What Does Restrict Mean on Messenger and How to Use It

Facebook Messenger is one of the most popular messaging apps. It's for more than just casual conversations; many people use it for work and to stay connected with their families. However, with great convenience comes great responsibility, especially for parents who want to ensure their children's online safety. That's why Facebook has introduced a new feature called "Restrict" on Messenger, which allows users to limit unwanted interactions with specific individuals.  

This article will share what Messenger Restrict means, how to use it, and what happens when you restrict someone on Messenger.

1What Is Restrict on Messenger?

Restrict in Messenger is a privacy feature on Facebook that enables users to restrict their interactions with other users. When you limit someone on Messenger, you're putting them on a restricted list, which limits their ability to contact you on Messenger. They can still send you messages, but they will go straight to your "Message Requests" folder, and you won't receive notifications. They can call you but your phone won't ring. Moreover, their messages won't appear in your chat list, and they won't be able to see when you're active or read their messages.

2How to Restrict Someone on Messenger?

You can't stop strangers from sending random messages to your children; however, you can restrict them on Messenger. There are 3 possible ways to restrict someone on Messenger. Follow these simple steps to limit someone on Messenger:

How to Restrict Someone on Messenger vis Chats:

How to Restrict Someone on Messenger vis Settings:

How to Restrict Someone on Messenger vis Web:

By doing so, you can easily restrict people on Messenger.

But how to remove restricted in Messnenger? If you have restricted someone and want to unrestrict, you can unrestrict someone by tapping their name and selecting "Unrestrict", or go to Messenger Settings > Privacy & safety > Restricted accounts to remove them from the restricted list.

3What Should Parents Remember about the Messenger Restrict Feature?

As a parent, it's important to realize that Messenger's Restrict feature is just one tool in your digital safety toolkit. While it can limit interactions on Messenger, it doesn’t block someone entirely. A restricted person can still send messages, but these won’t appear in your chat list or trigger notifications.

Additional Steps Parents Can Take: To maximize your child's safety online, you should also consider:

• Setting privacy settings on their social media accounts.
• Using a parental control app like AirDroid Parental Control to monitor their online activity across multiple platforms, including Messenger.

How AirDroid Parental Control Helps Parents Monitor Online Activity

AirDroid Parental Control offers a comprehensive solution to monitor your child's device usage, including their activity on Messenger. With features like screen mirroring, you can view their Messenger chats in real-time. Additionally, AirDroid allows you to:

• Set time limits on device usage
• Restrict app access
• Block websites and applications
• Sync notifications for monitoring
• Receive real-time alerts on any suspicious activities

4What Happens When You Restrict Someone on Messenger?

If you restrict someone on Messenger, you will see these as followings:

• They won't be able to see when you're active or when you've read their messages.
• Their messages to you will go straight to your "Message Requests" folder, and you won't receive notifications for them.
• They can call you but your phone won't ring.
• You will be notified when you join a group chat with someone you have restricted.

Usually, people won't get notified if you restrict them.

However, it's important to note that restricting someone on Messenger doesn't block them. They'll still be able to send you messages, and you'll still be able to see their announcements if you choose to read them. If you want to block someone on Messenger, you can do so by tapping on their name, selecting "Block," and confirming that you wish to block them.

5How to Know If Someone Restricted You on Messenger?

How to know if you are restricted on Messenger? Actually, you won't know you've been restricted when someone restricts you on Messenger. However, if you suspect someone has restricted you on Messenger, there are a few signs to look out for.

• You won't be able to see when they're active or when they've read your messages. 
• Your messages to them will go straight to their "Message Requests" folder, and they won't receive notifications. 
• Their messages to you won't appear in your chat list, and you won't receive notifications for them either.

6Where to Find Restricted Chats on Messenger?

If you've restricted someone on Messenger, their messages will go straight to your "Message Requests" folder. To access this folder, follow these steps:

1. Step 1:Open the Messenger app on your phone.
2. Step 2:Tap on your profile picture in the top left corner.
3. Step 3:Scroll down and tap on "Message Requests".



4. Step 4:Tap on "See filtered requests".
5. Step 5:Look for the conversation with the person you've restricted.

You can also find restricted chats on Messenger Web. Go to the web version, click Messenger > three dots > Message requests to see all the restricted chats.

7Why Use the Restrict Feature on Messenger?

You should use the Restrict feature on Messenger mainly for these reasons.

1. For parents, it's a great way to limit unwanted interactions between their children and strangers or acquaintances who may be sending them inappropriate messages.

2. The Restrict feature is a great way to avoid awkward or uncomfortable interactions with people you don't want to talk to. Suppose you've had a falling out with a friend or family member and want to limit your interactions with them. In that case, you can restrict them on Messenger without completely blocking them.

8Conclusion

In conclusion, the Restrict feature on Messenger is a great way to limit unwanted interactions with specific individuals. By restricting someone, you're putting them on a restricted list, which limits their ability to contact you. Their messages will go straight to your "Message Requests" folder, and you won't receive notifications for them. 

Additionally, their messages won't appear in your chat list, and they won't be able to see when you're active or read their messages. It's a great way to protect your online privacy and limit unwanted interactions on Messenger. So, if you still need to use the Messenger Restrict feature, try it today!