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Toronto Sun
4 days ago
- General
- Toronto Sun
SALTZMAN: Here's how to see who unfriended you on Facebook
If you really want to know if someone is distancing themselves from you on Facebook, read on The Facebook logo is seen on a cellphone. Photo by Michael Dwyer / AP No one wants to be unfriended on Facebook, but it happens. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account Yes, even to you. Whatever the reason – they don't agree with your political posts, they're annoyed by your summer 'travel bragging,' or perhaps 20 photos of your avocado toast is just too much – you may lose some Facebook 'friends' from time to time. But here's the rub: you may not even know if you've been unfriended. In fact, with how often Facebook changes how it delivers and prioritizes your news feed, you may not have a clue if someone you were connected with is no longer a Facebook connection, whether you were unfriended or unfollowed (which is not the same thing). If you really want to know if someone is distancing themselves from you on Facebook, read on. In this photo illustration the app for Meta (formerly the Facebook company) is seen on a cellphone in Los Angeles, Calif., on Feb. 7, 2025. Photo by FREDERIC J. BROWN / AFP via Getty Images How does Facebook let you know if someone has unfriended you? While there are ways to find out, Facebook doesn't tell you if someone has unfriended you on its popular social media platform. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'One of the reasons that Facebook makes it increasingly difficult to see who unfriends you is that there were ongoing complaints that making this information public was an invasion of privacy,' explains Amber Mac, a Toronto-based tech expert, keynote speaker, and author the book Power Friending: Demystifying Social Media to Grow Your Business. 'In other words, you should be able to unfriend someone without worrying about them getting a notification or easily finding out that you took that action,' Mac adds. Mac, who also hosts The AmberMac Show podcast on SiriusXM's Canada Talks , agrees it could be hurtful to find out you've been unfriended, 'you might want to respect that person's boundaries and just accept that it is a decision that person has made.' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'Perhaps if you're close to that person and there was no reason they would unfriend you, it might be a good idea to have a phone call to find out what happened,' she suggests. Older woman smiling while looking at her cellphone. Getty Images How to see who unfriended you on Facebook Whether you use the Facebook app or website, there are two easy ways to see who unfriended you on Facebook. Check your friends list Go to your Facebook profile and tap or click on your Friends list. Search for the person you suspect unfriended you. If they are not in your list, they have either unfriended you or blocked you altogether. Check their profile Go to the person in question's Facebook page. If you see the 'Add Friend' button, it means they have unfriended you. If you can't access their profile at all, they may have blocked you or deactivated their Facebook account. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. A teenager uses his mobile phone to access social media, Sydney, Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024. Photo by Dean Lewins / THE ASSOCIATED PRESS While Facebook has been clamping down on these unofficial add-ons over the past couple of years, some may work to alert you to someone unfriending you. 'Facebook has blocked many of these apps from today's primary app stores because they violate Facebook's policies, which aim to keep unfriending as private an act as possible,' confirms Mac. 'While you might still find some of these apps online, there is a chance that they are not reliable or accurate, so proceed with caution.' Some apps or web browser extensions that may work (with mixed success) include FB Purity, Who Deleted Me, and Still Friends – Who Deleted Me. Curious woman looking at laptop. Getty Images Can you see if someone has unfollowed you on Facebook? Just like unfriending, you won't be notified if someone unfollows you on Facebook – but there is an way to find out. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. First, a clarification of the difference: 'Unfriending' removes the connection entirely, while 'unfollowing' prevents you from seeing the other person's posts in your news feed but keeps you connected as friends. So, it's a more, er, gentle way of disconnecting yourself from someone. 'When you unfollow someone, you can still be friends with someone to exchange messages, as one example, but you will no longer see their posts in your Facebook feed,' explains Mac. Yes, you can see who is currently following you on your main Facebook profile page, but there isn't a way to actively track who has unfollowed you. Conversely, if you want to unfollow someone on Facebook, the person will not be notified that you've unfollowed them. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The Facebook application in the Apple App store arranged on a smartphone in Sydney, Australia, on Thursday, Nov. 28, 2024. Photo by Brendon Thorne / Bloomberg While there are ways to find out, no, Facebook will not notify you if you've been blocked by someone. You'll have to look for someone specifically, as there is no way to see a list of people who blocked you. To find out, type in someone's name in the Search window and if you can't find them or their profile page is inaccessible, it's possible they've blocked you. Sometimes people don't use their real (or full) name on Facebook, or perhaps they use an abbreviated name (like 'Jamine S.') or a maiden name, so make sure you've exhausted those options, too. Also, if you know they're on Facebook – maybe if a mutual contact can confirm they're still connected to them as Facebook friends or can view their page – then maybe they've blocked you or excluded you in their smaller circle of Facebook friends. If you were Facebook friends at some point, you can also check if their 'Likes' and comments on your posts are still visible or if you can still tag them. – Based in Toronto, Marc Saltzman is the host of the Tech It Out podcast and author of 17 books, including Apple Watch For Dummies (Wiley) Toronto & GTA Sunshine Girls Toronto Blue Jays Toronto & GTA Columnists
