Published on 08 May 2023

The Psychology Of Blocking Someone Online

General Psychology The Psychology of Blocking Others Online
Table of Contents

Social media platforms like Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook have become integral to everyone worldwide. From posting photos to commenting on others' images, social media changed everyone's life. But due to some situations, people usually block others from their accounts which later impacts both blockers and the blocked ones.

Humans feel more pleased when they connect socially; apart from that, many experience social rejection online, which has been an emotional perspective for most people.

The block action sometimes becomes extremely powerful. Instead of hating someone, they click on the block option in which they don't need to give any explanation. But in psychology, blocking can be a broad concept that should be learned step by step. So. let's understand more in detail.

What Is Psychology?

Psychology is a scientific study of human behavior and mental processes that helps you understand how a person thinks, reacts, acts, and feels and how social, biological, and environmental factors link these activities.

Psychologists conduct this study using various research methods and theories to understand different aspects of mental health, such as cognition, emotion, motivation, personality, social behavior, etc. They also use their proficient knowledge in various fields like schools, hospitals, clinics, firms, universities, etc.

Besides the scientific perspective, many students are now choosing psychology as a career. As per the data, almost 10,000 students in Los Angles received their degrees in psychology.

The Psychology Of Social Media

You all use social media for some purpose; as per some data from 2018,  88% of adults aged between 18 to 29 are using some form of social media. Not only youth but many people aged between 50 to 64 frequently use social media.

Most people post their photos or videos and receive reactions from their friends. In contrast, others communicate and form relations through social media, which later impacts their behavior; this is where psychology comes into play. Many psychologists have been studying how social media psychologically affects individuals and society.

Now you know how social media influences lives, and it is OK to use it. But are people losing social connections because of social media? In some conditions, the answer will be yes. Some research shows that the usage of social media may cause depression. Sometimes people judge others quickly and block them in minutes. Let's know what are the reasons behind blocking someone.

Frequently asked questions

Sometimes it is acceptable to block someone you feel uncomfortable with.
After blocking someone from the social media platforms, their likes and comments will be removed from your videos and photos.
Blocking can be done for many reasons; if these are related to your privacy, then it is not childish.

Why Do People Block Others?

Blocking is an activity where people stop an unwanted person from online platforms and kick them out socially. Blocking may vary for different reasons, but it mainly occurs when someone hurts. The following are some common reasons for stopping someone.

Social Comparison

Social media platforms urge a person to compare themselves with others. Sometimes this comparison affects their mental health by thinking about their lives. Many people get influenced by others' stories and start blaming themselves, whereas others block them due to jealousy.

Harassment 

This is one of the crucial reasons for blocking, which happens with both men and women. If someone has been stalking you for a while and sends irrelevant messages, then this is the first step of harassment. Mostly it gives you threatening effects, so if this situation occurs, it is advisable to block them instantly.

Cyberbullying 

Nowadays, social media platforms are becoming a source of cyberbullying. Youngsters especially experience this issue. Bullying someone with the help of technology is known as cyberbullying. When you get a link from an unknown guy or server, it's better to block them. Bullying affects the human mind.

Privacy Concerns

Some people block others in terms of maintaining their privacy. Even you can find many examples in your surroundings. That's why social media sites like Facebook and Instagram allow users to keep their accounts private. So, If you want to message someone, you should get their permission first, or you would be on their request list.

Lack Of Communication

A person may block someone due to a lack of communication. Some people assume that a person who communicates less has less interest in them. Social media creates a misunderstanding in a few minutes, which can mislead a person instantly.

Offensive Behavior

When someone messages inappropriately, suddenly, they get blocked by the users. Even a single word or comment can have the ability to hurt anyone's sentiments. Sometimes you meet a person online, and they do not want more interaction to happen, which increases the chances of blocking.

The Psychology Of Blocking: Blockers 

When you block someone for a reason, you may feel powerful or consider yourself a decision-making guy. Suppose you block someone who stays in the same city where you belong to. After a few days, suddenly, they meet you and ask about your social media status. Will you say anything? Well, the answer would be mixed. But many people find it challenging to tell blocked ones they are blocked!

When you block someone online, you don't need to explain. Still, some people give closure to their decision and click on the block button. So that the blocked one couldn't express their views later.

