How to use Facebook (The Beginner’s Guide)

Part 1: Signing Up for Facebook

Welcome to the world of Facebook! I’m so glad you’ve decided to join this social network that connects billions of people around the globe. Signing up is easy and I’ll guide you through the process step-by-step. 

The first thing you need to do is go to facebook.com and look for the sign up form. You should see a blue box that says “Create New Account” on the right side of the page. Go ahead and click on that button to start the registration process. 

Now Facebook will ask you to enter your first and last name. This is how your friends and other users will find you on the network. Make sure to provide your real full name here for authenticity. You’ll also need to add your email address or mobile phone number, which will be used to verify your account. 

Facebook will send a 6-digit confirmation code to that contact method to confirm you have access to it. This extra verification step helps cut down on fake accounts. Check your email or texts for that code and enter it when prompted. Then click Submit to move to the next step.

When entering your name, be sure to use your real identity rather than a nickname or fake name. Facebook requires users to provide their true identities to maintain a community of real people connecting. Avoid putting in a fake name as a joke or using a business name here.

Now it’s time to create your password. This should be something secure that only you know. Passwords with 12 characters or more using a mix of letters, numbers and symbols are hard to crack. Avoid simple passwords like “password” or “123456” that are easy to guess. 

Facebook will show password strength indicators as you type. Aim for a strong or very strong rating, meaning the password is highly complex. You can enable password suggestions under the input field too. 

Once you have a sufficiently strong password, enter it again in the confirm password field. Double check that both match to ensure there are no typos. Then you can click Submit to move forward.

The next step is entering your birthday. This date helps Facebook confirm you meet the minimum required age to join, which is 13 years old. Entering your real birthday also helps customize certain features and reminds friends to wish you a happy birthday!

Scroll through the dropdown menus to enter your valid birth month, day and year. Entering a fake birthday here could get your account disabled for violating policies, so be honest. Click Submit when done.

You’ll then be given the option to select your gender on the sign up form. This is completely optional and you can choose from Male, Female, Custom or Prefer Not to Say. Facebook wants to be inclusive of all gender identities. Choose what you feel comfortable sharing.

Okay, almost there! Now you can create your unique username for Facebook. This will form the personalized web address for your profile that you can share with others. It will be facebook.com/yourusername. 

Feel free to get creative with the username, but don’t use anything inappropriate that could get your account banned. Avoid offensive, abusive or harassing language. Ideally keep it simple and clean.

Awesome, now click Sign Up! You’ve completed the registration process and have a Facebook account! Welcome aboard!

But don’t start using Facebook just yet – we need to make sure your privacy is protected first. Head to your new empty profile page and click on the dropdown arrow in the top right corner. Select Settings from this menu.

In the left sidebar you’ll see an option called Privacy. Click on this crucial section to view and adjust who can see your posts, info and more. By default some items are set to Public, meaning anyone on or off Facebook can see them.

Change these by clicking on each category like posts, profile information, featured photos and so on. For each one, use the audience selector to limit sharing to Friends or Only Me. This prevents your content being visible to the public.

Another important setting to enable here is Review Tags. Toggle this on so you can approve any tags friends add before they appear on your profile. This prevents unwanted tags with your name.

You can also limit the audience of past posts under the same Privacy settings. Set this to Friends or Only Me to avoid publicly visible old posts. Adjust based on your preferences.

Nice work securing your privacy! But feel free to continue customizing things to your comfort level. You can always change settings later on too as needed.

Now onto the fun stuff! Let’s start filling out your profile so friends can learn about your interests, hobbies, job and more. This also helps connect you with friends from your past.

Go ahead and upload a profile picture first so people can easily recognize your account. Pick a good representation of you – it’ll show up small so don’t just use a landscape! 

Next, click into your About section and start sharing details about your work, education, places you’ve lived and other tidbits. Fill out what you feel comfortable with here.

You can also list your relationship status, political views, religious affiliation and other identifiers here. Again, share what makes you comfortable and authentic to your identity.

Okay, your profile is set up and secure! Way to go. Now comes the fun part of finding friends and exploring Facebook. Let’s start connecting you!

In the search bar at the top, look up people you know by name to send friend requests or follow their public profiles. The search also works for finding groups, events, Pages and more.

As friends accept your requests, their posts will start populating your News Feed. This is the constantly updating stream of content posted by connections. It’s the central way to stay up to date!

To access it, click Home in the shortcuts bar at the top. Scroll through posts from friends, photos, videos, links, events and more. It’s your window into what people are sharing.

As you start establishing connections, don’t forget to also share your own life updates, photos or write posts to engage with friends. Click the Write Post box at the top of News Feed to get started.

Your friends definitely want to hear from you! Post social updates, fun photos, reactions to viral content, etc. You control what you share. Personalize your presence.

If you ever have questions about specific features, use Facebook’s own help center for guides. Search for topics or click the question mark icon to explore assistance articles.

You’ll get the hang of things in no time. For now, welcome to the community! Stay engaged with your connections, join Groups around interests, follow Pages and share your world.

I’m excited for you as you take these first steps into Facebook’s expanding social universe. There are awesome people and opportunities to connect with. Have fun!

And remember, while social media opens doors to new connections, your real friends will value you for who you are offline too. Balance your real life relationships alongside online ones.

Treasure the close friends who have been there for years over shallow Facebook connections. The number of friends or Likes shouldn’t define your self-worth.

Stay authentic to your core values as well. The internet allows people to pretend to be someone they aren’t. But real relationships are built on trust.

Facebook can be an amazing tool for staying in touch and meeting people worldwide. But don’t let it become a crutch for avoiding real life interactions and connections. 

Treat others on social media with the kindness and empathy you would offline. There are real people behind every profile. We all have feelings and worth.

Well, that covers the basics of getting started on Facebook! Let me know if you need any other tips. Wishing you happy connecting and sharing!

Part 2: News Feed and Status Updates

The Facebook News Feed is the constantly updating list of stories in the middle of your home page. It shows you what your friends are posting and interacting with. The News Feed allows you to stay connected to your friends and family by seeing updates, photos, videos and more that they share.

When you log into Facebook, the first thing you see is your News Feed. It works by using an algorithm to determine the most relevant and timely stories to show you based on your connections and activity. The content at the top is usually what’s most recent and relevant.

The News Feed shows updates from your friends, Pages you follow, and groups you’ve joined. You can scroll down indefinitely to continue seeing older posts. It’s easy to get lost scrolling through your News Feed and seeing what everyone is up to!

How Does the News Feed Work?

The Facebook News Feed doesn’t show absolutely everything your friends post. That would be too overwhelming! Instead, it uses a relevance algorithm to determine the content you’re most likely to find interesting.

The algorithm ranks and filters posts based on several factors:

• People: Posts from your closest friends and family are usually higher up. It gives priority to people you interact with the most.
• Popularity: If a post is getting lots of likes and comments, it’s more likely to rank higher. Viral and trending content gets prioritized.
• Type of Post: Photos and videos are often higher than just text statuses. Links, events and location check-ins also influence rank.
• Timing: Newer posts are usually ranked higher than older posts. Timely and recent stuff is prioritized.
• Pages: Posts from Pages you’ve liked can appear, but don’t usually rank as high as content from your friends.
• Advertisers: Sometimes ads will appear within your News Feed, usually labeled as “Sponsored”. These can be tailored based on your profile and interests.

