Hi there! In this brief guide, we will discuss how to remove suggested contacts on Messenger for iOS. Messenger often suggests contacts to you based on your current activity and past conversations. However, some people may not want these suggestions to clutter their chat list. We will cover the steps to remove these suggested contacts quickly and easily. Let’s get started!
Understanding Suggested Conversations
Messenger is a popular messaging app that allows users to communicate with friends and family. One of the features of the app is the “Suggested” section, which suggests users to start a conversation with. This feature is based on the user’s previous interactions with the app and is meant to make it easier to connect with people the user frequently interacts with. However, some users find this feature to be intrusive or annoying, and want to know how to remove it.
How Suggested Conversations Work
Before we dive into the steps to remove suggested conversations, it’s important to understand how the feature works. Messenger uses an algorithm to suggest users to start a conversation with based on several factors, including:
- The user’s previous interactions with the app
- The user’s Facebook friends and groups
- The user’s location
- The user’s activity on Messenger, such as how often they use the app and how quickly they respond to messages
The algorithm is designed to suggest conversations that the user is likely to be interested in, based on their past behavior on the app.
Removing Suggested Conversations
If you find the suggested conversations feature to be intrusive or annoying, there are a few steps you can take to remove it. Here’s how:
Step 1: Open Messenger Settings
First, open the Messenger app and tap on your profile picture in the top left corner of the screen. This will take you to your Messenger profile.
Next, tap on “Notifications & Sounds” to access the app’s settings.
Step 2: Disable “People You May Know”
In the Notifications & Sounds settings, scroll down until you see the “People You May Know” section. This is where you can control the suggested conversations feature.
To disable the feature, simply toggle the switch next to “People You May Know” to the off position. This will prevent Messenger from suggesting conversations with people you may know.
Step 3: Clear Your Search History
In addition to disabling the suggested conversations feature, you may also want to clear your search history in Messenger. This will prevent the app from suggesting conversations based on your previous searches.
To clear your search history, go back to your Messenger profile and tap on the “People” tab. Then, tap on the search bar at the top of the screen.
In the search bar, tap and hold on the “X” icon next to the search history. This will bring up a prompt asking if you want to clear your search history. Tap “Clear Search History” to confirm.
Step 4: Remove Contacts from Messenger
If you still receive suggestions for conversations with people you don’t want to talk to, you can remove them from your Messenger contacts. This will prevent Messenger from suggesting conversations with them in the future.
To remove a contact from Messenger, tap on their name in a conversation. Then, tap on the “i” icon in the top right corner of the screen to access their profile.
In the profile screen, tap on “Remove Contact” to remove them from your Messenger contacts.
Impact of Suggested Conversations on User Privacy
Facebook, the parent company of Messenger, has been under scrutiny for its data privacy policies. The use of the suggested conversations feature has raised concerns about how user data is being used to personalize the app’s features. While Facebook has stated that user data is not being shared with third parties, some users are still uncomfortable with the level of personalization in the app.
Step 5: Turn off “Active Status”
If you want to further protect your privacy on Messenger, you can turn off your “Active Status.” This is the feature that shows your friends when you are active on the app.
To turn off your Active Status, go to the Messenger settings and tap on “Active Status.” Then, toggle the switch next to “Show when you’re active” to the off position.
FAQs: How to Remove Suggested on Messenger iOS
What are suggested contacts on Messenger iOS?
Suggested contacts on Messenger iOS are individuals who may not be in your contact list but are still recommended by the Messenger platform. These suggestions are based on mutual connections, groups you’re a part of, and people you’ve recently interacted with on the app.
Why do I need to remove suggested contacts on Messenger iOS?
Removing suggested contacts on Messenger iOS is useful when you want to keep your Messenger experience more streamlined and personalized. Suggested contacts can make your contact list cluttered, which can result in difficulty finding specific individuals that you’re trying to connect with, especially if you have too many suggested contacts or people from whom you do not want to receive messages.
Can I turn off suggested contacts on Messenger iOS?
Unfortunately, turning off suggested contacts on Messenger iOS is not an option. However, you can always remove suggested contacts from your list of contacts to keep your contact list more straightforward and personalized.
How can I remove suggested contacts on Messenger iOS?
To remove suggested contacts on Messenger iOS, simply follow these easy steps:
- Open the Messenger app on your iOS device.
- Go to the “People” tab (located at the bottom of the screen).
- Tap on the “All” button that is located next to the “Active” button.
- Find the “Suggested” section, which displays a list of suggested contacts.
- Swipe to the left on the contact you want to remove and tap on the “Remove” button.
- Confirm the action by tapping on “Remove” again on the pop-up prompt.
Will removing suggested contacts block them from messaging me?
No, removing someone from your suggested contacts list will not block them from messaging you. However, if you want to prevent someone from messaging you altogether, you can block them by opening the conversation, tapping on their profile picture/name located in the top-left corner of the screen, scrolling down and tapping on “Block” to prevent them from sending you messages.