Disabling other users from adding you without permission
Title
Disabling other users from adding you without permission
Short, concise description of the idea
Create an option for users to disable the ability for other users to add them as a friend without permission.
Full description of the idea
It's pretty simple. On the Edit Profile page, there would be a checkbox or a drop-down menu (for example, like disabling virtual gifts). Users who do not want random people adding them as friends could choose the option to disable others from adding. In a way, it's similar to having a community that is closed to new members, only it is a personal journal that is closed to new readers.
Personally, I'm sick of all the random people who add me as a friend. Because I moderate communities, prospective members think they they need to add me to get into the community. Current members want to be my friend because I am the moderator. I often get added by Russian bots. I would just like to be able to disable others from adding me without my permission.
I think LiveJournal might benefit from a friend request system similar to popular social networking sites. I would love it if friend lists were dependent upon mutual consent from both users. I would prefer it if users had to request to be friends with me. Their ability to add indiscriminately reminds me more of subscribing to my content, but this is a journaling site and the content is more often than not personal and private.
Perhaps there could be a drop down box that allowed one to choose whether "Anyone can add me" versus "Users may request to add me".
An ordered list of benefits
- This could prevent spam bots from mass friend adding
- This could prevent the annoyance that comes when unwelcome strangers try to become friends.
- This would enable users who are content with their friends list to prevent future friend adds.
- Some users might feel rejected by other users.
- Some users probably don't care about who adds them as a friend and this would be an extra hassle.