How do I properly block someone on Facebook?

Quickly building on what @voyageurdubois and @chasseurdetoiles already nailed:

  1. Where I slightly disagree
    They both treat “block” as the clean nuclear option, which is mostly true. The catch: blocking can sometimes trigger drama because the person notices instantly (disappearing chat, failed profile view). If this is a coworker, family member, or someone you must see offline, consider a short phase of “Restrict + tighter privacy + block messages” first, then full block later, so the shift looks more like “I’m not active here anymore” rather than “You are cut off.” For persistent harassment though, I would not delay the full block.

  2. One thing they did not emphasize
    Meta has been experimenting with cross‑platform controls. When you start the block flow, always read the fine print on that dialog. If you see an option to apply the block across Facebook and Instagram, use it. People who harass on Facebook often pivot to Instagram the moment they lose access.

  3. Think about where they reach you
    The standard profile block will not touch:

  • Group interactions where you are both members under a different account they control
  • Events run by third parties where they may still see you if they attend offline
    For groups, consider:
  • Leaving groups that are “their turf”
  • Muting notifications from posts where they might appear
  • Asking admins to ban them if they violate group rules
  1. Silent control over future comments
    After you block, go a bit further than what was suggested: change comment controls so that only “Friends” can comment on your public‑facing stuff. That way, even if they remake a new account and cannot get into your friends list, they cannot start commenting under widely shared posts.

  2. Emotional side that features nowhere in Facebook’s menus
    Expect a brief period where you keep checking if they have found a way around it. That is normal. To cut that cycle:

  • After blocking and privacy cleanup, log out on all devices and log back in once, so you feel like you “reset” everything.
  • Mute your own comment and message notifications for a day or two if the anxiety spike is high. You can always re‑enable once things go quiet.
  1. “Product” talk in plain language
    You are basically trying to use Facebook’s blocking as if it were a single, beautifully designed tool. In reality it is a messy bundle of controls spread across profile, Messenger, groups, comments, and follower settings. The “pros” of this built‑in system:
  • Free and integrated with your existing account
  • Stops most direct interactions from one specific account
  • Lets you tune visibility without deleting your profile

The “cons”:

  • Requires multiple menus and checks, as @voyageurdubois and @chasseurdetoiles clearly showed
  • Does nothing against new burner accounts
  • Can create social fallout if this is someone in your offline circle

Because of those cons, the real “proper” block is not just pressing Block. It is:

  • Full block on their account
  • Tightened privacy and comments
  • Group and follower cleanup
  • Screenshots of anything that felt threatening, kept privately

Do that once, slowly and methodically, and you should not need to revisit all these menus again unless they come back with a new account.