Asking for a friend: My one-night stand thinks we are now in a relationship and comments on all my social media posts. How do I tell him to leave me alone?

"I had a one-night stand with a guy recently, and while it was fun, he seems to think we are now in a relationship or at least will end up in one. He messages me a lot and found my social media and now likes all my posts and stories. I had said to him that I was happy being single and that I was only looking for fun, which he said was cool."

"It sounds like an awkward side effect of a moment of intimacy, one that is lasting far longer than what you got up to between the sheets. Some people have one-night stands and don't mind staying in touch on socials, with no expectation that anything else is going to happen. However, they generally aren't watching every single story and liking every post and intruding upon your life in such a way that makes you feel uncomfortable."

"I'm not sure how to tell him that it was just a once-off experience. He said he was single but was looking to date someone in the future. I feel uncomfortable each time I get a notification from him and it's made me hesitant about putting some stories up because I don't want him to know what I'm up to or have to respond to his comments."

A one-night encounter led to persistent messages and frequent social-media attention that created discomfort and privacy concerns. The person involved prefers to remain single after a recent breakup and wants to make clear that no further romantic involvement will occur. Direct, unambiguous communication is recommended: state intentions clearly, request reduced contact, and be firm about boundaries. Use platform privacy settings, mute, unfollow, or block if necessary. Prioritise emotional well-being and personal safety, keep messages short and recorded if harassment escalates, and seek support from friends or authorities when needed.

Read at Independent