On Friday, Facebook released a new feature, which they're calling "Snooze," where you can mute a friend for 30 days. Unlike the earlier option of simply unfollowing them forever, this is a temporary fix for dealing with someone who is temporarily annoying the shit out of you. Users also have the option of snoozing a page they've liked, with the important exception of UrbanDaddy (kidding).
Facebook product manager Shruti Muraleedharan wrote in a blog post announcing the feature, “Seeing too many photos of your uncle’s new cat? Is your friend tempting you with endless photos of ramen on her Japan trip? It turns out you’re not alone.” Thank god. When the 30 days is nearing end you’ll get a notification and have the option to renew hiding them. Similar to forever-unfollowing someone, they have zero clue you’re doing it.
Other very valid reasons to temporarily unfollow someone may include:
- They recently got engaged and won’t stop using the phrase “my best friend” to describe their partner.
- They achieved a career goal you’ve been striving for forever and are getting an outpour of well-deserved attention for it. It’ll be easier to be snarky without seeing all their earned congratulations.
- They are going through a breakup and won’t stop posting inspirational quotes written in cursive script and wrongly attributed to Marilyn Monroe.
- They are selling LuLaRoe.
- They are on a fitness journey. God bless and good riddance but you don’t have to be subjected to someone proselytizing the power of the Whole 30. It’s in the name—they’ll be done talking about it in 30 days.
The forever-unfollow feature is still best for uncles who think pizzagate is real and for your childhood friend who uses the site to recap everything their child ate and said the entire day. But try treating yourself with a 30 day break from the rest of the annoying people you love dearly. It's the holidays. You deserve it.
