What is Facebook’s Restrict Account feature and how to use it

restrict account facebook

If you want to limit interactions with someone on Facebook, the Restrict Account function can be useful. Certainly, there are other measures such as friendship or blocking. But that will then cut all of your links with that user on the social media platform. A much more viable and feasible method will therefore be to use the restricted account functionality. In this guide, we will detail everything about this feature, from its definition of how you can add a member. So without further ado, let’s get started. On that note, also see the steps to unblock users and gauges on Facebook.

What is Facebook’s account restriction feature

Suppose your parents recently joined Facebook and sent you a friend request. But you can’t really accept it in the first place since some private photos are published on your timeline. Well, one thing that could be done is to make these photos private. But it can take centuries to hide each photo individually from public view. In these cases, the Restrict Facebook account feature will certainly be useful.

If you limit an account, your profile will still be visible to that user, but they will only be able to see images posted before their account is restricted. This is where it most differs from the Block function. If you choose the latter option, your profile will no longer be visible to this blocked user by any means.

On the other hand, in the case of a restricted account, all your recent messages, your stories on Facebook will be hidden from it. But your profile will always be visible to them. This will cause less suspicion in the minds of users whose accounts have been restricted, rather than being blocked. Similar to Facebook, Instagram also has an account restriction feature. See our guide for the required steps.

Will you be able to see the profile of the restricted account?

Think of Facebook’s restricted account as one-way traffic. In other words, you can still see all of their posts and stories without a problem. Well, you can even publish in their timeline. It’s just that they couldn’t see or act on any of your recent posts. Likewise, even if they were added to the shortlist, he or she would not be without friendship. This only happens if you block someone. Here you can easily restrict or restrict any account without worrying about having to resend a request to that user.

Exceptions to this feature

Yes, there are exceptions. For example, if a user’s account is restricted but you have made your publication public, that user could easily view your publications. The same rule applies if you mark it in any message. In both of these scenarios, he or she could easily get around this restriction. Therefore, to ensure that this does not happen, change the privacy settings of the posting to Friends.

In addition, this feature also does not work when chatting with them. In other words, you can easily interact with this user as you do with any other. he or she would have no idea that their Facebook account has been restricted.

Are they informed?

No, users will not be notified if you limit their account. The same thing happens in the case of a block too. But with the blockage, the chances of raising suspicion are much greater. Indeed, if this user searches for your profile, he will not be able to do so. He could easily guess two things: either you deleted your Facebook account (which would be rare), or you blocked it. Likewise, to unblock a user, you will have to resend the friend request. All of this confirms his claim to be blocked.

However, with Facebook’s restrict account feature, you don’t have to worry about all of that. The only way he could guess is to check your account activity using your mutual contact’s Facebook profile. To be frank, few people would go that far for that.

How to restrict / free any account on Facebook

  1. Open the Facebook app and head to the account that needs to be restricted.
  2. Press the friends option. This will result in a menu.
  3. Select the Edit friends list option.
  4. Finally, press the Limit option. You will see a blue check mark indicating that the account has been restricted.
  5. To release this account, press the Restricted keyword again. The blue check mark will disappear indicating success.

Don’t miss: how to download all of your Facebook data, including chats

Round

So, with that, we conclude our guide to Facebook’s restricted account functionality. We discussed everything about it in depth, including what it does, how it differs from blocking functionality and how to use it from within the app. Note that blocking someone is the extreme step. So only go there if you want to get away from someone permanently.

While if you only want to hide your messages from someone, consider restricting their account only. But still, the decision is in your hands. We would like to hear your opinion on this feature. Drop your opinions in the comments section below.

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