So in summary, Facebook displays a mix of timely posts, highly interactive content, visual stuff like photos and videos, posts from closest friends, and some ads. As you like, comment and interact with posts, it further tunes the algorithm.

Posting Status Updates

Posting status updates is the best way to share what’s on your mind, give life updates, or just say hi to your friends on Facebook. Here’s how to post a basic text status update:

1. Click on your profile picture in the top left.
2. Click on the box that says “What’s on your mind?”
3. Type your update into the text box. Be creative and express yourself!
4. You can add formatting like bold or italic text, lists, links and more.
5. Add a location tag, mood, activity or stickers to enrich your update.
6. If you want to post a photo or video along with your update, click the Photo/Video icon.
7. When you’re ready, click the blue Post button!

Your update will now be shared on your profile and in the News Feeds of your friends. They can like, comment or share your update with their own friends too. Posting regular status updates is a great way to stay socially connected!

Here are some tips for posting great status updates that your friends will love:

• Be authentic. Share your real thoughts, feelings and daily experiences. Don’t overthink it.
• Be positive. Avoid negative or sarcastic updates. Spread good vibes on social media.
• Be engaging. Ask questions, share interesting links and media, or give updates on your life. Get people interacting!
• Be responsive. Reply back to comments and messages. This builds relationships.
• Respect privacy. Don’t overshare personal details about others unless you have their permission.
• Keep it brief. Concise updates are more likely to be read than long text posts. But feel free to elaborate!
• Post often. Stay active daily, but not too much. Once or twice per day is usually a good amount.
• Consider timing. Post when your friends and followers are most likely to be online and receptive.
• Use hashtags. This helps more people discover your posts.
• Tag friends. This notifies them so they can engage with your update.
• Share diverse content. Mix up text updates with photos, videos, links and more.
• Be helpful and humorous Provide useful information or make people smile. Offer value.

Posting to Facebook should be fun and easy! Express yourself, share your perspective, spread positivity, and interact with your friends.

Photos and Videos

Photos and videos help capture memories and let you share visual stories on Facebook. They make your posts more vibrant, personal and engaging. Here’s how to post photos and videos:

Posting Photos

1. Click Photo/Video when creating a new post.
2. Click Upload Photos/Video and select photos from your computer.
3. You can add multiple photos in one post – simply select up to 6.
4. Customize the post with filters, text overlays, drawings and stickers. Get creative!
5. Tag any friends who appear in the photos. This notifies them.
6. Add a location if it was taken at a specific place.
7. Write a caption for context. Be descriptive!
8. When done, click Post and share the photo(s) to Facebook.

Posting Videos

1. Click Photo/Video when starting a new post.
2. Select Upload Photos/Video and pick a video file from your computer.
3. Preview the video and trim the start/end times if desired.
4. Enhance with text overlays, animations and simple drawings.
5. Tag people who appear in the video.
6. Add a descriptive caption about what viewers will see.
7. Choose who can view – Public, Friends, or a Custom list.
8. Click Post when ready to share the video.

Your photos and videos will now display in high-quality on Facebook. They will also appear more vibrant in your friends’ News Feeds. Photos and videos drive the most engagement, so use them often!

Here are some tips for awesome Facebook photo and video posts:

• Show your personality. Share a range of photos displaying your interests and lifestyle.
• Tell stories. Don’t just share random photos. Post a collection or album to share experiences.
• Be timely. Share photos shortly after capturing. Timely posts are more interesting.
• Tag people. This notifies them and helps increase distribution.
• Use filters and effects. Make your photos pop by enhancing images.
• Keep videos short. Under a minute is ideal. Long videos may not hold attention.
• Go Live. Stream real-time videos to your friends if you’re doing something exciting.
• Post consistently. Don’t just dump old photos. Maintain a steady flow of new visual content.
• Highlight events. Share photos and videos of memorable happenings like weddings, concerts, travel and more.
• Show products or services. For business accounts, use visuals to showcase offerings.

Posting the right photos and videos consistently can increase likes, comments, shares and overall engagement on Facebook. Have fun showing off your life!

Reactions and Comments

Reacting and commenting on friends’ posts is core to Facebook’s interactive experience. It allows you to connect with others and show you care.

When browsing your News Feed, you’ll see posts from friends looking for feedback. Here are the ways to engage:

Reactions

Reactions allow you to quickly interact with a post by tapping its Reaction icon:

• Like – Tap the Thumb Up icon to like a post. This shows basic positive sentiment.
• Love – Tap the Heart icon to love a post. This shows more intense affection.
• Haha – Tap the Laugh icon to react with laughter. This shows the post is funny or amusing.
• Wow – Tap the Shocked Face icon to say wow. This shows the post is impressive or surprising.
• Sad – Tap the Crying Face to react with sadness. This shows sympathy or that you relate.
• Angry – Tap the Angry Face to react with anger. This expresses irritation or disagreement.

Reactions are better than just liking everything as they allow more nuanced responses. Choose reactions based on how the post really makes you feel!

Comments

Comments allow you to respond with messages:

1. Tap the Comment link below a post.
2. Type your comment in the text box.
3. Add stickers, photos, videos and GIFs to liven it up.
4. @mention users to notify them. The author will be notified automatically.
5. Click Post to share your comment publicly.

Comments allow two-way conversations under posts. You can also reply to other user comments to keep the conversation going.

Here are tips to write great Facebook comments:

• Be respectful and thoughtful. Don’t write anything you wouldn’t say face-to-face.
• Reply conversationally as you would in real life. Don’t just say “Nice!”
• Answer questions asked in posts to help the author.
• Give your reaction by describing how the post made you feel.
• Ask engaging questions to keep the conversation flowing.
• Tag friends that you think would be interested in the post.
• Stick to the topic at hand. Don’t go totally off subject.
• Be supportive. Build others up with compliments and encouragement.
• Keep it short and sweet. You don’t have to write a novel.
• Use humor and positivity. Make people smile where appropriate.
• Post quickly. Participate in the conversation while it’s active.

Commenting is essential for connecting with friends. Make people feel valued by taking the time to thoughtfully react and respond.

Likes and Shares

Liking and sharing posts shows support for your friends and spreads positive content to more people. This builds connections.

Likes

Clicking Like below any post lets the author (and others) know you appreciate it. Likes take minimal effort but have a big impact.

• It sends the author a notification that you liked their post. This feels rewarding.
• It bumps the post up slightly in prominence on Facebook. Popular posts get more visibility.
• It displays your name in the list of people who liked it. This shows support.
• More likes make a post seem cooler and more attention-worthy.
• Pages watch their like counts. More likes means more influence and reach.

So if you see an interesting, helpful, insightful, entertaining or otherwise great post – Like it! This small act makes someone’s day.

