Avföljs

Avföljs is a Swedish verb used to describe the act of ceasing to follow someone on a social media platform. In practice, to avfölja a user means that their posts and updates no longer appear in the follower’s feed. The term is common in everyday Swedish online discourse and is applied to platforms such as Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), Facebook and TikTok.

Etymology: avfölja combines the prefix av- meaning "off" or "un-" with följa "to follow." The form avföljs is the present passive, indicating that a person is being unfollowed, while active usage is avfölja.

Usage and context: Avföljs is typically a silent action; most platforms do not notify the user who has been unfollowed. People may avfölja to curate their feed, avoid unwanted content, reduce exposure to posts from accounts they disagree with, or protect privacy. It is distinct from muting (which hides content without ending the follower relationship) and blocking (which restricts access). In Swedish online culture, the choice to avfölja is often seen as a private preference rather than a public rebuke.

Impact: Unfollowing can influence perceived social ties and online dynamics. While it may be interpreted as a sign of disengagement, it can also reflect routine feed management or mental health considerations. Open communication, if necessary, is typically preferred to public drama.

Related concepts include unfollow, mute, block, social media etiquette and privacy.