Too many Facebook friends? Use World Unfriend Day to declutter

Every 17 November, a quiet yet satisfying ritual takes place across the digital world — one that involves a little less noise, fewer updates you don't care about, and a timeline that actually makes sense. Its World Unfriend Day, the annual tradition started by American television host and comedian Jimmy Kimmel in 2010, to help us rethink who we're really "friends" with online.

What started as a tongue-in-cheek segment on Kimmel's late-night show has grown into a moment of digital reflection. In his signature deadpan style, Kimmel joked that people needed to clean up their bloated friend lists by removing acquaintances, strangers, and people we once met at a wedding five years ago, and never spoke to again.

But underneath the humour is a real message that resonates even more today, in a world where virtual connections can outnumber real ones tenfold.

Let's face it — most of us have social media lists filled with people we wouldn't even stop to wave at in real life. Former classmates you never liked, a random coworker from a job you left four years ago, or that one person whose only interaction with you is tagging you in promotional posts.

World Unfriend Day permits you to hit the unfriend button — not out of spite, but in pursuit of something healthier: digital clarity.

As Kimmel once put it, "A friend is someone you have a relationship with. Not someone whose baby you've never met but somehow see 300 photos of a week." The idea isn't about cutting ties cruelly — it's about recognising the emotional load of online clutter and reclaiming your space.

Fifteen years after its inception, World Unfriend Day feels more relevant than ever. With the rise of social media anxiety, constant comparison, and algorithm-induced information overload, the simple act of pruning your friend list can actually improve mental health.

A 2022 Pew Research study showed that over 64 per cent of social media users admitted they kept people on their lists simply to avoid confrontation or awkwardness — even if those relationships added zero value.

But keeping people around online out of guilt or politeness isn't harmless. It shapes what you see, how you feel, and even what you believe. Your digital environment has real-world effects on your mental state. Trimming your list can help you reconnect with what's real, authentic, and interestingly, curating your online friends doesn't just affect your own sanity — it affects what you're shown. Platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn are designed to serve you content based on interactions. So, if you're seeing things that irritate or bore you, chances are it's because your network includes people who don't align with your interests or values.

World Unfriend Day is your yearly nudge to reset that system. Consider it a control-alt-delete for your online social life.

Kimmel's humorous criteria still holds up: "If you wouldn't lend them 50 dollars, or let them crash on your couch, unfriend them." While maybe a bit dramatic, it's a good litmus test. Ask yourself: Would you call this person if you were in trouble? Do you know their last name? Would you recognise them in real life?

If not, you know what to do.

So, on 17 November, give yourself the gift of a quieter, cleaner timeline. Hit unfriend. Not out of pettiness — but as an act of self-care. Your future scroll will thank you.