Breakups in the Age of Soft Blocking – Social Media Etiquette 101
It’s 2025. You didn’t unfollow them. You didn’t even block them. But you sure as heck don’t want to see them vibing at La Union while you’re still listening to sad Spotify playlists at 2 AM. Welcome to the world of soft blocking, mute culture, and ghosting via the algorithm.
So… what even is soft blocking?
Soft blocking is when you block and then immediately unblock someone on a platform so they unfollow you, but don’t get notified. Sneaky? Maybe. Effective? Absolutely. It’s the digital version of saying, “I don’t hate you, but I need space and also I don’t want you watching my IG Stories.”
The Unspoken Rules of the Feed
Breakups today come with logistics. Who gets the Spotify playlist? Do you archive couple photos or leave them there like digital relics?
There’s no universal rulebook — but here’s a gentle one: if seeing them pop up on your feed makes your stomach do a backflip, the mute button is your bestie. And if your mutuals are unknowingly reposting their photo while you’re crying over Jollibee, feel free to curate that feed. You’re not being petty. You’re protecting your peace.
They didn’t cheat, but you still don’t want to see their beach pics or brunch boomerangs right now.
Posting Through the Pain
Some people go quiet. Others go full glow-up mode. New bangs, new feed aesthetic, motivational quotes that scream “I’m fine.”
And then there’s the iconic hotdog leg photo, captioned “healing” because apparently nothing says emotional recovery like a pair of sunlit knees chilling under a palm tree.
Soft Blocking Is Not a Crime
You’re not trying to erase the past — you’re just giving your brain a break from the algorithm’s heartbreak playlist. You don’t owe anyone an explanation for choosing emotional self-preservation.
Breakups in the digital age are complicated — but the golden rule still applies: don’t be a jerk. Whether you’re the soft blocker or the soft blocked, we’re all just trying to survive the internet one story view at a time.