After blocking someone, you might feel calm, but later you might start feeling curious about their lives; due to this, most people unblock them to see their social media accounts.

The Psychology Of Blocking: Blockee

When others block someone, they may feel annoyed. Sometimes they may lose their temper and ask themselves, "What did I do wrong?." when you stop someone, it indirectly shows that you are done with them and don't want them in your life.

Even some people try to contact those who blocked them, so they can express their opinions about this issue, whereas others get their mutual friends. Sometimes a close person's blocking can hit their mind badly. After all, who wants to be rejected by someone? Blocking is a short activity that can cause significant damage to someone's confidence.

Impact Of Blocking 

Blocking has both positive and negative effects. For some people, it would be helpful to stop those who have been stalking them for a while, whereas others may feel stressed. For every person blocking impacts differently, here are some positive and negative impacts below.

Positive Impacts 

  • Protection - Blocking someone constantly sending you abusive or threatening messages can protect you from unwanted interactions, harassment, and fraud. After all, the right decision should be taken at the right time.
  • Peace Of Mind - Knowing an unwanted person is blocked can make your mind comfortable. Sometimes it is fine to block a person whose attitude you never liked. But if they ask about this, you must tell the truth.
  • Improve Focus -  Blocking those who are becoming trouble in an individual's work can be an excellent decision to improve concentration.

Negative Impacts

  • Damage To Relationships - Blocking someone close to the heart would be painful for both the blocker and the blocked one. In some relationships, a blocked person doesn't understand their fault.
  • Social Isolation - Blocking one person is fine for some reason, but multiple ones for the same reason is not fine. Sometimes this can limit you to social interactions. Always try to solve the problem before blocking them.
  • Misunderstanding -  Sometimes, an individual block a person due to some reasons. They start a debate instead of talking with them when they know they block them. That's why whenever you are blocking someone for a particular purpose. Let them know first.

What To Do If Someone Blocks You?

As mentioned earlier, everyone gets online rejection due to some situations, but many people feel emotional after experiencing this issue, whereas others get confused about what to do next. Here are some guidelines you can follow.

Respect Their Decision

An individual blocks you may have some personal or professional reasons of which you were not aware of it. Instead of questioning them, be calm whenever you pass beside them. Let them tell the reason. Controlling your emotions is one of the most powerful things in this world.

Reach Out To Them

If you feel the blocker misunderstood some things, meet them respectfully. Try to figure out your conflicts with the help of healthy communication. However, it is essential to be mindful of the person's boundaries and to respect their decision if they choose not to react.

Listen To Other People 

After being blocked, try to contact their mutual friend rather than interacting with them. So you may get the good reasons behind the blocking. Sometimes it's better not to be a part of someone who never respects you. After all, Every coin has two sides, and you have to decide which side you want to be.

Move On 

If you cannot overcome the conflicts, move on. It might get challenging for some people, but once they make it, they feel more self-esteem. Rather than thinking about blockers, think about how precious people you have. Do exciting things such as playing football, baseball, or any other sport that helps you move on.

Communicate Rather Than Block

In some situations, blocking would be a good option like cyberbullying and harassment. But if you are blocking someone only because you don't want to talk with them, then that's not fair.

Before blocking, try to communicate with them because blocking is a simple activity that takes a few minutes to block others, but for them, it takes much time to digest this situation. If they don't listen, tell them you are done with them and do the blocking. At least you have spoken about your conflicts with them.

Difference Between Ghosting And Blocking

Many people assume that ghosting and blocking are similar, but it's untrue. There are some differences between them which should be clarified.

Ghosting means you are still a friend of an individual who can see your activity on your feed, but you don't speak with them. On the other hand, blocking is an activity that disables a person from seeing your training on your feeds.

Ghosting is often considered a passive way of ending a conversation or a relationship. This can keep the person confused, hurt, or rejected, and at the same time, blocking is a playful way of ending a conversation that may annoy a person.

Also Read

Bottom Line From Practical Anxiety Solutions

Almost everyone uses social media sites to express themselves. If someone doesn't like you, then they might block them. Blocking is a simple activity that may affect the blocked person's mind.

After getting blocked by other people, most individuals feel annoyed. Blocking can be avoided by communicating with each other. Many people get confused after getting blocked. If the situation is out of control, move on.