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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Am I blocked on WhatsApp?

45 replies

grcrobbo · 23/09/2023 16:44

I messaged someone last night and it’s still on one grey tick.

I can still see their profile pic, bio, and can add them to a group. Their privacy was such that it didn’t show if they were online/last seen etc anyway so that’s no clue.

In your experience, am I blocked?

OP posts:
KajsaKavat · 23/09/2023 16:45

No. You wouldn’t see the profile pic if blocked

Tweddle · 23/09/2023 16:46

No, I don’t think so

LovingMyLiver · 23/09/2023 16:48

If you can see their picture you're not blocked

Original poster
grcrobbo · 23/09/2023 17:44

Are you 100% sure about the profile picture? I thought it was just you may not see any changes to their profile pic, not that it got deleted completely? Does anyone have any recent first hand experience of this?

i’m just so confused as to why it would only be one grey tick still if I’m not blocked? The person is on holiday atm but we spoke earlier in the week with no issues. I don’t want to panic and try and contact them via other means if it’s not necessary as they’re going through a bit of a difficult time - I’m just worried in case I’ve inadvertently said something to upset them and this is the result. 🤔

OP posts:
Neverwatchedgameofthrones · 23/09/2023 17:47

If they are on holiday I would say they've turned their phone off to avoid roaming charges and will turn it back on once they have WiFi.

You can always add someone to a group, even if they've blocked you. If you get two ticks from the group but none from personal, you know you are blocked.

KateyCuckoo · 23/09/2023 17:47

They've probably run out of data or are restricting their use if abroad. It's expensive to be roaming continuously.

margotrose · 23/09/2023 17:48

You could be blocked, but equally they could just not have been online since you sent your message.

Leovaldie · 23/09/2023 17:49

You can turn off read receipts on WhatsApp. I have. Also if they read something on airplane mode it doesn't show as read.

Original poster
grcrobbo · 23/09/2023 17:52

Thank you so much 💗 I’m sure they’d be staying at a hotel with Wi-Fi though? I’m just so worried I’ve upset them somehow but don’t want to make it a big deal in case they just need some time out - they’ve not blocked me on other social media which I guess is a good sign? I did try and ring earlier (not through WhatsApp, but just normally on my phone with a 141 withheld number) and it went straight to voicemail so could just mean their phone is off (which would explain the one grey tick), or could mean they’ve blocked me on their phone as well?

(sorry, I must sound like a stalker! But it’s a close friend and she’s been going through a rough patch so I’m just more worried than I’d perhaps normally be). X

OP posts:
janefondofu · 23/09/2023 17:52

Leovaldie · 23/09/2023 17:49

You can turn off read receipts on WhatsApp. I have. Also if they read something on airplane mode it doesn't show as read.

You can, but it still shows up as two ticks if you have dont notify that you've seen it on

Cosyblankets · 23/09/2023 17:53

Why would you withhold your number?
I wouldn't answer

KateyCuckoo · 23/09/2023 17:54

If she's a close friend why are you withholding your number when calling?

You do sound a bit much, leave her alone on holiday!

Original poster
grcrobbo · 23/09/2023 17:58

yes, that does sound bad doesn’t it! It’s because she’s going through a bit of a difficult time and is finding accepting help difficult and has been pushing me and other mutual friends away. I was trying to (not so) subtly find out if I was blocked without her knowing it was me fretting about her.

you’re right, I probably just need to leave her to have some space.

OP posts:
OnlyFannys · 23/09/2023 18:02

It's possible you are blocked, I think it depends on how your number is saved in their phone (whether it's saved to the sim or something) as to whether the pic disappears when you are blocked (I did research this extensively when I was ghosted by an ex after 6 months but his pic was still showing and found out it is possible 🙈😂)

margotrose · 23/09/2023 18:03

If you've rung on an withheld number and the phone is off, surely that answers your question?

You can't block a withheld number from calling you.

Original poster
grcrobbo · 23/09/2023 18:06

@OnlyFannys - oh god, i’m so sorry. So you could still see his profile pic even though blocked? Did you work out how that could happen? Were there other clues? I’ve been taking the profile pic as a good sign but have read so many conflicting things.

I’m worries but I don’t want her to know how worried as that could potentially upset her more 😔

OP posts:
arethereanyleftatall · 23/09/2023 18:08

It's a bloke isn't it? Anyway, regardless of whether you're blocked, he's not interested atm. Find something else to do.

Original poster
grcrobbo · 23/09/2023 18:08

@margotrose - thank you. I just wasn’t sure about the withheld number - surely if you blocked someone’s number they couldn’t just get around it by dialling 141? That doesn’t seem very effective (what if you were trying to block a stalker ex or something?!)

OP posts:
Goodadvice1980 · 23/09/2023 18:10

One tick can mean not delivered.

And seriously OP, you are starting to sound a bit unhinged! Leave it be.

Redglitter · 23/09/2023 18:11

Leave them alone. They're on holiday

Theyve probably switched their data off because its so expensive depending where you are. Phoning & with holding your number seems odd

sonjadog · 23/09/2023 18:13

If they are on holiday, it is much more likely that they don't have reception. So just leave it for now. But if they have blocked you, then there is still no point worrying about it because it means that they don't want to talk to you and you need to give them space. So either way, whatever the reason is, the answer is just to leave it for now and see what happens.

Original poster
grcrobbo · 23/09/2023 18:19

Thanks all - I guess all I can do is just wait and see.

I’m just concerned as she’s abroad alone during a difficult time in her life and I’m scared in case she’s run into trouble. Maybe I’m just not the friend she needs at the moment x

OP posts:
TrickorTreacle · 23/09/2023 18:28

arethereanyleftatall · 23/09/2023 18:08

It's a bloke isn't it? Anyway, regardless of whether you're blocked, he's not interested atm. Find something else to do.

Agreed, it's a bloke, in contrary to what@grcrobbohas been saying.

As others have said, just leave it for now.

If he's interested, he'll say so when he turns his data back on.

itsmylife7 · 23/09/2023 18:31

Just leave her to enjoy her time with no interruptions.
She's private enjoying the peace of no social media.

Neverwatchedgameofthrones · 23/09/2023 18:32

If you are blocked but phone off a withheld number it still goes through. So their phone is off. Not all hotels have WiFi and if they do, sometimes you have to pay for it. They often only have WiFi in reception. I wouldn't worry.