Sharing

Sharing posts republishes them to your own Timeline so your friends can see them too. Click the Share button to instantly repost something.

• Add a comment to the share explaining why you shared it.
• Shared posts include the original author and link back to them.
• It helps interesting posts gain more exposure across Facebook.
• You can target shares to just certain friends if desired.
• Pages love when followers share posts. This spreads their content organically.
• Use sharing judiciously. Don’t clutter feeds with irrelevant stuff.
• Avoid sharing really old posts. Stick to timely and evergreen content.

In summary, liking and sharing are simple ways to engage that go a long way. Use them to validate quality contributions and spread empowering messages further.

Using Hashtags

Hashtags let you tag posts with keywords. This makes them more discoverable and searchable:

• Include relevant hashtags in your posts like #food, #fashion, #parenting, etc.
• Posts with popular hashtags show up in those keyword feeds.
• Similarly, click any hashtag to view other public posts tagged with it.
• Hashtags also group conversations by topic. You can see what others are saying about that keyword.
• Keep hashtags concise and descriptive. Multi-word hashtags run together like: #socialmediatips
• Avoid excessive hashtags. 1-5 per post is ideal. Too many looks spammy.
• Create branded hashtags for events, campaigns or promotions. Encourage sharing.
• Monitor hashtags for sentiment, conversations and influential contributors.
• Use hashtags in Images posts as well as text. The tags support all post types.
• Include a mix of common and unique hashtags. Popular ones drive volume but niche tags are less crowded.
• Research related hashtags used by your target audience with relevance. Join those conversations.
• Try out new timely hashtags around events, holidays, or trends. Ride these waves.
• But don’t force irrelevant hashtags just to hijack traffic. Use them contextually.

Hashtags make it easy for anyone to search posts and participate in social discussions. Just be sure to use them strategically and sparingly.

@Mentions

Mentioning other users with @ links their account to your post and sends them a notification:

• Type @ then their name or username to mention someone. Choose from the dropdown.
• The person you mentioned will get notified. This draws attention to your post.
• Mentions in comments notify users. Mentions in the main post will not.
• You can mention Pages and Groups to link to their profiles.
• The linked account becomes clickable. People can visit their profile from your post.
• Mention friends who would be interested in your post. This gets it on their radar.
• Mention someone featured or involved with your content. Give credit.
• Reply privately to a mention by clicking Message below it rather than Commenting publicly.
• Excessive, irrelevant tagging looks spammy. Don’t overdo it. Mention naturally.
• Be aware that tagged users will see the post even if not your friend. Mention carefully.

Mentions make posting more social by pulling people into the conversation. This drives engagement. Just use proper etiquette so it feels natural.

Feeling, Activity and Location

When creating posts, you can enrich them with feeling, activity or location tags:

• Click the Feeling icon to tag a post with your current mood like happy, sad, excited, etc. This adds emotional context.
• Click the Activity icon to tag a post with what you’re currently doing like watching TV, eating, traveling, etc. This often sparks conversation.
• Click the Location icon to tag where you are. You can search and check into preset places. This contextualizes your post.
• Tagged feelings display as emoticons below your posts. Others will empathize or comment based on your mood.
• Tagged activities and locations display above your post in small text. People may discuss or ask about them.
• Tags also help surface your posts when people search associated keywords. Your post gains visibility.
• Use tags to hint for responses. Share a “happy” moment and others will share positivity.
• Check-ins create a record of where you’ve been. You can review past location histories.
• Be aware that some details like locations reveal personal information publicly. Adjust privacy accordingly.

Overall, tags give your posts extra context that makes them more engaging. But be thoughtful about how much you broadcast based on who can see your content.

Posting to Timeline vs Story

When sharing updates, you can choose to post publicly to your Timeline, or post more ephemerally to your Story:

Timeline

• Posts to your Timeline are publicly visible by default, for years to come. There is permanence.
• Timeline posts appear chronologically on your profile. They tell the story of your life on Facebook.
• Friends and followers can interact via likes, comments, shares and reactions.
• Use Timeline to share significant life moments, news, thoughts and memories you want on record.

Story

• Posts to your Story disappear after 24 hours. It’s more temporary sharing.
• Stories appear at the top of your profile. Followers see it as a status ring above your name.
• You can customize who sees each Story post – Friends, Specific Groups, or Only You.
• People can privately react and respond to your Story posts via DM.
• Use Stories for everyday moments, quick updates, memes, fleeting thoughts, and posts you want visible for just a day.

For personal profiles, Posting to Timeline vs Story comes down to permanence. Do you want the post enshrined on your profile forever, or just briefly shared? Both have different uses.

Reviewing Previous Posts

Want to take a stroll down memory lane? Facebook stores your entire posting history. To review it:

On Mobile:

1. Tap your profile picture
2. Select Profile
3. Tap View As dropdown and switch to Only Me if not already set
4. Scroll down to view your previous posts chronologically

On Desktop:

1. Click your profile picture
2. Click View As only me in the Cover Photo
3. Scroll down through your Timeline to view all past posts

You can use this to:

• Reminisce about good times seeing old posts and photos.
• Resurface popular throwback posts by re-sharing them.
• Unlike or delete embarrassing or negative old posts you no longer want public.
• Review and reflect on how your posting style has evolved.
• Identify inactive periods to assess your Facebook usage over time.
• Verify you haven’t overshared personal info if privacy settings were looser in the past.

Take a private stroll now and then to revisit, clean up, and learn from your Facebook history. But don’t get stuck dwelling on old posts!

Part 3: Messaging and Chat

One of the most useful features of Facebook is its messaging and chat functions. Staying connected with friends and family is made easy with Facebook’s integrated communication tools. In this chapter, we’ll explore how messaging and chat work on Facebook, and how you can use them as a beginner user.

Starting Conversations

The Facebook Messenger app allows you to send private messages to friends or start group conversations with multiple people. Here’s how to start a new message thread:

1. Open the Facebook Messenger app on your mobile device or click on “Messenger” in the top right corner of Facebook on desktop.
2. Tap the pencil icon in the top right to start a new message.
3. Type in the name of the friend or group you want to message. As you type, matching names will pop up. Select the right one.
4. Type your message in the text box at the bottom. You can press enter to send or tap the arrow icon on the right.
5. Your message will be sent instantly to that friend or group. They can reply back and a conversation thread will begin.

When starting a new conversation, it’s polite to say hello and introduce the topic you want to discuss. For example, “Hi Sarah! How are you? I wanted to ask if you’re free this Friday for dinner?” Keep your initial message brief and friendly.

Replying to Messages

When a friend sends you a message, you’ll get a notification on Facebook Messenger. Here’s how to view and reply:

1. Open the Messenger app or click on “Messenger” on Facebook.
2. Your most recent messages will appear in the left sidebar. Tap the conversation with the new message.
3. The full conversation thread will open. Read the latest message at the bottom.
4. Type your reply in the text box at the bottom. Be sure to address your friend by name and answer any questions.
5. Press enter or tap the send arrow when ready. Your reply will be instantly sent.

