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By Joanna Stern 

"Seven years ago today you became Facebook friends with someone who's now a total stranger. Happy friendversary!"

That's what the latest autoprogrammed Friend Anniversary videos that appeared in my Facebook app should have said. Don't get me wrong. The social network's On This Day feature, which surfaces your posts, photos and friend connections from the day in years past, can be lots of fun. But the software behind it can easily confuse precious moments with bad memories -- or meaningless encounters.

A friend of mine was reminded that on this day four years ago her cat died. Another was reminded of an ex-girlfriend. Facebook doesn't provide an On/Off switch for the feature -- which, mercifully, isn't visible to others unless you actively share it -- but there are some tricks to limit the bad memories, or stop them altogether.

Filter 'On This Day' Alerts

The easiest thing to do is specify a date or date range you would prefer not to be reminded of. In the Facebook iPhone or Android app, tap the three horizontal lines, then scroll down to On This Day. Tap the gear icon in the upper right, then Preferences, then Dates. Now, input a date or a date range and hit save.

Want to never see another On This Day memory again? In the start date field input a day from your first year on Facebook (for me it was 2005). In the end date field input a day far off into the future (Feb. 10, 2114).

Filter Friendversary Videos

No, sometimes you don't want to watch an automated video of a picture of you and your ex-friend all "Happy Days," spinning around on a record turntable. Facebook says you'll see videos only for the friends you connect with most, but I've seen quite a few people I haven't talked to in a long time.

Facebook does exclude people after they die, if their profiles have been memorialized.

To make sure undesired friends don't just turn up, go back to the same On This Day page, select People, then type in the names of people you don't want to be reminded of: 1) ex-boyfriends, ex-girlfriends, ex-friends; 2) people you don't really know; 3) pretty much every other 'friend' on Facebook -- except the three you actually talk to.

In her weekly "You Got This" video series, Joanna offers quick mobile tips meant to be watched right on your phone. Watch more of her "You Got This" videos here.

Write to Joanna Stern at joanna.stern@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

February 10, 2017 12:13 ET (17:13 GMT)

Copyright (c) 2017 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.