What's the difference between ‘Show less’ and ‘Blocked’ in Google Photos memories?

You can want to keep someone's pictures and still not want a photo app to choose when you see their face. Google Photos has two different face-hiding options for its featured memories carousel. Its existing desktop guide says ‘Show less’ stops memories about that person, but they may still appear in group photos. ‘Blocked’ also excludes those group photos from memories. On a computer, open Google Photos → Settings → Memories → Hide faces, then choose Select faces under the option you want. You can remove a face from that setting later. If the problem is a particular period rather than a person, the same guide documents Hide dates. There are limits worth knowing before relying on it: Google says changes can take time and face hiding may not work perfectly. These controls apply to the featured memories carousel, not Moments. This is documented guidance, not a test I've run, and it isn't a promise that you'll never encounter a picture elsewhere in the app. I'd explain those two choices before helping someone change the setting, and let them decide without asking for the story behind it. ‘Not as a surprise’ is enough of a reason.