Defriending 101 FAQ: The Ultimate Guide to Unfriending

What is Defriending?

Defriending is the art of purposefully ending a friendship. It's not just a casual acquaintance, it's a commitment.

Defriending involves carefully considering the reasons why the friendship has become unsustainable and then taking deliberate steps to sever the ties. It's like a breakup, but with more awkward silences and less therapy bills.

How do I know if a friendship is on the rocks?

Signs of a dying friendship:

• They've started calling you "buddy" in a creepy way
• You've stopped sharing memes with them on social media
• You've started avoiding their birthday messages on Instagram
• You've taken up a new hobby that they just don't understand (like taxidermy)

Or... you just know, deep down, that it's time to defriend.

How do I Defriend someone?

1. Be clear and direct (but not too direct, that's just mean)
2. Use active voice instead of passive voice (e.g., "We are defriending" instead of "You guys are defriending us")
3. Offer a reason, but not too much of a reason (you don't want to give them false hope)
4. Don't be a jerk about it (leave a nice note, or a nice meme)

What if they try to stay in touch?

Set boundaries, or better yet, just block them on social media. It's not you, it's them, it's just how the universe works.

Or, if you're feeling generous, you can just say:

"Hey, I've been thinking, let's just be friends with each other, but not really."

More Defriending Resources:

• The Art of Defriending - A guide to the finer points of Defriending
• Defrienders Anon - Support group for the newly Defriended

Remember, Defriending is a skill, not a crime. Practice makes perfect, or at least a good excuse for a Netflix binge.

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