Navigating Facebook’s privacy settings can sometimes feel like wading through a maze. If you’re looking to hide your mutual friends on Facebook, you’ve come to the right place. This task involves adjusting your privacy settings so that mutual friends are not visible to others. Although Facebook doesn’t allow you to hide mutual friends completely, you can make your friends list private, which can help limit what others can see.
Step by Step Tutorial on How to Hide Mutual Friends
In this tutorial, we’ll walk you through the steps needed to hide your friends list on Facebook, which will effectively obscure mutual friends from prying eyes.
Step 1: Log into Your Facebook Account
First, log into your Facebook account using your username and password.
Once you’re logged in, you’ll be on your home screen. From here, you can access your profile and settings.
Step 2: Go to Your Profile
Click on your name or profile picture to go to your profile page.
Your profile page is where all your personal information, posts, and friend lists are located.
Step 3: Access Your Friends List
Click on the “Friends” tab on your profile page.
This tab will show you a list of all your Facebook friends. Here is where you’ll make the necessary privacy adjustments.
Step 4: Edit Your Privacy Settings
Click on the pencil icon next to “Find Friends” and select “Edit Privacy.”
This will open a dialog box where you can adjust who can see your friends list.
Step 5: Change Friends List Visibility
Under the “Who can see your friends list?” option, select “Only Me.”
By choosing “Only Me,” you’re making sure that no one else can see your friends list, thus hiding mutual friends from others.
After completing these steps, your friends list will be hidden from everyone but yourself. This action makes it more difficult for others to see your mutual friends.
Tips for Hiding Mutual Friends on Facebook
- Review Privacy Settings Regularly: Facebook updates its settings often. Make it a habit to review your privacy settings periodically.
- Consider Limiting Profile Visibility: You can also limit who can see your profile and posts to enhance your privacy further.
- Use Friend Lists Wisely: Create custom friend lists to control who sees what.
- Be Cautious About Friend Requests: Only accept friend requests from people you know and trust.
- Enable Two-Factor Authentication: This adds an extra layer of security to your account.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I completely hide mutual friends on Facebook?
No, Facebook does not provide an option to completely hide mutual friends. However, hiding your friends list makes it harder for others to see mutual friends.
Does hiding my friends list affect friend suggestions?
No, hiding your friends list does not affect Facebook’s friend suggestion algorithm.
Will my friends know if I hide my friends list?
No, your friends will not be notified if you change the visibility of your friends list.
Can I hide mutual friends from specific people?
You can select custom privacy settings to hide your friends list from specific people.
How often should I review my privacy settings?
It’s a good practice to review your privacy settings every few months, especially after Facebook updates.
Summary of Steps
- Log into Your Facebook Account
- Go to Your Profile
- Access Your Friends List
- Edit Your Privacy Settings
- Change Friends List Visibility
Conclusion
Hiding mutual friends on Facebook might seem tricky, but it’s really all about managing your privacy settings effectively. By following the steps outlined above, you can ensure that your friends list remains private, which in turn helps obscure your mutual friends from others.
Remember, maintaining online privacy is an ongoing process. Regularly review your settings, be mindful of the friend requests you accept, and keep an eye on any updates Facebook may roll out. With these practices, you’ll keep your Facebook experience enjoyable and secure. If you’re interested in diving deeper into Facebook’s privacy features, consider exploring some of the platform’s other settings and tools to fully customize your online presence. Happy Facebooking!
Matthew Burleigh has been writing tech tutorials since 2008. His writing has appeared on dozens of different websites and been read over 50 million times.
After receiving his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Computer Science he spent several years working in IT management for small businesses. However, he now works full time writing content online and creating websites.
His main writing topics include iPhones, Microsoft Office, Google Apps, Android, and Photoshop, but he has also written about many other tech topics as well.