Did she decline my friend request on Facebook?

[goaskmum]

So I sent a friend request on Facebook to a person I know from a Mums group I used to go to.

I’ve just checked and she hasn’t accepted the request (yet), I went onto her Facebook profile and the button that you press to send the friend request now says “following”

Did she decline my request or what does that mean?

If it's still there as a pending request then no she hasn't declined.
If it's gone and says add friend then yes she declined you.

@TheMarvelousMrsMaisel

If it's still there as a pending request then no she hasn't declined. If it's gone and says add friend then yes she declined you.

It doesn’t say either, it just says “following”

I think she's declined then unfortunately.

It doesn't sound like you sent a friend request, it sounds like you requested to follow her.

The friend request bit will say pending if she hasn't answered it, it also gives you the option to withdraw your request.

@MrsMingech

It doesn't sound like you sent a friend request, it sounds like you requested to follow her.

The friend request bit will say pending if she hasn't answered it, it also gives you the option to withdraw your request.

I pressed “add friend”

I came back and checked her profile about 10 minutes later and that’s when it said “following”

It doesn't necessarily mean she's declined your request, it means that she has it set that people can 'follow' her profile (and she may not even realise she has that setting! Depending on the setting, she may have it so that anyone who sends a friend request automatically 'follows' her profile so she genuinely might not have seen your request yet. More here on fb's help page m.facebook.com/help/382751108453953

[quote GrowBabyGrow]It doesn't necessarily mean she's declined your request, it means that she has it set that people can 'follow' her profile (and she may not even realise she has that setting! Depending on the setting, she may have it so that anyone who sends a friend request automatically 'follows' her profile so she genuinely might not have seen your request yet. More here on fb's help page m.facebook.com/help/382751108453953[/quote]
I just unfollowed her and now the blue button says “follow” and doesn’t say “add friend” like it did an hour ago!

I really hate this sort of thing about Facebook it's incredibly confusing and can cause all sort of offence and upset

@Lilifer

I really hate this sort of thing about Facebook it's incredibly confusing and can cause all sort of offence and upset

You’re right! I’m convinced she’s declined my friend request and I’m quite hurt if that is the case!

Just done an experiment with two accounts I have..
She has definitely declined it. She has set her following setting to public so lets anyone follow her account if they want.
So when she rejects a friend request it automatically puts the person on following. I guess because she allows public followers and that person (you) are interested in her content.
Sorry Op, it always sucks when someone rejects requests or removes you, and you don't know the reason. Maybe she keeps her friends list small.

Are you close, OP?

So I sent a friend request on Facebook to a person I know from a Mums group I used to go to

I don’t have Facebook, but this wouldn’t be enough to make it on my ‘close friends’ list on Instagram, which is the only place I really post anything if at all

I have become increasingly private with age.