At one point late last year, I realized that around 1/3 of the items I saw in my Facebook feed were quiz results, people sending me gifts of plants/gems/etc., or updates about Farmville and the like.
I have no issue with folks playing on Facebook or using apps that they enjoy (though I’d urge everyone to look at what information they’re giving those apps). Still, this wasn’t what I wanted MY Facebook experience to be.
So I cleaned up my stream of updates.
It’s actually quite easy to do, and I share how to get these updates from your feed here in case you’re interested.
In your news feed, whenever you see an update from an app, hover your mouse over it. The word “Hide” will appear in the upper right of the update. Go click it.
Once you do, you’ll be given three choices: hide the friend who sent the update, hide the application, or cancel.
If you hide the friend, you won’t see any of their status updates at all. Hiding the application means you won’t see updates about it from any of your friends. Cancel, of course, means take no action.
After just a few days of hiding the apps I didn’t want to see again, my stream was clear – I was seeing what I wanted to see and hadn’t hidden any friends. Perhaps they’re still playing and having fun, and that’s great. In this scenario, we’re all getting what we want.
If you later change your mind about an app, by the way, you can un-hide any application by going to Settings at the top of your Facebook page, clicking on Privacy, then on Applications and Websites. Simply select the app you want to see again, and you’re good to go.
I wish Facebook had you opt IN to these apps rather than having to opt out. Still, I’ll take what I can get… other than virtual Facebook “gifts” that is!
Do you like receiving updates on your friends’ virtual game adventures? Do you respond to every request and invite in your stream? We all use the networks differently, so I’m always curious….
{ 23 comments… read them below or add one }
Thanks for this! I never knew I could just block Farmville! Hurrah!
I block most apps whose invites I receive. Like you, I have no problem with others having fun with these apps, but all the invites and updates clutter up my newsfeed, making it more difficult to keep up with the info I’m really interested in.
I have also used “block all application invites from this person” on occasion when it’s clear someone is joining as many apps as he/she possibly can and then mass-inviting everyone on his/her Friends’ list.
Like you, I wish Facebook had an opt IN rather than opt out.
This tip could make Facebook more palatable . . . . maybe–I’m a tough sell.
Seriously–this is a better option than hiding friends. It never occurred to me to just hide the gizmos.
Thanks!
I don’t like all the app updates either. I’m glad to know this trick now so that I can block them without having to remove the friends who enjoy them.
Thanks, Greg–
I’d been clicking through to the App page & blocking it there, but it’s a lot of steps. This sounds MUCH better.
I’m glad to know I’m not the only one who was overwhelmed by apps – it had made me wonder if it was just my friends
And yes, Debbie – blocking apps when you get invites or blocking all invites from certain friends helps keep the stream clear, too.
Thanks for the comments, y’all.
I block these, too. It was Mafia Wars that spurred me to figure out how to do this, a while back. I think you’re doing a lot of people a service with this post, Greg.
Thanks for sharing this info. I tried just looking at Status updates for a while, but I was missing a lot of photos, links and such. When I went to the App page it was confusing. This is a much better solution.
I did just what Pam did. This IS better. RIP Farmville! Thank you.
Thanks for posting this on the listserv, Greg. I’m new to Facebook and was hoping there was a way to block these things. I followed your directions and it was incredibly easy. Goodbye Mafia Wars, beating heart deliveries, Farmville and Cafes!
I had no idea you could do this–thank you for the information! Now I don’t have to worry about hurting someone’s feelings when I don’t accept a heart or a hug!
Thank you Greg!! These things were driving me crazy too!
e
Thank you, thank you, Greg! Bye, bye, Farmville!
I’m so glad you ran this. I wanted to hear from my friends, but since I have professional contacts on my facebook as well, I didn’t want them to see a lot of nonsense. Thank you!
Thanks so much! If I have to hear about another lonely sheep I will lose my mind!
Greg – Thanks for this very practical and helpful suggestion!
Thanks so much, Greg!
I didn’t even know about this, so it’s great information for me. Like you, I’d rather not have all that stuff. I like to see items I can comment on (to keep in touch with the friends), not just random info. Thanks!
Okay, that info was a PUBLIC SERVICE! Thanks, Greg!
Awesome info that makes my online life simpler…
Namaste,
Lee
Thanks Greg, I’m heading over to Facebook right now…
Greg, I am forever in your debt! One note I would add: I had to hover over the gray X in the right-hand corner of the message before I got the box that said “Remove.” When I clicked that, THEN I got the 3 options (Hide App, Hide Friend, Cancel). Just in case anyone’s having the problem I was.
And if you’re taking an opinion poll, I HATE game updates. I don’t know anyone who does like them.
Thanks for the comment, Claire. Facebook is ever-changing, so perhaps you ran into that because of changes they’ve made to… uh… to just about anything, actually! Glad it worked in the end….
Greg Pincus´s last [type] ..Go Back to School Metaphorically
I block them too, Greg…I love knowing what people are doing with their lives…their real lives.
Sharon Mayhew´s last [type] ..WHATS YOUR SPECIAL PURPOSE
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