Scotsman
22-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
9 things that didn't exist when Stranger Things began
Stranger Things is one of the biggest TV hits of the last decade. After arriving without much fanfare in the summer of 2016 it has gone on to become perhaps Netflix's signature show. The fifth and final season is set to be rolled out in three batches between Thanksgiving (late November) and the New Year. It means there will be brand new Stranger Things at Christmas time this year. Since it first debuted more than nine years ago, a lot has changed. Not least including the age of the actors - who have grown from children to adults. Ahead of the return of Stranger Things later in the year, we decided to take a look at a few of the things that didn't exist when the show originally premiered on July 15, 2016. See how different life was back then. If you love TV, check out our Screen Babble podcast to get the latest in TV and film. 1 . Nintendo Switch It might be quite unbelievable but the Nintendo Switch had not even been announced - let alone released - when Stranger Things first released in July 2016. The Switch was publicly revealed in October 2016, three months later. It has since had a full 8 year life-span and a follow-up console, in the time it has taken for Stranger Things to complete its full run on Netflix. | FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty Images Photo: FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty Images Photo Sales 2 . Fortnite Can you imagine a world without Fortnite? The video game is utterly inescapable even now in 2025 - but when Stranger Things first premiered in July 2016, the only fortnight you would have heard of would have been the one that means two weeks. The original version of the game was released a year after Stranger Things in July 2017 and the Battle Royale mode arrived in September of that year. |for Hamleys Photo:for Hamleys Photo Sales 3 . Disney Plus When you think of streaming services in 2025, your mind probably goes to Netflix and Disney+ first and foremost. But when Stranger Things first arrived in July 2016, the words Disney Plus would have meant nothing to you. It didn't launch in America until late 2019 and didn't come to the UK until March 2020. | PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images Photo: PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images Photo Sales 4 . TikTok Another ubiquitous part of our modern day life, TikTok had not been launched when Stranger Things first started. The app would debut in September 2016, a couple of months after viewers were first introduced to Eleven, Mike and co. Can you even remember a time before TikTok? | SEBASTIEN BOZON/AFP via Getty Images Photo: SEBASTIEN BOZON/AFP via Getty Images Photo Sales
Scotsman
22-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
9 things that didn't exist when Stranger Things began
Stranger Things is one of the biggest TV hits of the last decade. After arriving without much fanfare in the summer of 2016 it has gone on to become perhaps Netflix's signature show. The fifth and final season is set to be rolled out in three batches between Thanksgiving (late November) and the New Year. It means there will be brand new Stranger Things at Christmas time this year. Since it first debuted more than nine years ago, a lot has changed. Not least including the age of the actors - who have grown from children to adults. Ahead of the return of Stranger Things later in the year, we decided to take a look at a few of the things that didn't exist when the show originally premiered on July 15, 2016. See how different life was back then. If you love TV, check out our Screen Babble podcast to get the latest in TV and film. 1 . Nintendo Switch It might be quite unbelievable but the Nintendo Switch had not even been announced - let alone released - when Stranger Things first released in July 2016. The Switch was publicly revealed in October 2016, three months later. It has since had a full 8 year life-span and a follow-up console, in the time it has taken for Stranger Things to complete its full run on Netflix. | FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty Images Photo: FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty Images Photo Sales 2 . Fortnite Can you imagine a world without Fortnite? The video game is utterly inescapable even now in 2025 - but when Stranger Things first premiered in July 2016, the only fortnight you would have heard of would have been the one that means two weeks. The original version of the game was released a year after Stranger Things in July 2017 and the Battle Royale mode arrived in September of that year. |for Hamleys Photo:for Hamleys Photo Sales 3 . Disney Plus When you think of streaming services in 2025, your mind probably goes to Netflix and Disney+ first and foremost. But when Stranger Things first arrived in July 2016, the words Disney Plus would have meant nothing to you. It didn't launch in America until late 2019 and didn't come to the UK until March 2020. | PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images Photo: PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images Photo Sales 4 . TikTok Another ubiquitous part of our modern day life, TikTok had not been launched when Stranger Things first started. The app would debut in September 2016, a couple of months after viewers were first introduced to Eleven, Mike and co. Can you even remember a time before TikTok? | SEBASTIEN BOZON/AFP via Getty Images Photo: SEBASTIEN BOZON/AFP via Getty Images Photo Sales
