5 reasons I defriend people on Facebook.

Ever get the itch to drop in on old friends on Facebook? Have you searched for a person you swore you were friends with then discover you’re not?

How do people choose their friends on Facebook? Sometimes it’s pure interest in someone’s images, or they are a celebrity in their industry, or you actually know who they are- a mixture of everything.

Defriending is also random. Arizona’s FOX10 News featured why people remove others on Facebook:

  1. High school friends. You haven’t seen them in forever, and if you were good buddies, they’d be in your close circles already.
  2. Friends of friends. Your friends friend is also your friend, right? Not exactly. Everyone is different, so don’t rely on simply knowing the same people to make a profound connection- reach out as yourself. Friends-of-fans is good for ads, but bad for connections.
  3. Work friends. Know those embarrassing moments people love to post on your wall? Keep your work and home life separate, and avoid the water cooler drama.
  4. Common interest friends. Like friends of friends, relying on simply enjoying the same things is a weak connection.
  5. Spam. No explanation needed.

My top 5 reasons to delete people is different:

  1. Constantly posting obnoxious things. You’re often connected to family, you don’t want the potty mouths to make them question your associations. Warn them first, then delete constant offenders.
  2. Sharing inappropriate/ offensive content like pornography or “shock” images. Same as above, except no second chances.
  3. Troublemakers.  Nix those who always argue and start problems.
  4. No longer friends / an ex. Some people aren’t malicious; others are. Don’t take the chance of them airing some dirty laundry for everyone to see.
  5. Only sending game requests. No thanks! I want friends who contribute instead of wasting time.

Sometimes it’s not even personal, you just have too many friends and need to cull the herd. According to Dunbar’s number, we can only remember around 150 meaningful relationships, so there’s no need for this many friends. If you’re popular, make a dedicated Facebook page. These have no audience limit, and you’re able to run microtargeted ads to your posts, growing your audience.

What’s your top 5 reasons to defriend someone?

Dennis Yu
Dennis Yu
Dennis Yu is a former search engine engineer who has spent a billion dollars on Google and Facebook ads for Nike, Quiznos, Ashley Furniture, Red Bull, State Farm, and other organizations that have many locations. He has achieved 25% of his goal of creating a million digital marketing jobs because of his partnership with universities, professional organizations, and agencies. Companies like GoDaddy, Fiverr, onlinejobs.ph, 7 Figure Agency, and Vendasta partner with him to create training and certifications. Dennis created the Dollar a Day Strategy for local service businesses to enhance their existing local reputation and make the phone ring. He's coaching young adult agency owners who serve plumbers, AC technicians, landscapers, roofers, electricians in conjunction with leaders in these industries. Mr. Yu believes that there should be a standard in measuring local marketing efforts, much like doctors and plumbers need to be certified and licensed. His Content Factory training and dashboards are used by thousands of practitioners.