Follow‑Back Etiquette, Grounded in Non‑Mutual Awareness

Good etiquette on Letterboxd starts with clarity. When you know who doesn’t follow you back and who you don’t follow back, you can make decisions that respect both your time and other people’s. The point isn’t to demand reciprocity. It’s to be intentional: where you show up, who you encourage, and how you curate the feed you bring into your own life each night.

Begin by treating non‑mutuals as information, not judgment. Some one‑way follows are perfect: you may follow a restoration expert who never notices you, and still benefit. Others quietly drain attention: accounts that nudge you toward content you won’t watch, or that never engage with your work while occupying space in your daily reading. Etiquette means acknowledging those realities and acting kindly—thanking, unfollowing, or following back—without drama.

Signals that suggest a follow‑back

• Thoughtful comments or saves across multiple posts. • Overlapping diaries and lists that reliably influence what you watch. • Constructive disagreement that makes you think, not perform. When these appear from a non‑mutual follower, following back often improves both of your experiences.

When not to follow back

• Engagement that looks automated or generic. • Promotional accounts that pull attention off‑platform. • Persistent negativity that crowds out conversation. It’s courteous to let these remain one‑way or to unfollow entirely. Kindness includes protecting your own attention.

Unfollowing as care, not conflict

If you decide to unfollow, do it quietly and move on. You can always re‑follow if your interests realign. Non‑mutual clarity helps you make the call sooner, before resentment or fatigue sets in. Most people appreciate a feed curated with care—even when that care leads elsewhere.

Rituals that make etiquette easy

Review non‑mutuals every quarter. Add a sentence to your bio stating your follow philosophy. Leave brief, specific appreciation on posts that moved you. These habits replace awkwardness with clarity and make follow‑back decisions feel natural rather than political.

In the end, etiquette is simply attention with manners. Knowing your non‑mutuals shows you where your attention is reciprocated—and where it isn’t—so you can be generous where it counts.