On X, find the person's profile by searching their handle or clicking their name from a tweet. Click the three dots in the top right corner of their profile. Select "Block @[username]" and confirm.
You can also block someone from their tweet. Click the three dots on the tweet and select "Block @[username]." On mobile, tap the three dots and choose "Block."
When you block someone on X, they cannot see your tweets, follow you, or message you. They will not see a notification saying "blocked," but they will see that your profile is unavailable. To unblock, go to their profile, click the three dots, and select "Unblock @[username]."
How to block on YouTube
On YouTube, go to the person's channel by clicking their name or searching their channel name. Click the three dots next to the "Subscribe" button. Select "Block user" and confirm.
You can also block someone from their comment on your video. Click the three dots on their comment and select "Block user." If you are a channel owner, you can also block them from your channel's Community tab.
After blocking on YouTube, the person cannot see your channel, videos, or comments. They cannot message you or comment on your videos. To unblock, go to Settings, select "Community," tap "Blocked users," and click "Unblock" next to their name.
What to do if someone blocks you from multiple accounts
If the same person is harassing you using different accounts, you will need to block each account separately. Most platforms do not have a feature to block someone across all their accounts at once. After you block one account, search for the other accounts and block them individually using the same steps listed above.
If the harassment is severe or ongoing, report the behavior to the platform's safety team. On Facebook and Instagram, click the three dots on a harassing message or post and select "Report." On TikTok, tap the three dots and choose "Report." On X, click the three dots and select "Report Tweet" or "Report @[username]." On YouTube, click the three dots on a comment and select "Report comment." Platforms use these reports to identify patterns of abuse and may take action against the account.
If someone is threatening you, harassing you sexually, or stalking you, you can also report the behavior to local law enforcement. Keep screenshots of the messages or posts as evidence. Some platforms will cooperate with law enforcement requests for account information.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will the person know I blocked them?
They will usually figure it out. When they search for your profile, they will see a message saying it is unavailable or that the user does not exist. They will not receive a notification that says "you have been blocked," but the unavailable profile is a strong signal. Some people will try to access your profile from a different account to confirm.
Can I block someone without them knowing?
Not reliably. The person will notice your profile is no longer visible when they search for you. If you want to limit contact without the person knowing, muting is a quieter option — they can still see your public posts, but their content stops appearing in your feed, and they will not know you muted them.
What happens to old messages after I block someone?
The messages stay in your inbox. You can still read them, but the person cannot send you new messages. On most platforms, you can delete the conversation if you want to remove it from your inbox, but deleting the conversation does not unblock the person.
Can I block someone and then unblock them later?
Yes. Unblocking restores contact — they can message you, see your profile, and comment on your posts again. Unblocking does not automatically refriend you or refollow you; it only removes the block. If you unblock someone by accident, you can block them again when ready.
What if someone creates a new account to contact me after I block them?
Block the new account using the same steps. If this happens repeatedly, report the pattern to the platform — most consider this harassment. You can also adjust your privacy settings to limit who can message you or comment on your posts. On most platforms, you can restrict messages to people you follow or people who follow you.