A childhood friend who deleted me from FB

@sissy15 (13599)
United States
November 8, 2026 7:44pm CST
Several years ago, I had a childhood friend randomly delete me from FB without so much as an explanation, as well as several other people I knew. She later tried to add me back, but I declined the invite. Apparently, she had a cancer scare and randomly deleted a bunch of people. That wasn't enough of a reason for me to allow her to add me back on FB. I feel like that was her taking stock of her life and deciding I wasn't worth being friends with. I didn't expect her to tell me about it. We haven't been close friends in years. I wouldn't have told her about anything going on in my life either, but I also wouldn't have deleted her or anyone connected to her from my friends list either. If she was using FB to only update those closest to her, she easily could have done that another way, like through a group chat either on FB Messenger or via cell phone. She didn't explain anything and just up and deleted everyone. I decided I didn't want the drama or to allow something like that to happen again, so I declined the invite. I did later allow her to follow me on Instagram because I don't post much there. I don't hate her, and I wish her well, but I also have enough drama in my life. My husband hasn't said it in exact words, but he makes it seem as though I'm being petty for feeling this way. I thought about it. I'm not holding a grudge or ill will, but I've decided not to entertain having a friendship with someone who could immediately delete me from FB without a word of explanation the second their life got stressful. I've thought about it a lot over the years. Asking myself if I was being unfair. I can't think of a single good reason she could have as to what the purpose of deleting so many people off of FB during a stressful moment. I can one thousand percent understand not telling everyone. I can understand not going out of your way to message or talk to those people about the situation, but to delete people out of nowhere without a word? No, I can't understand that. It's not like I expected her to share anything about it. I don't hate her, and maybe someday I will change my mind and allow her back into my life in some form, but right now I don't think so. My husband told me she deleted a lot of people as though that was some sort of excuse, that because I wasn't the only one, it wasn't personal, but it was personal. She thought about the people in her life in one of the worst moments of her life and decided only a select few mattered, and that's fine. She is allowed to make that decision, and I'm allowed to say I don't want to play back and forth every time something traumatic happens to her. I don't delete people when I'm going through a lot. I'm going through a ton right now and haven't deleted anyone; I just don't talk about it. I am not saying she owed me anything, because she didn't, but deleting me without an explanation was, on some level, personal. Just like she didn't owe me a reason for deleting me, I don't owe her one for not re-adding her. If I decide to later change my mind and allow her back in my life on some level, I'm allowed to do that too without an explanation. I feel like people get to decide what is or isn't right for them in the moment. For the past several years, I've decided to keep my distance. I know she went through a lot, and I still follow her on Instagram because, even though I'm keeping my boundaries in place, I still care about her. The years of friendship don't just erase themselves. You can care about people and want to know they're doing well while also not allowing them access to your entire life. She made the first move, and I got to make the ones after that. I allowed her to follow me and see limited information, just as I made it so I could know limited information about her and make sure she's doing well. I've debated off and on for years if I'd allow her in again, but right now I'm still holding off. Maybe one day. I just know I don't need or want more drama.
4 people like this
3 responses
@MoonMaa (853)
• United States
9 Nov
Do you think that maybe she did by accident? And realized she deleted you and tried to add you back? There is a software that people sometimes use to clean up their fb friends list but I know people can make mistakes, so I know that a software like that can make mistakes too.
1 person likes this
@sissy15 (13599)
• United States
9 Nov
No, it wasn't a mistake. I went and checked her friends list, which was public. She deleted basically everyone but those closest to her. She later tried adding everyone back after saying she had a cancer scare. I understand people do different things when they're scared, but I also realized I needed people in my life who wouldn't just delete me and any connection I had to them when something difficult was happening; I needed more stability in my friends than that. I cared and still care about her, but I also know right now I still need friends in my life I can count on, whether they're close or not. Maybe eventually I'll reevaluate.
@JudyEv (391240)
• Rockingham, Australia
10 Nov
This is a tough one. I understand your viewpoint but maybe the cancer diagnosis really played with her mind for a while.
@Wrexxo (11034)
•
9 Nov
The part about you still following her on instagram while keeping your distance makes sense to me... you can care about someone and not give them full access. Her deleting people mid scare was kinda rude but i get why you dont wanna deal w/ it, tbf.