You can’t just hide a suggestion—you have to commit. Click that three-dot menu next to any creepy suggestion (like a yoga group for mail carriers) and select “Hide all from [group or person].” This isn’t a gentle “no thank you”; it’s a digital restraining order. Do this three times for the same type of suggestion, and Facebook’s robot brain gets the hint, like a puppy that finally learns not to pee on the rug.
Here’s the kicker: hiding a suggestion doesn’t always stop new ones from popping up, because Zuckerberg’s algorithms are stubborn as a mule on a sugar high. You need to pair this with a second move: go into your Settings & Privacy list, find the “Your Time on Facebook” section, and tell the app to “See Less” in the Feed Preferences. It’s like telling a nosy neighbor, “I’m going to put up a fence now, Steve.”
The Surprisingly Streaky Truth
Did you know that Facebook suggestions are responsible for roughly 15% of all accidental friendships on the platform? A 2018 study from the University of Michigan found that one in seven friend requests sent from suggestions were to people you actually haven’t seen since middle school—and regretted it instantly. So, you’re not alone in this battle. You’re part of a massive, annoyed army.