Newsweek
17-07-2025
- Business
- Newsweek
These Are the Cities Where Retirees Need the Most Cash on Top of Social Security
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Retirees rely on Social Security across the country to help pay for basic living expenses, but the amount of money they need on top of their monthly benefits varies drastically based on where they live. In a new LendingTree report, cities were ranked on where Social Security goes the furthest for seniors as well as the states that required the most amount of money on top of the benefits to meet their basic needs. Why It Matters Social Security lifts more than 22 million people out of poverty each year, according to Justice in Aging. And half of older adults rely on Social Security for the majority of their income. However, with the average retirement benefit check at $2,002 in 2025, many seniors aren't able to make this money stretch for their full monthly needs. Cost of living, housing prices and inflation within their specific location can significantly impact their overall quality of life as well if mostly relying on their Social Security check. Pedestrians walk past the Social Security Administration office in downtown Los Angeles, on October 1, 2013. Pedestrians walk past the Social Security Administration office in downtown Los Angeles, on October 1, 2013. FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty Images What To Know On average, Social Security covers roughly 30 percent of retirees' spending, LendingTree found. Across the 100 largest U.S. metros, retirees needed about $71,407 to survive, while the average Social Security income is $21,500. However, your specific city and state could play a major role in how far your payment stretches. In a place like McAllen, Texas, Social Security covers more than one-third of retirement spending, which is estimated at $61,821. Other cities that were ranked best for Social Security beneficiaries included Buffalo, New York; El Paso, Texas; Syracuse, New York; and Scranton, Pennsylvania. "You often hear that the cost of living in New York is burdensome, but what many forget is that New York is more than just Manhattan and the five boroughs," Kevin Thompson, the CEO of 9i Capital Group and host of the 9innings podcast, told Newsweek. "Cities like Buffalo and Syracuse frequently rank among the most affordable places to live, even though they're part of a state known for its high costs." However, some cities left retirees scrambling for cash, even with the average Social Security check mailed out monthly. The worst cities for Social Security beneficiaries to make their payment stretch far enough were: San Francisco, California; Los Angeles, California; Washington, D.C.; Oxnard, California; and San Jose, California. "It shouldn't be surprising to see that Social Security doesn't go very far in the biggest, most expensive cities in America," Matt Schulz, LendingTree chief consumer finance analyst, told Newsweek. "However, the fact that Social Security doesn't cover more than about a third of spending costs in any big city in America is pretty sobering. It means no matter where you live, you better have a pension or some significant money set aside or retirement could be a major struggle financially." California, known for its high cost of living, saw an implied pretax need as high as $85,364 for retirees in San Francisco. Meanwhile, in Los Angeles, residents would still need $83,414 in retirement. "Very few people can comfortably say they'll have plenty of money to retire on regardless of what happens to Social Security," Schulz said in the report. "Knowing that, the more you can put into retirement savings and the longer you can do it, the better off you'll be." What People Are Saying Matt Schulz, LendingTree chief consumer finance analyst, in the report: "Most aren't fortunate enough to have a seven-figure nest egg or a pension to lean on. Most people have tight budgets, limited expendable income and low retirement account balances. It's all going to add up to a challenging situation for retirees and their loved ones in the next 15 to 20 years." Alex Beene, a financial literacy instructor for the University of Tennessee at Martin, told Newsweek: "States like Texas and Oklahoma ranking highest on locations where social security covers the highest amount of retirees' spending, should come as no surprise, as expenses in retirement in these areas tend to be less when compared to the national average. "Meanwhile, California ranks as a smaller percentage, in part because many retirees there have greater expenses and have larger nest eggs at retirement. It's good fuel for thought as many baby boomers enter retirement and pick locations where their savings will stretch further." What Happens Next As the cost of living rises, many retirees may be forced to move out of states like California, experts said. "As retirees evaluate where to live, many may be forced to decide between the California lifestyle and more cost-effective alternatives," Thompson said. "I've traveled to California several times recently and completely understand the appeal—the weather, the natural beauty, the air quality and overall lifestyle are unmatched. But for many retirees, that lifestyle comes with a price tag that simply isn't sustainable. For some, the cost of living may become a barrier they can no longer afford to ignore."
