A restricted view of a Facebook profile occurs when one user blocks another, or when Facebook’s algorithms limit what a person can see on another user’s profile due to various privacy settings and relationship parameters. This means the person viewing the profile only sees information explicitly made public by the profile owner. For example, mutual friends and public posts may be visible, while photos, status updates, and other content shared with friends only remain hidden.
This mechanism offers a layer of privacy and control to users, allowing them to manage the information visible to specific individuals. It represents a middle ground between completely blocking someone and granting them full access to one’s profile. Historically, this feature has evolved alongside Facebook’s privacy settings, providing users with increasingly granular control over their online presence and interactions.