How to Stop 'People You May Know' from Appearing in Your Facebook Newsfeed

The 'People You May Know' suggestions can be intrusive, especially when the profiles listed do not reflect real relationships or are irrelevant to your life. This guide will help you understand and manage these suggestions on both Facebook and LinkedIn, ensuring that your online presence is protected and tailored to your preferences.

Understanding the 'People You May Know' Feature

Facebook uses this feature to suggest new connections based on common interests, shared connections, and other factors. While these suggestions can be useful, they can also clutter your newsfeed and frustrate you if the suggested individuals are not relevant to you.

Managing 'People You May Know' on Facebook

To control the visibility and appearance of these suggestions, follow these steps:

Go to Settings: Click on the downward arrow in the top right corner and select 'Settings.' Privacy Settings: From the left sidebar, select 'Privacy.' Manage Suggestions: Look for 'How People Find and Contact You.' Adjust the settings to limit who can see your information. Turn Off People You May Know: While you can't completely turn off these suggestions, you can limit your visibility to others and manage friend requests to reduce the likelihood of suggestions. Hide Individual Suggestions: If you see a specific suggestion in your newsfeed, click on the three dots next to it and select 'Hide' or 'I Don’t Know This Person.'

By following these steps, you can significantly reduce the number of puzzling or irrelevant suggestions that appear in your Facebook newsfeed.

Understanding the 'People You May Know' Feature on LinkedIn

LinkedIn employs similar algorithms to suggest connections based on shared experiences and professional links. Using LinkedIn’s privacy settings, you can further control who you are suggested to connect with.

Managing 'People You May Know' on LinkedIn:

Go to Settings: Click on your profile picture in the top right corner and select 'Settings.' Visibility Section: Navigate to the 'Visibility' section. Manage Connections: Adjust settings related to who can see your connections and how you appear in suggestions. Hide Suggestions: You can also click on 'General Tips' and 'Adjust Privacy Settings' to limit who can see your profile or your connections, thereby reducing suggestions.

By carefully managing your LinkedIn privacy settings, you can minimize the appearance of irrelevant or puzzling suggestions in your connection requests.

Additional Tips to Minimize Suggestions

While you can minimize the appearance of suggestions, completely eliminating them may not be entirely possible on all platforms. Here are some additional tips:

Disable Individual People: You can remove individual people by clicking on the 'X' next to their name. Sexual or Block Phone/Text Calls: If someone is sexually inappropriate or persistently trying to contact you, consider blocking their phone or text calls to protect your privacy. Relevance in Life: Ask yourself whether the suggested individuals are truly relevant to your life. How often do you communicate with them? If it's infrequent, reassess your connections.

Conclusion

By taking these steps, you can better manage and control your social media presence, reducing the number of suggestions that clutter your newsfeed and professional network. Whether on Facebook or LinkedIn, taking the time to adjust your privacy settings and manage your connections will help you maintain a more meaningful and less intrusive online experience.