Social media offers us a chance to stay connected – sometimes, too connected. Despite our best efforts, many of us have an unsavory person or two clogging up our timelines. But what happens when that person is our own family?
Like we all have that one family member that gets too drunk and loud at a party, safe to say nearly all of us have a family member we’d rather not connect with on social media. Friction with family members is as old as humanity itself, so it stands to reason that being connected with family on a near-constant basis on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok would make matters worse.
Some people go as far as blocking, muting, or unfollowing their closest family members on social media just to keep the peace. What motivates this decision? We studied UK social media users to find out what motivates them to click “block” not just for frenemies, but aunts, uncles, cousins, in-laws, and immediate family members alike.
Key findings
- 53% of UK Facebook users say they’ve blocked a family member on the platform, compared to 28% on Instagram and 20% on TikTok
- The top reason for blocking a family member on Facebook is posting hateful, toxic, or problematic content.
- TikTok and Instagram users are blocking their family members because they don’t wish for them to know about their personal lives
- Posting of fake news, political content, and religious content were also notable reasons for blocking family members
Blocked: it’s a family affair
According to our study, 53% of Facebook users in the UK admitted to blocking a family member. On Instagram, this number is lower at 28%, and on TikTok, only 20% reported blocking a family member. That’s an average of 34% across social media platforms, meaning over one-third of UK users refuse to see content from family members online.
But blocking is an extreme measure. Some take it incredibly personally, and it can cause conflict when the other party finds out. With that in mind, why are these blocks happening in the UK anyway?
The Facebook problem
Facebook, often viewed as the ultimate platform for connecting with friends and family, is now seeing increasing conflict between generations. More than half of UK Facebook users reported having blocked a family member, primarily due to the sharing of toxic or problematic content.
Political and religious debates, as well as the spread of misinformation, have led to mounting tension. Finding it difficult to relate to others (or even recognizing what content is real or not) is proving to be an issue on Facebook, as AI-generated spam content continues to proliferate on Zuckerberg’s site.
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Instagram and TikTok – privacy is key
When it comes to Instagram and TikTok, the main motivation for blocking family members shifts from avoiding their posts to protecting your own. Younger users are more inclined to block family members on these apps, simply because they consider them their private spaces, and want to keep them for themselves.
Young people hone their algorithms (not to mention the personal content they post) to reflect their lifestyles, interests, and opinions – in some cases, exploring areas of identity far different from their families. Many people prefer to keep these sides of themselves away from family scrutiny.
Across all platforms, respondents also identified other notable reasons for blocking family, including the desire to avoid their posting of fake news, political views, and religious content.
Where in the UK is family most likely to be blocked?
When broken down by city, some local family blocking trends emerge. Data from major UK cities reveals Glasgow as a hotspot, with a notable 44% of residents reporting they’ve said sayonara to a family member’s social media posts. Over 60% of Glasgow residents have blocked a family member on Facebook alone, the same rate as Londoners.
Cambridge and Edinburgh follow Glasgow with substantial blocking rates, with 42% and 41% of users admitting to blocking a family member on social media, respectively.
The city least likely to block their family is Belfast, at an average of 23%. Either they’re doing something right, or they simply stay off the internet.
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Whatever it takes to keep the peace
Whether it’s due to a desire to avoid toxic content or the ever-present young person’s keenness to maintain privacy, it’s doubtful that blocking family members on social media will decrease any time soon. As social media usage continues to permeate every aspect of life, managing our relationships online, especially with family, has become a delicate balance. Family members may just have to work harder to stay connected, literally and figuratively.
Methodology
This survey was conducted in September 2024 utilizing a pool of 2,500 United Kingdom residents who are regular users of social media. Respondents’ average age is 33, and 46% identify as men, 51% women, and 3% other gender identities.
Fair Use
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