The basic steps differ by platform, but the core idea is the same
Adding a friend on social media means sending a request to another user asking them to connect with you. On Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok, you search for the person's name or username, visit their profile, and tap a button like "Add Friend" or "Follow". On X (formerly Twitter), you can follow someone without their approval. LinkedIn requires you to send a connection request that the other person must accept. Snapchat lets you add friends by username, phone number, or by scanning their Snapcode. The exact steps and what happens next depend on which platform you use and what privacy settings the other person has turned on.
When you send a friend request, that person gets a notification. They can accept it, decline it, or ignore it. Until they accept, you may not be able to see their posts or send them messages, depending on their privacy settings. Some platforms let you follow someone without them following you back — meaning you see their posts but they don't see yours unless they choose to follow you too.
Key Takeaways
- Most platforms require you to search for a person by name or username, then tap a button to send a friend or follow request.
- On Facebook and LinkedIn, the other person must accept your request before you are connected; on Twitter and TikTok, you can follow without approval.
- When you add someone, your profile becomes visible to them and they may see your past posts depending on your privacy settings.
- If someone has a private account, your request sits pending until they accept or decline it.
How to add friends on Facebook
Open Facebook and tap the search icon at the top. Type the person's name or username. When their profile appears, tap "Add Friend" (a button with a person and a plus sign). Facebook sends them a notification that you want to be friends. They can accept, decline, or leave it pending. Once they accept, you can see each other's posts and send messages, depending on what privacy settings each of you has chosen.
If you already know their username or have a link to their profile, you can go directly to their page and tap "Add Friend" from there. If the button says "Friend Request Pending", you have already sent a request and are waiting for them to respond. If it says "Friends", you are already connected.
How to add friends on Instagram
Open Instagram and tap the search icon (a magnifying glass). Type the person's name or username. Tap their profile when it appears. If their account is public, tap "Follow" to start seeing their posts. If their account is private, tap "Follow" and your request goes to them as a pending follow request. They will see a notification and can accept or decline. Once they accept, you can see their posts and send them direct messages.
You can also add friends by tapping the person icon at the bottom, then "Follow Suggestions" to see accounts Instagram thinks you might know. You can follow any of them from there.
How to add friends on TikTok
Open TikTok and tap the search icon. Type the person's username. When their profile appears, tap "Follow" (a button with a plus sign). You start following them when ready — they do not have to accept. You will see their videos on your For You page. If you want to send them a message, tap the message icon on their profile. If their account is private, they can choose whether to let you message them.
TikTok also shows you "Friends You May Know" suggestions. You can follow any of them directly from the suggestion card.
How to add friends on LinkedIn
Open LinkedIn and use the search bar at the top to find the person by name. Tap their profile. Tap "Connect" (a button with a person and a plus sign). A message box may appear asking you to add a note — you can write something like "I'd like to connect" or leave it blank. Tap "Send". LinkedIn sends them a notification. They can accept, decline, or ignore the request. Once they accept, you are connected and can message each other and see each other's activity.
If you have already sent a request to someone, the button will say "Pending" instead of "Connect". If you are already connected, it will say "Connected".
How to add friends on Snapchat
Open Snapchat and tap the plus icon or the "Add Friends" button. You can add someone by typing their username, by entering their phone number (if you have it), or by scanning their Snapcode (a unique code they can share with you). Once you add them, they get a notification. They can accept, decline, or ignore it. If they accept, you can send each other snaps and messages.
Snapchat also shows you suggested friends based on your contacts and mutual friends. You can add any of them from the suggestions list.
What happens to your information when you add someone
When you add a friend or follow someone, your profile becomes visible to them. They can see your username, profile picture, and any posts or information you have set to public. If your account is private, they can only see what you have shared with them specifically. They may also see your past posts depending on your privacy settings — some platforms show new followers your entire post history, while others only show posts you made after they followed you.
The person you added can also see when you interact with their posts — they get a notification when you like, comment, or share something they posted. If you send them a message, they see your username and can respond or block you. Most platforms let you control who can message you, so check your privacy settings if you want to limit who can contact you.
What to do if you cannot find someone or if they have a private account
If you search for someone and cannot find them, they may have a username that is different from their real name, or they may have deactivated their account. Try searching for variations of their name, or ask them directly what their username is. Some people use numbers, underscores, or periods in their usernames to make them unique.
If someone has a private account, your follow or friend request goes to them as pending. They will see a notification and can accept or decline. You cannot see their posts or send them messages until they accept. If they decline, you can send another request later, but most people will decline again if they do not want to connect with you. If someone blocks you, you cannot find their profile at all and cannot send them requests.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can someone see that I sent them a friend request?
Yes. On Facebook and LinkedIn, they get a notification that you sent a request. On Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat, they see a notification that you followed or added them. If you send a message with your LinkedIn request, they see that too.
What if I accidentally sent a friend request to the wrong person?
On most platforms, you can cancel a pending request by tapping the button again (it will say "Cancel Request" or "Pending"). The person will no longer see your request. On some platforms like Instagram, you can also unfollow someone after you have followed them.
Can I add someone if they have blocked me?
No. If someone blocks you, you cannot see their profile, send them requests, or message them. You will not be able to find them in search. If they unblock you later, you can send a request again.
Do I have to accept every friend request I receive?
No. You can decline requests, and the person will not be notified (on most platforms). You can also ignore a request and deal with it later. If someone keeps sending requests after you decline, you can block them.
What is the difference between following and being friends?
Being friends (on Facebook or LinkedIn) means you both have to accept the connection. Following (on Twitter, TikTok, or Instagram) means you see someone's posts without them having to approve. Some platforms like Instagram have both — you can follow someone without being friends, or be friends and follow each other.