It’s polite to reply reasonably quickly if you see a message. This keeps the conversation flowing. Even if you can’t continue chatting right away, send a quick reply like “Hey! I’m busy but will message you back tonight.”

Group Conversations

Need to chat with multiple people at once? Facebook Messenger allows you to message up to 250 people in a group conversation. Here’s how to start one:

1. Open Messenger and tap the pencil to start a new message.
2. Search for the first person’s name you want to include.
3. Before sending, tap the plus icon in the top right to add more people. Search for and select more names.
4. When you’ve picked everyone, tap “Done” then send your first message.

Now you’ll be chatting together in one message thread. Keep replies on topic so the conversation flows well with multiple people. Use names frequently so everyone knows who you’re addressing.

Video and Audio Calls

Want to chat face-to-face or hear your friend’s voice? Facebook Messenger allows video and audio calls right from the app. Here’s how to start a call:

1. Open an existing conversation thread or start a new message.
2. Tap the video or phone icon in the top right.
3. The friend or group you messaged will receive an invitation to join the call.
4. Once they accept, the video or audio call will start! Chat away.

Keep calls brief and respectful when chatting one-on-one. For groups, let each person speak in turn to keep things relaxed. End each call by saying goodbye so everyone knows it’s over.

Sending Photos and Videos

It’s easy to share photos or videos with friends right from Messenger. Here’s how:

1. When chatting in a conversation, tap the camera icon below the text box.
2. Choose to take a new photo/video or select one from your camera roll. Edit if needed.
3. Tap “Send” to instantly send the photo/video to your conversation.
4. Friends can view, react, and comment on your sent media. You’ll be notified of any reactions.

Use this feature to share fun moments from your day or send group selfies. Just be sure to only send appropriate content to each conversation.

Messaging Non-Friends

Want to message someone you’re not Facebook friends with? No problem! Here’s how:

1. Go to their Facebook profile and tap the “Message” button.
2. This will open a new message window. Type your message then hit enter.
3. The person will receive your message request. If they accept, you can begin chatting.
4. To become friends later, one of you can send a friend request in the chat.

Use this method to gently reach out to classmates, coworkers or new connections. Introduce yourself, explain why you want to chat, and be polite. They can decline any time.

Facebook Chat

Facebook Chat allows you to text chat with friends in real-time right from the Facebook app or desktop site. Here’s how it works:

1. In Facebook, look for the Chat tab on desktop or the Chat icon on mobile. Open it.
2. You’ll see which friends are currently online and available to chat. Tap a name to start chatting.
3. Type your message in the bottom chat box and hit enter to send it instantly.
4. Read your friend’s replies and continue rapid-fire chatting.

Keep chat conversations breezy and lighthearted. Short messages sent back and forth is what chat is great for. Avoid lengthy paragraphs.

Going Mobile

Facebook Messenger and Chat are available as mobile apps for iPhone, Android and other smartphones. Here are some tips for the mobile experience:

• Download the Messenger app to get notifications, send messages on-the-go and make calls.
• Enable Chat Heads in Messenger to keep chats visible while using other apps.
• Use Quick Reply in notifications to respond to messages without opening the full app.
• Save data usage by enabling chat over Wi-fi only in Messenger’s settings.
• Tap and hold the mic in Messenger to quickly record an audio message to send.

Going mobile allows you to chat from anywhere conveniently. Just be extra careful writing messages while on-the-go.

Video Calling in Groups

Want to video chat in a group? Facebook Messenger’s group video calling feature lets you video conference with up to 8 people at once. Here’s how:

1. Start a group conversation or select an existing thread.
2. Tap the camera icon then select Group Video Call.
3. Friends will get invited as they’re added to the call. Once answered, all videos appear!
4. Interact through video and audio. Tap the screen for options.
5. To end the call, the organizer can tap End Call or leave the chat.

Group calls are great for catching up with faraway friends together. Pick a regular time to chat so it becomes a fun routine!

Voice Messaging

Sometimes typing takes too long. Voice messages in Messenger allow you to record and send short audio clips. Here’s how:

1. In an existing chat, press and hold the mic icon and start talking.
2. Lift your finger when done. You can listen to your recording before sending.
3. Tap the arrow button to send the voice message instantly.
4. Friends will receive your message and can listen to your recording.

Use voice messages for quick reactions, funny sounds, longer stories or when you’re on-the-go. Just keep them under a minute so friends stay engaged listening.

Customizing Chat Settings

Want to tweak your messaging experience? Facebook Messenger has lots of customization options. Here are some to try:

• Notification Settings – Change sound, pop-up style, etc.
• Chat Wallpaper – Choose fun backdrops for chats.
• Chat Colors – Pick color themes for chats.
• Nicknames – Create shortcuts for friends’ names.
• Message Controls – Turn on read receipts and typing indicators.
• Smart Replies – Choose quick suggested replies to use.
• Dark Mode – Switch to a darker app interface.

Play around and pick options that make messaging your friends simple, fun and comfortable for you. Change them anytime to keep things fresh.

Using Emoji Reactions

Emoji reactions are a fun way to respond instantly to messages. Here’s how they work:

1. In a conversation, long-press on any message.
2. A menu pops up – tap an emoji like Thumbs Up, Heart, Laugh, Sad, Angry.
3. Your emoji is added below the message. Others can tap to add the same or a different one.
4. To remove your reaction, long press again and tap the emoji a second time.

Reactions let you express emotions and give feedback easily without always typing replies. Use them liberally in casual chats amongst friends!

Participating in Groups

Joining Facebook Groups related to your interests is a great way to connect over shared passions. Once you’ve joined some, here are tips for engaging:

• Comment on Group posts to share thoughts, give advice, ask questions, etc.
• Check back often to interact with new posts by members.
• Post your own content like photos, links, polls to invite reactions from the community.
• Like and react to others’ posts to show support for their contributions.
• Keep all discussions friendly, on-topic, and drama-free.

Groups allow you to socialize in a more focused way around subjects you care about. Find active ones and engage regularly!

Facebook Stories

Stories allow sharing photos and videos that disappear after 24 hours. You can post them and view friends’ stories in the top bar of Facebook’s app. Here are some tips for using them:

• Tap the + button to capture or upload content to your story.
• Use fun creative tools like stickers, drawings and gifs to customize your story.
• Share everyday moments, fleeting thoughts, or behind-the-scenes glimpses of your life.
• Swipe up to view friends’ stories – react and reply to them in the moment!
• Stories disappear after 24 hours unless you set them as featured highlights.

Stories enable expressive, casual sharing with your friends daily. Watch theirs to stay up-to-date easily!

Responsible Messaging

While messaging is fun, it’s important to chat responsibly, just as you would in real life. Here are some key tips:

• Always be kind – avoid harsh language, bullying, and negativity.
• Respect boundaries – if someone doesn’t respond, don’t insist.
• Share meaningfully – not every thought needs to be sent!
• Keep private details and photos between trusted friends only.
• Ignore messages from strangers and block anyone harassing you.
• Report offensive conversations through Messenger’s settings.

Your messages may seem temporary but they do last and can have a real impact. Maintain your friendships by communicating thoughtfully!

