The suggestion list is one of the features offered by Messenger to find people that you may know in real life. But more often, this list is filled either with random accounts that you’re not familiar with or people with whom you may not want to connect online. Well, fortunately, there are ways to avoid it and this tutorial will help you to learn how to remove suggested lists in Messenger.
How to Remove Suggestions in Messenger on Android
Gaining control over your online social network by eliminating suggestions gives you a more secure and comfortable chatting space for your online conversations.
What do Suggested People in Messenger Mean?
These are accounts of people that the Messenger app thinks you may know in real life. These accounts appear under your suggested people list mainly because some form of interaction or connection can be traced between the both of you. Messenger goes through your private data after getting permission and suggests people whom they believe you may know personally in an attempt to provide a very personalized experience.
To remove people from your suggested list in Messenger on your Android device, you can follow these methods:
Method 1: Disable Upload Contacts Option
Suggested people lists generally comprise people who are already in your Phone contact list. If you allow Messenger to access your contact list, then it will generate a suggestion list based on everyone on your phone who has a Facebook account. To stop this, you need to delete your uploaded contact list. This can be done by following the below-mentioned steps:
1. Launch Messenger app on your Android device.
2. Tap on the 3 horizontal bar icon placed in the top left corner of your screen.
3. Tap on the settings icon next to your profile name.
4. Swipe to the very end and select See more in Accounts Center.
5. From here, tap on Your information and permissions.
6. Choose Upload contacts.
7. Tap on TURN OFF option present at the bottom of the screen.
Now, you will not get any suggestions on your Messenger.
Method 2: Delete Contacts Uploaded Already
Deleting contact that has already been uploaded will help to disappear the entire suggested list as the app won’t have any data to make a list tailored to your preferences. Follow these steps to remove suggested users in Messenger on Android devices.
1. Follow the first 5 steps as mentioned in the previous heading.
2. Tap on Manage contacts.
3. Tap on Delete all contacts.
4. Tap on Your imported contacts are being deleted.
Your contacts will be deleted.
Also Read: How to Permanently Delete Shared Photos in Messenger on Android
Why Remove Suggested in Messenger?
Removing your suggested list can be a good way to safeguard your privacy, as it often consists of strangers. Suggested lists are made by collecting personal information about you through constantly monitoring your digital activities. This can include the comments you made under a particular post to the contacts you have on your phone. Removing suggested lists in Messenger can safeguard you against this breach of privacy.
Also Read: How to Mark All Messages as Read on Messenger on Android
What Happens When You Hide Someone from Suggested?
Hiding users from suggested ensures that the account does not keep on appearing in your feed. However, hiding an account only means restricting them from contacting your profile and is not the same as blocking. A hidden account can be reached out to by typing their user name manually in the search engine.
To hide a profile in Messenger, follow these steps:
1. Open the Messenger and go to Settings.
2. Under the settings menu, tap on Privacy & safety under Preferences.
3. Tap on Hidden contacts.
4. Tap on the humanoid icon at the top right corner.
5. Select any profile that you wish to hide.
That’s it! The selected users will be hidden from your Messenger.
How to Unhide Someone from Suggested in Messenger
If you change your mind and wish to unhide someone, follow these steps below:
1. Follow the first 3 steps as mentioned under the heading above.
2. Tap on UNHIDE next to the profile name to successfully complete your action.
Your selected users will get unhidden.
How to Customize the Suggested List in Messenger
You can always hide people from your suggested list as shown above to customize your suggestion lists. The detailed implications of hiding a said account are mentioned below.
Also Read: Messages on Messenger Disappeared? 8 Easy Ways to Fix It
Are Suggested List and Friend List in Messenger the Same?
No, they are not. Although they do sound as if they operate similarly, the stark difference is that a friend list consists of people whom you have accepted as a friend on Facebook – meaning both of you are already connected – while a suggested list is merely a list of suggestions of people that you may want to connect with.
We hope you have learned how to remove suggested in Messenger. The suggested lists are made by monitoring your personal interactions which feels like a breach of privacy. Enabling these methods can ensure a much safer experience. If you have any queries related to this article, feel free to reach out to us through our comment section below. Until then happy surfing!
