You can hide people from Facebook's "People You May Know" section, but you cannot prevent the list from appearing
Facebook's "People You May Know" feature shows you profiles the platform thinks you might want to connect with, based on mutual friends, shared interests, work history, or other data Facebook collects. You can block individual people from this list so they stop appearing there, but you cannot turn off the feature itself — it will keep showing other suggestions.
Blocking someone from "People You May Know" is different from a full block. A full block prevents someone from finding your profile, messaging you, or seeing your posts. Blocking them from "People You May Know" only removes them from that specific recommendation list. If they search for you by name, they can still find your profile unless you have already blocked them completely.
Key Takeaways
- You can remove individual people from "People You May Know" by clicking the X or menu button next to their name, but this does not fully block them.
- A full block prevents someone from finding your profile, messaging you, or seeing your posts — it is stronger than just hiding them from recommendations.
- Facebook will keep showing you new "People You May Know" suggestions even after you remove people from the list.
- Blocking someone from "People You May Know" takes seconds, but you may see the same person reappear in the list later if Facebook's algorithm changes.
How to remove someone from "People You May Know" on Facebook
Open Facebook on your computer or phone. Look for the "People You May Know" section, which usually appears on the right side of your feed on desktop or in a separate tab on mobile. Find the person you want to remove.
On desktop, hover over their profile card and click the X button in the top right corner. On mobile, tap the three dots (menu icon) next to their name and select "Remove." Facebook will when ready stop showing that person in your "People You May Know" list.
You can repeat this for as many people as you want. Each removal is when ready, and you do not need to confirm or save anything.
The difference between removing someone from "People You May Know" and fully blocking them
Removing someone from "People You May Know" only hides them from that recommendation list. They can still search for you by name, visit your profile if it is public, and see your posts if you have not restricted who can see them. They can also message you if you allow messages from people outside your friends list.
A full block is much stronger. When you block someone, they cannot find your profile through search, cannot see your posts or comments, cannot message you, and cannot add you as a friend. You also cannot see their profile, posts, or messages. A full block works both ways.
If you want to prevent someone from contacting you or finding your profile, use a full block instead. Go to their profile, click the three dots menu, and select "Block." If you only want to stop seeing them in recommendations, removing them from "People You May Know" is enough.
Why the same person might reappear in "People You May Know"
Facebook's algorithm changes constantly based on new connections, shared interests, and other data. Someone you removed from "People You May Know" might reappear weeks or months later if your mutual connections change or if Facebook detects new reasons to recommend them.
If someone keeps reappearing and you do not want to see them at all, a full block is more permanent. Removing them from the list only works until Facebook's algorithm decides to suggest them again.
What happens when you block someone on Facebook
When you block someone, Facebook removes you from each other's friends lists when ready. Any messages between you disappear from both inboxes. They cannot tag you in photos or posts, and you cannot tag them. Neither of you can see each other's profiles, posts, comments, or stories.
The blocked person will not receive a notification that you blocked them, but they may figure it out if they try to visit your profile and see an error message. You can unblock someone at any time by going to your settings, finding the blocked list, and clicking "Unblock" next to their name.
How to manage your privacy settings to reduce unwanted recommendations
Facebook does not offer a way to turn off "People You May Know" entirely, but you can limit how much data Facebook uses to make recommendations. Go to Settings, then Privacy, and review who can see your friends list. If your friends list is private, Facebook has less information to use for recommendations based on mutual connections.
You can also limit who can see your profile by changing your profile visibility to "Friends Only" instead of "Public." This does not stop recommendations, but it reduces the amount of your information that Facebook can use to suggest you to others.
Keep in mind that even with these changes, Facebook will still show you recommendations based on your activity, interests, and the groups you join. The platform uses many signals beyond just your friends list.
Frequently Asked Questions
If I remove someone from "People You May Know," can they still message me?
Yes. Removing them from the recommendation list does not change your messaging settings. If you allow messages from people outside your friends list, they can still message you. To prevent messages, you need to either fully block them or change your message settings to "Friends Only."
Will the person know if I remove them from "People You May Know"?
No. Facebook does not notify people when you remove them from the recommendation list. They will only know if you fully block them and they try to visit your profile or search for you.
Can I block someone without them knowing?
Facebook does not send a notification when you block someone, but they may discover it if they try to message you, visit your profile, or search for you and see an error. There is no way to block someone completely invisibly.
What if someone I blocked tries to add me as a friend?
They cannot. When you block someone, they cannot send you a friend request. If you unblock them later, they will not automatically be added back — they would need to send a new request.
Does removing someone from "People You May Know" affect their privacy?
No. Removing them from the list only changes what you see. It does not change their privacy settings, their profile visibility, or anything about their account. It only affects your experience on Facebook.