When it comes to following people on twitter, I’m somewhat on the ascetic side. It’s not that I don’t WANT to follow tweeps (friends, colleagues, randoms I’ve met); it’s just that there is only so much information I want from only so many people/entities. If you’re an avid tweeter, at some point or another, you will find yourself tempted to “unfollow” someone/entity. Some of you might even level up and actually click the “Unfollow” button, which in the social media world could mean — depending on whose 140-character thoughtsicles you just deemed unworthy of your eyeballs — you just committed some kind of faux pas. But I’m here to say, “it’s okay; don’t be afraid of the Unfollow!” In fact, use it. That’s why it’s there. As someone who has seen her (albeit small) number of twitter followers fluctuate and has done some unfollowing herself, I’m breaking down some of the reasons why I — and others — have chosen to give some tweeps the twaxe.

“You tweet too much.” If the thesis of social media is to stoke the online conversation, then some tweeps might be tweeting at a mirror. It’s great that you’re eating a burrito. It’s great that I can find out from your myloc.me where exactly it IS you’re eating it. Now you’re at the dry cleaner’s picking up that plaid Marc Jacobs peacoat you had cleaned where they’ve totally ripped you off for that wine stain you got on the sleeve on NYE, OMG. You’re dominating my home page every time I log on and if I was your stalker, I’d be stoked. But I’m not. And I’m, inadvertently, starting to feel like one.

“You don’t tweet enough.” This has happened to a few tweeps whom I’m close to and personally know to be hilarious. I’ve encouraged them to start tweeting their wry observations about waiting in long lines while holding economy-sized boxes of Ex-Lax, which they do for about a week, but then get consumed with something else (like, oh, life). Pretty soon their twitter accounts are gathering cobwebs in the corner of my People I Follow List, their avatars sitting there looking lonely. The Ex-Lax tweets don’t come. OR maybe it’s that they tweet so infrequently, and when they do it’s something like “I am running,” that I just can’t stand the emotional string-a-long any longer. Therefore, I cut that, uh, string.

“Your tweets are NSFW XXX-rated.” Freedom of speech is the foundation of any social media interaction, for better or for worse, so the occasional profanity-laden tirade is to be expected. A-Ok in my book. But dropping a few too many f-bombs in a limited amount of space on a regular basis doesn’t get any point across or advance any point further; it just gets annoying to read. One friend stopped following someone because of his excessive use (and review) of “tits.” Noted.

“You are my ex-boyfriend.” Or “ex-girlfriend” or “ex-significant other otherwise.” This is a sticky one and in the digital dating fishbowl, a touchy one at that. I’ve heard a myriad of reasons for keeping an ex on the PIF list: “I don’t want him to think he’s getting to me so I’ll keep him on there to just prove a point.” “I want to stay friends.” “I want to see what she’s up to.” Break-ups in the digital age have only gotten harder as offline social networks are manifested online. When the ties break in the former, is it worth it to keep them up in the latter just for ego’s (or for — let’s face it — stalking’s) sake? I say no. Personal relationships in the real world are malleable; so are the ones online. Have an honest conversation with yourself about reading the details of your ex’s day, looking at his TwitPics and basically glimpsing bits and pieces of a life of which you’re no longer a part. Ask whether this is something you are REALLY comfortable with. If not then maybe down the line, when a real friendship can enter the picture, you can elect to Follow again but until then, cast your ego and curiosity aside. Unfollow.

“You spoiled the surprise.” You tweeted the season finale of “Dexter” without a spoiler alert and I hadn’t watched it yet on my DVR. I’m not sure, but you might just ruin every episode of “Lost” for me this season. I can’t risk that. Unfollow. Now. Sorry.

And remember… if you happen to be the receiving end of an Unfollowing (the Unfollowee? Is that the right word?), try to not take it personally. It’s not you; it’s your tweets.