Messenger Kids

Messenger Kids is a safer messaging app controlled by parents, for kids under 13 years old. Features include:

• Parent dashboard to manage contacts and permissions
• Fun stickers, frames, gifs and masks for photos
• Parent approve connections with friends or family
• No ads or in-app purchases
• Reporting and blocking to keep kids safe

Messenger Kids lets younger children chat safely under parent supervision. Consider setting it up for your child as an alternative to regular Messenger.

Key Takeaways

And that covers the basics of messaging and chatting on Facebook! Here are some key tips to remember:

• Start conversations thoughtfully and reply promptly to keep them flowing.
• Engage in group chats and calls to connect with multiple friends at once.
• Use fun features like reactions, photos, videos and voice messages to express yourself.
• Customize your chat settings for convenience and personalization.
• Follow Groups related to your hobbies and interests.
• Share casual moments and behind-the-scenes glimpses using Stories.
• Be responsible, polite and respectful in all your messaging.

Facebook’s communication tools help you stay close with friends and family. Use them to strengthen real relationships through your digital interactions!

Part 4: Events, Groups and Pages

Facebook offers several ways to connect with people around shared interests, causes, hobbies and more. Events, groups and pages allow you to engage with specific communities and topics on Facebook. Learning how to use these features will expand your connections and enhance your Facebook experience.

Creating and Managing Events

Events on Facebook make it easy to organize gatherings, plan activities and promote causes. As a host, you can create an event, invite guests, post updates and manage RSVPs. As an attendee, you can discover nearby events, mark your attendance and engage with other participants.

Step 1: Navigate to the Events Page

To access Facebook Events, click on the “Events” tab on the left sidebar or navigation bar. This will take you to the Events page, where you can browse upcoming events or create your own.

Step 2: Click “Create Event”

To make a new event, click the “Create Event” button at the top of the page. A popup will open with fields to fill in the event details.

Step 3: Fill in the Event Details

Give your event a title and description. Adding an eye-catching cover photo can help promote it. Include key info like date, time, location and ticket details if applicable. You can make the event public for anyone to see or private just for invited guests.

Step 4: Set the Guest List

Use the invite box to add friends from your friends list. You can individually select guests or invite all your friends at once. For public events, shares and ads will also help you reach a wider audience.

Step 5: Post Updates and Reminders

Leading up to the event, post updates with new details, schedule changes, reminders and encourage guests to share with friends. Updates will be sent as notifications to interested guests.

Step 6: Manage RSVPs

Guests can RSVP by clicking “Going” or “Interested” on the event page. As host, you can monitor the guest list and send reminders to those yet to RSVP.

Step 7: Share Photos and Videos

During and after the event, share photos, videos and comments. Guests will be notified and can view, like and add their own memories. Reliving the event together brings the community together.

Step 8: Evaluate and Follow Up

Review feedback, photos and the guest list to see what worked and what can be improved next time. Send thank you messages and keep the community engaged for future events.

Joining and Interacting with Groups

Groups on Facebook allow members to come together around shared hobbies, interests, affiliations and causes. Joining groups related to your passions helps you connect with like-minded people.

Step 1: Browse and Search for Groups

On the Facebook sidebar, click “Groups” to browse recommendations. Or use the search bar to find groups by keyword or topic. Look for active groups with a large engaged membership.

Step 2: Request to Join the Group

When you find an interesting group, click the “Join Group” button. The admins will review and approve your request, usually quickly. Once accepted, you are free to participate in the group.

Step 3: Review the Group Rules

Every group has guidelines and rules, usually pinned to the top. Read these to ensure your posts and comments comply with the group culture and standards. Follow admin instructions.

Step 4: Introduce Yourself

Post a greeting in the introduction thread if there is one, so members can welcome you. Share a bit about yourself and why you joined to establish common ground. Build connections.

Step 5: Engage in Discussions

Every day, group members post updates, questions, polls and debates. Join the conversation by reacting, commenting, answering and sharing your perspective. Provide value to the community.

Step 6: Share User-Generated Content

Groups thrive on user-generated content. Share your own relevant photos, videos, stories, articles, creations and more. Be sure to adhere to the group rules regarding self-promotion.

Step 7: Attend Virtual or In-Person Events

Many interest groups organize online and offline events for their members. Attend meetups, conferences, classes, charity events and more to meet fellow members.

Step 8: Volunteer as an Admin

Active members who engage constructively can volunteer to become a group admin. Admins welcome new members, moderate discussions and help the community thrive.

Joining related Facebook groups allows you to deepen connections around your interests. Be an active member to get the most out of any group.

Creating and Managing Pages

Pages on Facebook are public profiles for businesses, brands, organizations and public figures. As a page admin, you can post updates, host events, sell products and provide customer service to your followers.

Step 1: Set Up Your Page

From your personal profile, click “Create” then “Page” to make a new page. Select a relevant category and fill out the business details carefully.

Step 2: Choose a Profile Picture and Cover Photo

Upload visually engaging photos to represent your brand or organization. These images will help you stand out and get more followers.

Step 3: Publish Compelling Updates

Post interesting updates regularly to engage your audience – share company news, industry insights, behind the scenes, etc. Use videos, images and live streaming for richer content.

Step 4: Run Ads and Special Offers

Use Facebook ads to promote your page and recruit more followers. Offer promotions, discounts and deals to incentivize followers to engage.

Step 5: Set Up an Online Store

Ecommerce pages can add a shop section to sell products right on Facebook. Users can browse inventory, make purchases and pay securely without leaving.

Step 6: Provide Great Customer Service

Respond promptly and knowledgeably to direct messages, comments, reviews and questions from followers. Provide support and build relationships.

Step 7: Analyze Data and Metrics

Study Facebook analytics to see what content performs best and when your audience is most active. Use these insights to refine your strategy.

Step 8: Collaborate with Partners

Team up on co-marketing campaigns, giveaways and events with complementary brands and influencers to expand your audience. Strategic partnerships pay off.

With a compelling and active Facebook page, you can build closer connections with your customers or supporters. Apply these best practices for long-term growth and engagement.

Best Practices for Events, Groups and Pages

Here are some top tips to keep in mind when hosting events, joining groups and managing pages on Facebook:

• Post Visually: Photos and video boost engagement. Create eye-catching visual content.
• Interact Frequently: Reply to comments, answer questions and participate in discussions to build community.
• Share Varied Content: Mix up update types – promos, behind the scenes, user-generated content, live videos etc.
• Optimize for Mobile: Most Facebook usage is on phones. Ensure your content displays well on mobile.
• Analyze Insights: Use Facebook analytics to identify your best-performing content and adapt accordingly.
• Promote Mindfully: Don’t overpromote. Share value, entertainment and community before hard selling.
• Respect Privacy: Avoid sharing private details about members or followers without their consent.
• Enforce Guidelines: Politely redirect members who violate group rules. Report offensive posts.
• Collaborate Authentically: Partner with brands and influencers that genuinely match your brand values and audience interests.
• Provide Excellent Service: Respond quickly and satisfactorily to all customer service inquiries on your page.