Newsweek
10-07-2025
- Business
- Newsweek
SNAP Cuts Could Disproportionately Impact Key California Demographic
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Federal legislation signed into law last week could cut the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) by $186 billion over the next decade, according to the Congressional Budget Office, instituting the largest overhaul to U.S. food assistance policy in recent years. In California, where SNAP is administered as CalFresh, those reductions could threaten a vital resource that supported five million residents between 2023 and 2024. And a new study by the UCLA Latino Policy and Politics Institute (LPPI) found that California's Latino population—which make up a majority of CalFresh recipients—will likely bear the brunt of these changes due to high rates of food insecurity and regional disparities in benefit access. Why It Matters SNAP reductions come as rising food insecurity continues to afflict Californians, with nearly 45 percent of adults unable to afford enough food in 2023, according to the study. Latinos is especially exposed, according to LPPI, with 55 percent of CalFresh participants being from that community. SNAP advocates say the new funding cuts, coupled with stricter work requirements and cost shifting to states, risk undermining the basic health, nutrition, and economic stability of millions, particularly in agricultural regions and immigrant households. Organic produce is displayed at a supermarket in Monterey Park, California, on February 12, 2025. Organic produce is displayed at a supermarket in Monterey Park, California, on February 12, 2025. FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty Images What To Know Key Provisions in the New SNAP Law The SNAP overhaul, passed as part of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act at the center of President Donald Trump's fiscal agenda, includes major cost changes and ties state funding obligations to payment error rates. Newsweek reached out to Republican California Representatives Doug LaMalfa and Tom McClintock, who both voted for the legislation, for comment. States with error rates above 6 percent must now share in benefit costs, escalating fiscal pressure for states with high-enrollment in the program like California. Researchers from UCLA LPPI warn these changes "represent real harm to communities across California." "Reducing food assistance means forcing families to make impossible choices between meals, rent, and health care," LPPI faculty director Arturo Vargas Bustamante said. "It risks deepening existing inequalities and will hit hardest in regions and neighborhoods that are already struggling with food insecurity." UCLA LPPI's analysis found that 48 percent of low-income Latino adults in California experience food insecurity, a rate substantially higher than the 38 percent among white Californians and 37 percent among Asian or Pacific Islander Californians. Latinos also form the majority of CalFresh child enrollees (40 percent versus 33 percent state average) and working-age participants (69 percent in the labor force), which LPPI says illustrates the extent to which working families and children rely on these benefits. Participation in CalFresh is especially high in agricultural counties such as Imperial and those across the Central Valley, where food insecurity is most acute and Latinos comprise up to 90 percent of enrollees, according to the study. Cuts in SNAP are expected to have the harshest effects in these regions, threatening the food security of core communities essential to the state's food production industry. Statewide, CalFresh distributed $12 billion in benefits to five million individuals between 2023 and 2024, averaging $189 per recipient monthly. Over three million Californians are dually enrolled in CalFresh and Medi-Cal, California's version of Medicaid, including 1.8 million Latinos. In other states, however, different demographics could bear the greatest brunt of the cuts, experts say. "In places like Alabama or Mississippi, it's often low-income white communities that will be most affected," Kevin Thompson, the CEO of 9i Capital Group and the host of the 9innings podcast, told Newsweek. "The new law introduces stricter work requirements, which will inevitably lead to some people losing benefits—either from missed deadlines or delays in paperwork." According to the study, food insecurity is tied to poorer health outcomes, reduced care access and economic hardship. The SNAP cuts arrive as California continues to face challenges in overall life expectancy recovery and growing rates of homelessness, particularly among low-income minority groups. The Congressional Budget Office estimated that 3 million more Americans could lose food assistance if the SNAP eligibility changes—including stricter work requirements—take effect nationwide. What People Are Saying Kevin Thompson, the CEO of 9i Capital Group and the host of the 9innings podcast, told Newsweek: "The shift to block grants means states will have to shoulder more of the funding burden. That likely results in reduced aid for lower-income communities across the board, as states trim programs to fit tighter budgets." Alex Beene, a financial literacy instructor for the University of Tennessee at Martin, told Newsweek: "The alterations made to SNAP that include new requirements and more common eligibility check-ins are going to take a toll on enrollments, and that will hit the Latino community hard in a state that has a larger population and has more who struggle to stay above the poverty line given the higher cost of living." Republican California Representative Doug LaMalfa said in a previous statement: "This package delivers a lot of what we've been pushing for years. It means more jobs and a stronger economy... Importantly, it gets us back to the principle that if you're a healthy able-bodied adult, you should be employed. I'm glad to see the House pass it and look forward to seeing it signed into law." Republican California Representative Tom McClintock said in a previous statement: "This bill fulfills many of our promises to the American people: lower taxes, lighter regulations, a secure border, more frugal government and a war on waste. Throughout history, these are the policies that have produced prosperity and security and there is every reason to believe they will again." What Happens Next The SNAP overhaul is scheduled to go into effect over the next several years. "Long term, it could be devastating; more food insecurity will lead to more health problems and higher numbers of those living in poverty," Beene said.
