Understanding Facebook Friend Requests: Why Facebook Messenger Shows You’re Still Friends But Facebook Doesn’t

Have you ever experienced a situation where you see that you are still friends with someone on Facebook Messenger, but when you check their profile, it only shows 'add as friend'? This can be confusing and even concerning, especially if you have not received a friend request or have been unfriended.

Is It a Glitch or a Sign of Unfriendship?

Firstly, it is important to determine if this is a glitch or an indication that the person has unfriended you. Sometimes, these discrepancies can be due to technical issues. If you notice that you are still friends with someone on Facebook Messenger, yet the other person's profile shows 'add as friend,' it could be a glitch, particularly if the message you see aligns more closely with this situation:

no there are glitches my son messaged me and it says this person wüns to be your friend and we already are

This suggests that the person is already your friend on Facebook Messenger but there might be a system discrepancy on their end, showing an option to add you again. This is not uncommon and often resolves itself with time or by forcing a refresh of their profile.

Friendship through Direct Messaging or Facebook Profile?

However, there is another possibility that you may have only been friends through direct messaging, not through the Facebook profile. In this case, the user might need to request to be friends on Facebook if they haven't yet. This can lead to confusion, as you might not have seen a friend request due to Facebook's algorithm or because perhaps you have not kept up with each other on the platform. The response from someone else may not have fully addressed this scenario:

I honestly dont know but Im thinking that it might be due to your being friends when you texted each other. Or if you were only friends directly from texting but not while on Facebook page it may require you to request friend Ugh. I dont know though Im so sorry not to help

Essentially, if you have been friends through Messenger but not through Facebook, the user might need to add you as a friend on their main Facebook profile. This often requires a friend request, especially if the two of you have not had much interaction recently.

The Significance of Unfriendship

If you are still friends on Messenger but see a 'add as friend' request on their profile, it strongly suggests that the person has unfriended you on Facebook. As the response from another user put it:

Most likely yes. It means that they have unfriended you on Facebook only but not on messenger. Hope it helps.

This can indicate that the relationship on Facebook might have soured, and the person no longer considers you a friend through their main profile. However, it's possible the user has simply removed the label of 'friend' on Facebook while keeping you as a Messenger contact. This could be due to personality changes, professional adjustments, or simply a decision to limit the scope of their online connections.

Dealing with Suspicious Friend Requests

Another consideration is whether the situation might involve a more sinister element, such as a hacked account. This is becoming a more frequent concern as cybercrime targets social media profiles. If a scammer hacks a victim's account, they can manipulate the friend request list, making it easier to scam friends and acquaintances by sending fake friend requests:

Has happened quite a few times to me. Sometimes the real friend contacts his friend list to warn them and sometimes I warn him he has been hacked. I check my friend list and they are still there I refuse the fake request.

If you suspect this might be the case, you can check the friend list to see if the person’s expected friends are still present and verify the account's security settings. If suspicious activity is found, report the account and alert the person’s actual friends to be cautious.

Conclusion

By understanding these different scenarios, you can better navigate friend relationships on Facebook, whether it's through Messenger, the main profile, or even potential security threats. Remember, it's never a bad idea to stay informed about your online connections and to take steps to protect your digital interactions.

Key Takeaways

Friendships on Facebook Messenger and Facebook can sometimes be inconsistent, indicating either a glitch or true changes in the relationship. If you are still friends on Messenger but see a 'add as friend' request, it likely means the other person has unfriended you on Facebook. Careful checks and reports can help in addressing suspicious friend requests.

Frequently Asked Questions

What if I see a 'add as friend' request from someone on Facebook but I am already their friend on Messenger? How do I know if my Facebook account has been hacked and used to scam my friends? Can I still contact someone if they have unfriended me on Facebook but are still my friend on Messenger?