Using events, groups and pages successfully takes some trial and error. But applying these tips will help you thrive on Facebook.

Avoiding Common Facebook Group Mistakes

It’s easy for even well-meaning group members to misstep on Facebook. Here are some common faux pas to avoid:

• Don’t post prohibited content. Carefully read and follow group rules.
• Don’t pick fights. Disagree politely and move on to avoid heated arguments.
• Don’t flood with off-topic posts. Make sure your posts are relevant.
• Don’t only comment when you need something. Contribute value for the whole community.
• Don’t post distracting memes/GIFs under serious posts. Read the room and comment appropriately.
• Don’t call out or attack fellow members. Be constructive, not accusatory.
• Don’t publicly shame members who made a mistake. Message them privately.
• Don’t divulge private group matters externally. Keep discussions internal.
• Don’t spam self-promo posts. Offer advice before promoting your company.
• Don’t spread misinformation or fake news. Fact check before sharing articles.

With empathy and mindfulness, we can have meaningful connections in Facebook groups while minimizing conflict and misunderstandings. Consider how your actions affect others.

Optimizing Facebook Events for Success

Well-run Facebook events strategically maximize attendance and engagement. Here are some optimization tips:

• Descriptive Title: Summarize the event focus and details in the title – who, what, when and where.
• Engaging Visuals: Use eye-catching, relevant graphics and videos in the cover image, gallery and posts.
• Clear Logistics: State the schedule, location specifics, registration needs and other key logistics upfront.
• Well-Timed Promotion: Market the event early and ramp up momentum leading right up to the event start.
• Segmented Outreach: Target promotional posts, emails and ads to various audiences likely to attend.
• Social Buzz: Encourage attendees to share event posts with friends to expand reach. Offer incentives.
• Health Measures: For in-person events, outline COVID-prevention practices for attendee safety.
• Recurring Events: Make events part of an ongoing series to build anticipation and community.
• Post-Event Follow Up: Share photos, reviews and takeaways after the event to continue momentum.

With strategic planning and promotion, your next Facebook event can maximize turnout and create lasting connections.

Common Facebook Page Mistakes to Avoid

It takes work to build an engaging Facebook page. Steer clear of these common pitfalls:

• Neglecting the “About” section – provide detailed company/brand info.
• Posting too infrequently – share 1-2 times per day minimum.
• Failing to respond to comments and messages – be responsive.
• Overpromoting products/services aggressively – offer value before selling.
• Using too much jargon – write accessibly for the general public.
• Linking to low-quality website pages – send traffic to your best content.
• conflicting branding across channels – maintain consistent branding.
• Lackluster photos and videos – invest in quality visual assets.
• Not advertising – use FB ads to reach more potential followers.
• Ignoring insights data – leverage analytics to improve strategy.
• Impersonal tone – engage conversationally to build relationships.

Avoid these pitfalls, and your Facebook page will grow and thrive for the long haul. What mistakes have you learned from?

Managing Controversy in Facebook Groups

Conflicts and heated debates can occur in Facebook groups, but admins have tools to manage controversial situations:

• Set Clear Guidelines – Establish rules of respectful conduct upfront. Point members to the rules when issues arise.
• Act Decisively – If posts or comments violate rules, delete them quickly before things escalate.
• Diffuse Tension – Respectfully acknowledge concerns on both sides. Find common ground.
• Limit Threads – You can disable comments on controversial posts to quiet things down.
• Message Privately – For minor issues, discreetly message members to resolve matters out of the spotlight.
• Restrict Sparring – Warn frequent combatants. Limit their posting abilities if they continue provoking others.
• Poll Opinions – Take the pulse of group sentiment anonymously through polls. Consider majority opinions on rules.
• Involve Peers- Ask fellow admins and trusted members for guidance handling tricky situations.

With proactive policies and level-headed crisis response, admins can maintain harmony even when controversies arise in groups.

Promoting Your Facebook Page Effectively

Growing your Facebook page takes promotion across channels. Here are some effective tactics:

• Leverage Existing Contacts – Invite your personal network to like the page. Email contacts and embed links on your website.
• Announce on Other Social Media – Promote your page in your brand’s posts and profiles on Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok etc.
• Run Facebook Ads – Create targeted ad campaigns to reach specific demographics likely to be interested.
• Engage with Influencers – Partner with influencers in your niche to co-create content and tap into their network.
• Showcase Testimonials – When followers rave about you, ask to share their reviews on your page to build credibility.
• Analyze Performance Data – Use page insights to refine your strategy and invest in what performs best.
• Partner Up – Coordinate giveaways, social campaigns and events with complementary brands to tap into each other’s audiences.
• Offer Exclusive Content – Give followers early access to sales, new products, events and content to incentivize page likes.

With the right mix of promotion tactics, your Facebook page can extend your brand’s reach and recognition.

Growing Engagement on Facebook Pages

High engagement is key to Facebook page success. Here are tips to get more interactions:

• Post Consistently – Share new content multiple times per week to look active and give followers reasons to check back.
• Ask Questions – Pose intriguing questions in your posts to hook interest and prompt comments.
• Do Real-Time Posts – Live stream Q&As, events and behind the scenes to feel more immediate.
• Use Visuals – Show don’t tell! Photos, infographics, videos and GIFs grab more attention than text-only posts.
• Spotlight Followers – With permission, feature happy customers in posts and thank engaged followers.
• Run Contests – Offer giveaways, sweepstakes and contests for chances to win prizes by liking, sharing or commenting.
• Curate User Content – Repost great user-generated photos and videos related to your brand with consent.
• Localize Content – Post region-specific updates and run local events/promos to connect with communities.
• Respond to Comments – Have timely back-and-forth conversations in your post comments.

Proactively engage your audience to keep followers active and invested in your brand’s story.

Avoiding Facebook Page Bans

While rare, Facebook pages can be banned for violating platform policies. Here are some prevention tips:

• Read Facebook’s Terms – Familiarize yourself with prohibited content and behavior policies.
• Don’t Mislead Users – Provide accurate business credentials and transparent info about offers.
• Don’t Buy Likes – Don’t artificially inflate likes through ad farms or other shady tactics. Grow likes organically.
• Moderate Carefully – Don’t approve spammy, offensive or rule-breaking posts or comments.
• Credit Shared Content – Get permission to share others’ content and credit the creator. Don’t plagiarize.
• Don’t Over-Promote – Maintain a reasonable ratio of promotional to non-promotional content. Don’t spam.
• Secure Credentials – Use strong passwords and two-factor authentication to prevent account hijacking.
• Appeal Fairly – If banned, be honest in the appeals process about correcting mistakes – no deception.

Operating with integrity will keep your Facebook page in good standing and your audience’s trust intact.

