If you're a Facebook user, you know that other users don't know when you remove them as a friend and vice versa. (Unless you're paying specific attention to that person's updates and suddenly they disappear.)
If you can get over the ego bruise, I think you'll find that unfriending is a good thing for your social network.
Kate Niederhoffer outlines a few reasons why people prune their networks:
- Informational / Strength of bond
- Permissive / Visibility
- Identity Claim / Reputation Management
With the rise of social networks and hyperconnectivity, I think we're biased to believe that all weak ties should be made stronger. But just because they CAN be doesn't mean they SHOULD be. Friendship isn't dead, but in some cases it needs to be taken off of social media life support.
