When Blocking Feels Petty but Healing Feels Necessary: Navigating Digital Breakup Boundaries

Let’s just call it what it is: modern breakups aren’t just emotional; they’re digital warfare. Back in the day, you could break up with someone and never see their face again unless you bumped into them at the grocery store in sweats and sunglasses, dodging them like a CIA operative. But in 2025? That ex is everywhere! On your feed, your stories, your explore page, and let’s not forget those cryptic tweets you know are about you.

And so, here you are, debating whether to hit that blessed Block button. But something’s stopping you. It feels petty. Immature. Like you’re proving you care when you’ve been pretending you don’t. But let’s get one thing crystal clear, babe: blocking isn’t petty: it’s self-preservation.

Welcome to your digital detox era. Here’s how to navigate those blurry post-breakup boundaries like a healed, hot, and holy woman who values her peace over his pixelated presence.

We’re living in a world where your ex doesn’t leave your life when they walk out the door. They linger in your notifications, stories, and algorithm like an unpaid bill. A study from Pew Research Center found that one in five people stay connected with an ex online after a breakup. That might sound harmless, but we both know it’s a breeding ground for backsliding, passive-aggressive story posts, and 2 AM doom scrolling.

Boundaries aren’t just about what you won’t accept in person anymore; It’s about protecting your headspace from digital debris too.

Let’s unpack this because this is where most of us get stuck. You tell yourself:

• If I block him, it means he still has power over me.

• What if it looks immature?

• What if he notices?
  

And babe… so what if he does? The truth is, this isn’t about how it looks. It’s about how it feels. If seeing his face pop up triggers your anxiety, drags you back into old wounds, or stirs up drama you didn’t order, that’s your cue to cut that digital tie. It’s not pettiness. It’s preservation. It’s choosing your mental health over his proximity to your peace.

If you need a sign  (or five) here you go:

• You check his story viewers list like it’s the stock market.

• Your mood shifts every time he posts.

• You start crafting stories or posts hoping he’ll see them.

• You feel triggered, anxious, or spiral after seeing his updates.

• You keep tabs on his new flings, convinced you’re being “casually curious.”
  

Sis. That’s not casual curiosity. That’s digital self-sabotage.

One of the biggest lies we tell ourselves after a breakup is: “I just need closure.” But 90% of the time, closure is an inside job. The idea that one more conversation, one last text, or a check-in will heal what broke is a myth.

When you leave digital doors open, you’re not chasing closure — you’re chasing access. And access is what keeps you from fully moving on.

Blocking isn’t for him. It’s for you. It’s a bold, beautiful statement that says: I choose my peace. I choose my healing. I choose myself.

Okay, maybe you’re not ready for the nuclear option just yet. No shame. Here’s a little menu of digital boundaries you can start with:

• Mute his stories and posts : out of sight, out of mind.

• Remove him from Close Friends : no access to your glow-up journey.

• Turn off notifications : your peace shouldn’t be interrupted.

• Archive conversations : not delete, just out of reach.

• Restrict his comments and DMs : for when you still want control over your space.

Remember, boundaries aren’t about punishment. They’re about protection.

Because you know someone’s going to say it. “Wow, you blocked him? That’s kind of dramatic, don’t you think?”

To which I offer you this reply: “What’s dramatic is wasting my energy on someone who wasn’t built to keep it.”

Period. No further explanation needed.

Let’s demystify this, because the idea that blocking someone is a huge, life-altering moment is mostly in your head. Here’s what actually happens:

• You sleep better.

• Your screen time on his profile drops to zero.

• You stop comparing yourself to his new followers.

• You reclaim the mental real estate he was renting for free.
  

And here’s the tea: if he notices? He’ll either get the message and stay gone, or try to wiggle his way back. Either way :  it’s not your problem anymore.

The urge to stay connected digitally is often rooted in wanting validation. You want to know if he still cares, still watches, still remembers. But validation is fleeting, and it won’t heal you. Peace will. And peace lives in a place where his notifications don’t reach.

Let blocking be the love letter you write to your future self : the version of you who no longer craves his attention because she’s too busy thriving.

Blocking isn’t immature. It’s an act of self-love in a world that profits off your heartbreak. If it feels petty, that’s because we’ve been conditioned to prioritize appearances over our own sanity. But in this house? We block. We heal. We glow up.

So go ahead. Hit that button. Archive the thread. Mute the memories. Protect your peace like it’s your job, because in this season, it is.

And when you’re ready to really dig into your healing, I’ve got just the thing for you: Over His Sh*t: The Breakup Glow-Up Journal. 50 sassy, soulful prompts to help you release, reclaim, and rise. No petty energy, just powerful moves.

Because you weren’t made to be haunted by a man who couldn’t handle your magic. You were made to be free.