Measuring Facebook Page Success

How do you gauge the performance of a Facebook page? Monitor these key metrics:

• Post Reach – Total number of unique users who see page content
• Engagement Rate – Likes, comments, shares and clicks on posts divided by reach
• Follower Growth – Gain rate for new page followers
• Website Referral Traffic – Volume of visitors referred from social posts
• Video Views – Number of views and watch time for video content
• Messaging Response Rate – Speed at which page admins reply to messages
• Content Shares – Frequency of followers sharing page posts
• Negative Feedback – Volume of hides, unfollows or negative reactions
• Online Ratings/Reviews – Scores and feedback on third-party review sites
• Sales Attributed to Page – Online or in-store conversions from Facebook

Analyze these factors regularly to finetune Facebook page performance.

Facebook events, groups and pages unlock tremendous opportunities to find your niche communities and engage meaningfully with the audiences that matter most to you. Use these features thoughtfully to enrich connections, share your passions, support causes and grow your brand. Happy connecting!

Part 5: Privacy, Safety and Security

Facebook offers many options and settings to help you control your privacy, stay safe, and secure your account. As a new Facebook user, it’s important to understand these features so you can have the best experience possible. This chapter will provide an in-depth look at privacy, safety, and security on Facebook.

Controlling Your Privacy

When signing up for Facebook, it’s easy to get caught up in the excitement of connecting with friends and sharing updates. However, it’s important to pause and consider your privacy settings. Facebook allows you to control who sees what you share in granular detail.

Public, Friends, Only Me

The most basic privacy controls are the “Public,” “Friends,” and “Only Me” options when posting content.

• Public means anyone on or off Facebook can see the post. Use this setting selectively.
• Friends means only your friends on Facebook can see the post. This is the default for most content.
• Only Me means only you can see the post. You can use this for content meant just for yourself.

Keep your audience in mind when choosing a setting. Use the public setting sparingly to avoid oversharing.

Customized Privacy Settings

In your main Privacy Settings menu, you can customize in more detail who sees what. Options include:

• Posts: Choose who can see posts you’ve shared on your Timeline. You can exclude specific people too.
• Profile Information: Control who can view different sections of your profile like your bio, featured photos, posts you’re tagged in, and more.
• Contacts and Address Books: Choose whether others can look you up using your contact info like phone number or email address.
• Limit Audience: For posts with public visibility, limit who can actually see them beyond your friends.
• Blocked Users: Manage a list of people you have blocked from interacting with you.

Take time to review each section and adjust based on your comfort level. You may want close friends to see more than acquaintances, for example.

Activity Status

By default, Facebook shows when you are active or typing a comment. To turn this off:

• On desktop, go to Settings & Privacy > Privacy Shortcuts
• On mobile, go to More Options > Settings & Privacy > Privacy Shortcuts

Then disable “Show Your Active Status” and “Show When You’re Typing” under the Active Status section.

Location Services

Facebook may access your device’s location to suggest nearby places and for other purposes. To manage this:

• On desktop, go to Settings & Privacy > Privacy Shortcuts
• On mobile, go to More Options > Settings & Privacy > Privacy Shortcuts

Then edit Location Services. You can disable location access completely or review which features are using it.

Being thoughtful about location sharing increases privacy. You may allow check-ins but disable location history storage, for example.

Facial Recognition

Facebook uses facial recognition to help tag photos with your name. If you’re uncomfortable with this:

• On desktop, go to Settings & Privacy > Face Recognition
• On mobile, go to More Options > Settings & Privacy > Face Recognition

Disable the setting toggling facial recognition on/off. Facebook will no longer suggest tags with your name.

Ad Interests

Facebook tracks your activity to determine your interests and show relevant ads. To manage:

• On desktop, go to Settings & Privacy > Ads
• On mobile, go to More Options > Settings & Privacy > Ads

Here you can view your assigned interest categories, remove them individually, or disable ad interest entirely.

Cleaning up your ad interests influences the types of ads shown to you.

Apps and Websites

Manage the apps and websites you’ve logged into with Facebook under:

• Settings & Privacy > Apps and Websites on desktop
• More Options > Settings & Privacy > Apps and Websites on mobile

Remove any unfamiliar or unwanted connections here. This increases account security.

Privacy Checkup

Facebook’s Privacy Checkup guides you through core privacy settings step-by-step. Access it here:

• Settings & Privacy > Privacy Checkup on desktop
• More Options > Settings & Privacy > Privacy Checkup on mobile

Revisiting the checkup periodically ensures you haven’t missed anything as settings change.

Prioritizing privacy takes effort but gives you greater control. Make use of all the above customizations to find your comfort level.

Staying Safe on Facebook

With over a billion people using Facebook, some bad apples are inevitable. Follow these tips to maximize your safety and security.

Beware of Scams

Scammers often target Facebook users with phishing tactics, fake prizes or giveaways, and bots posing as friends. Here are some warning signs:

• Messages conveying urgency or demanding immediate action like logging in or sharing passwords
• Offers that seem too good to be true, such as free gadgets, gift cards, or cash prizes
• Messages from accounts impersonating friends or loved ones
• Spam-like posts or comments with suspicious links from unknown users

If something seems suspicious, delete the message. Avoid clicking links or downloading attachments. And never provide your login details or sensitive information.

Avoid Dangerous Groups

Facebook groups unite people around shared interests, but some promote harmful content or behavior. Don’t join groups that:

• Promote hate speech, violence, or extremism
• Encourage dangerous or illegal activity
• Distribute fake news or misinformation

Stick to well-established groups aligned with your values. If moderating a group, be vigilant about banning dangerous or abusive members.

Limit Oversharing

Avoid sharing too many personal details like your home address, birthdate, or daily schedule. This provides ammunition for scammers or stalkers. Keep some mystery even with friends.

Also be wary of apps requesting personal data for seemingly pointless reasons. Only provide what’s absolutely necessary.

Report Bad Behavior

If you encounter bullying, threats, inappropriate content or contact, or possible violations of Facebook’s policies, report it:

• Tap the three dots above a post or comment and select Report
• For profiles, groups, messages, or other violations, go to the three line More menu > Find Support or Report Something

Facebook reviews reports and takes action against policy violations to keep the community safe. Don’t hesitate to report suspicious or harmful behavior.

Staying vigilant protects you and the broader Facebook community. Report, block, and disengage from anything making you uncomfortable. Your safety comes first!

Securing Your Account

Now that you rely on Facebook to connect with others, it’s crucial to lock down your account security to prevent unauthorized access.

Strong Passwords

The first line of defense is a strong, unique password for your Facebook account. Good passwords:

• Are at least 8 characters long (the longer the better)
• Contain a mix of uppercase, lowercase, numbers and symbols
• Avoid common words or personal info that could be guessed
• Are not used on any other sites or accounts

If your password is weak, change it immediately under Settings & Privacy > Password. Consider a password manager app to track unique, complex passwords for all your accounts.

Login Notifications

Enable login notifications under Settings & Privacy > Security and Login:

• Get alerts if someone logs in from an unknown device or browser
• Require a code sent your registered email or phone number when logging in from new locations

This prevents unauthorized access by alerting you to suspicious logins.

Legacy Contact

Designate a trusted friend or family member as your Facebook legacy contact under Settings > Personal Information.

They can manage your memorialized profile if anything happens to you. Make sure it’s someone you’re comfortable making private info available to.

