Relationships are complex in themselves, and among the many doubts that arise when there are problems and inevitably come to a break with hostile attitudes, one of the most frequent is: should I block my ex from my social networks?

The answer is very simple: in many cases, yes. Here are 10 reasons why.

10 reasons to block your ex from social networking

These are some of the reasons why, when a relationship ends and the discomfort of homesickness or resentment appears, it is advisable to cut off contact with the former partner through social networks.

1. Avoiding contact

It’s super common to be tempted to answer a post from your ex and then send him inbox. This is one of the most frequent reactions and sometimes it ends up in a discussion or flirtation of a possible reconciliation that might not be such a good idea if you have already decided to end it . If you block your ex, the temptation to interact with him or her will be much less.

2. Starting the mourning process

Breaking up with a partner usually involves a grieving process that has its own stages. To the extent that each of these stages is passed in the best way it is more likely to heal properly and in the future begin a relationship with closed emotional wounds .

To begin this duel, it is important to take a real distance from your ex not only physically, but also virtually, so blocking your ex from your social networks is best for both of you.

3. Avoiding harassment

In this case there is no doubt about it. At the first attitude of harassment from your ex, it is best to block from all networks. We should not wait for this type of attitude to increase in frequency , the best thing is that in the face of hostile comments, threats, disrespect or any type of verbal aggression through the networks, we block the person and turn the page as soon as possible.

4. To avoid falling into the comparisons

If when opening our social networks we continually see stories, photos or posts about their activities, we inevitably end up falling into comparisons, and that hurts us a lot .

Although it is not really true, we can imagine that his life is “going well”, that he has overcome the break-up easily and that he is having a better time than we are, and to equate it with our own process makes us feel that we are failing. This is one of the strongest reasons to block your ex from your social networks.

5. Eliminating memories

A good idea is to block out the photos that were taken together. Before deleting them you should let some time go by and reconsider, but at the moment of the breakup, just blocking them and not seeing them for a while or the likes or comments made will be enough.

6. Leaving life together behind

After a rupture it is important to settle accounts and close cycles ; everything that united these two people in an intimate way: shared activities, interests… must be separated.

With a few exceptions where you’ve made a good friendship with a family member or friend and are mature enough to cope, it’s best not only to block your ex from social networking, but also to block his or her closest friends or circle.

7. Don’t get hurt by a new relationship

If it turns out that your ex starts a new relationship and announces it in some way in his networks, it could be painful for you especially if it hasn’t been long after the break-up .

The mature way to deal with these situations is, until the breakup is assumed, not to create facilities to receive that kind of news, and for that the easiest way is to block your ex from your social networks.

8. Avoiding themes and memories related to him or her

You may think it’s enough to stop following him, but it’s better to block. When you block a person, the memories that come out in FB will stop appearing . If you had announced the beginning of your relationship, it will also be removed, and the tags or issues related to it will stop coming out. This will help to maintain a healthy distance.

9. Avoiding physical and sexual attraction

According to a study by Cyberpshychology, Behavior and Social Networking, maintaining a virtual contact with an ex causes the sexual desire towards him or her to increase and the relationship to be missed .

Between nostalgia, seeing his photos, sadness and loneliness, we have the tendency to eliminate the bad and remember with sadness the good things that happened, idealize what it was and wish to see the person. All this leads to private messages that do not always turn out well.

10. Reaching agreements is not always easy

You might think that coming to an agreement on how to handle their respective social networks might work. Asking him not to publish things related to the break-up, or that if he has a new relationship, he should talk to you first and then announce it… each couple can have their own negotiations, but it is not always easy to reach these agreements and then keep them , because as days go by, feelings change, the process is carried out differently, and what has been said is no longer respected.

In order not to fall into complexities, it is best to block your ex from social networks, and thus avoid problems until a normal deal is possible.

Bibliographic references:

  • Liebert, M. A. (2012). Can post-breakup Facebook surveillance delay emotional recovery? Cyberpshychology, Behavior and Social Networking.