Login Approvals

Under Settings > Security and Login, enable Login Approvals:

• Require a special security code in addition to your password when logging in
• Generate backup codes to access your account if you lose your phone

This “two-factor authentication” provides an extra layer of protection.

Where You’re Logged In

Periodically check Settings & Privacy > Security > Where You’re Logged In to view current active sessions:

• Log out of any unknown or suspicious logins
• Change your password if you see signs of unauthorized access

Review Permissions

Apps you’ve given account permissions to can access your info. Periodically review them under Settings & Privacy > Apps and Websites and remove any unfamiliar or unnecessary connections. This limits third-party access.

Use a VPN

A Virtual Private Network (VPN) encrypts your internet traffic and masks your IP address. This prevents snooping on open Wi-Fi networks. Consider a reputable VPN provider for daily Facebook use.

Treat your Facebook account like a bank account – protect it with vigilance! Enable all the security options above to keep your profile safe from compromise.

Responsible Facebook Use

While this chapter focused on privacy, safety, and security, it’s also important to use Facebook responsibly, ethically, and positively. Here are some final tips:

• Think before you post. Pause before sharing to consider how it might impact you or others. Don’t post when emotional.
• Be kind. Use Facebook to spread positivity, encouragement, and compassion. Avoid bullying, shaming, or harming others.
• Share thoughtfully. Distribute news and information from reputable sources, not unverified claims or misinformation.
• Respect boundaries. If friends don’t seem active on Facebook, respect their space and connect via other methods.
• Manage your time. Set limits on Facebook use to prevent wasted time. Put your phone away to engage fully with those around you.
• Be authentic. Share your true self and interests. Avoid presenting an exaggerated or filtered view of life.
• Connect mindfully. Use Facebook to nourish real world relationships, not replace them. Balance online and off.

Remember the human on the other side of every post and interaction on Facebook. When in doubt, err on the side of kindness and empathy.

Part 6: Apps, Games and Extras

Facebook offers much more beyond just connecting with friends and family. There is a whole world of apps, games, Marketplace, and other add-ons that you can explore. This chapter will provide an overview of these optional extras available on Facebook, to enhance your experience.

Facebook Apps

Apps allow you to add more functionality and fun to your Facebook account. Apps are created by third-party developers and you can browse and search for apps to use right within Facebook. Here are some of the most popular types of apps available:

Entertainment Apps

For music, movies, TV, books, and more. Examples include Spotify, Netflix, Hulu, HBO, Kindle, and Audible. These apps let you access and share entertainment content.

Gaming Apps

For playing casual games with friends. Popular examples are Words with Friends, Candy Crush Saga, Slotomania, Bingo Blitz, and Zynga Poker. These apps let you play games and connect with friends.

Productivity Apps

For planning, learning, and more. Examples are calendar apps, language learning apps like Duolingo, corporate training apps, travel apps, and more. These apps aim to help you get things done.

Lifestyle Apps

For wellness, shopping, design, and more. Examples include Nike+ Running, Shopify, Houzz, Headspace, and WW (Weight Watchers). These apps cater to different lifestyle needs.

Causes and Community Apps

For giving back and staying informed. Examples are charity apps, nonprofit apps, social good apps, news apps, and community apps. These apps aim to bring people together.

Business and Brand Apps

For interacting with brands, stores, and services. Examples are retail apps, restaurant apps, local business apps, and apps from global brands. These apps facilitate business interactions.

Utility Apps

For visual identity, payments, travel and more. Examples include custom profile pic apps, payment apps like Venmo, travel apps like Kayak, job apps like LinkedIn. Helpful utility functions.

This covers some of the most common categories – there are thousands of apps available on Facebook to choose from. It’s easy to find and add apps that interest you.

Browsing and Adding Apps

To start using apps, go to the Explore menu (☰ icon) and select “Apps”. This will take you to the App Center. Here you can browse different categories of apps or search for specific apps.

When you find an app you want to use, click “Add” and you will be prompted to connect the app to your Facebook account. This allows the app to work with your profile and friends.

The “Settings” option for each app lets you control what information the app can access. Be sure to review the access settings for any new app you add.

Once added, apps appear in the left sidebar of your Facebook account for easy access. You can also find your installed apps in the App Center.

Managing and Removing Apps

At any time, you can manage your installed apps by going back to the App Center. Hover over any app and click the “…” icon for options:

• Edit settings – Change what information the app can access.
• Move – Reorder where the app appears in your sidebar.
• Remove app – Disconnect the app from your account.

It’s a good idea to periodically review your installed apps and remove any you no longer use. This keeps your account tidy and protects your privacy.

Apps can provide a lot of extra features to your Facebook experience. Browse the App Center to discover useful and entertaining apps to install. But be thoughtful about what information you allow each app to access. With some prudent management of settings and permissions, apps can be a fun addition!

Facebook Games

Games are some of the most popular apps used on Facebook. Here is a closer look at gaming options and how to use them.

Popular Facebook Games

Some games have become massively popular on Facebook. These include:

• FarmVille – Build and manage your own farm, cultivate crops and animals.
• Candy Crush Saga – Match colorful candies in this classic puzzle game.
• Slotomania – Play virtual casino slot machines, like Vegas from home.
• Words with Friends – Challenge friends to this fun Scrabble-style game.
• Bingo Blitz – Play fast-paced bingo rounds with power-ups and boosts.
• Zynga Poker – Play free Texas holdem poker games with friends.
• Solitaire – The classic and addictive solitaire card game.
• Bubble Witch – Pop matching bubbles in this magical puzzle adventure.
• Mafia Wars – Build your criminal empire in this mobster strategy game.

These are just a few examples. New games are added all the time. You can easily search for and try games that you find entertaining.

Playing Games

To start playing games, open the App Center menu and select “Games”. Browse the categories to find a game that looks interesting, then click “Add” to install it.

Once added, games appear in your sidebar for easy access. You can also find your installed games in the App Center.

Most games are free to install and play, but many offer in-app purchases and upgrades for real money. Make sure you have parental consent before spending any money within games. Many games also contain ads that help support the developers.

As you play Facebook games, you can send lives/coins to friends, compare high scores, and interact within each game’s community. Having Facebook friends to play with makes gaming much more fun!

Managing Games

You can always remove any game from your account by going to the App Center, hovering over the game, and selecting “Remove app”.

It’s also important to review each game’s access permissions in the “Settings” option. Make sure you are comfortable with the profile information that the game can view. Never give sensitive financial information to any game.

Gaming can provide hours of entertainment on Facebook. Browse the many options to find genres and titles that you enjoy. Take care to manage permissions and in-app purchases responsibly. With some common sense, gaming can become a fun hobby.

Facebook Marketplace

Facebook Marketplace allows you to buy and sell used goods locally. Here is an overview of how it works.

Buying on Marketplace

To start shopping, go to the Menu (☰) and select Marketplace. You can browse listings in various categories or search for specific items.

When you find something of interest, click on the listing to see the full details, photos, description, price, and seller info. You can message the seller with any questions.

If you want to purchase the item, arrange a meeting time/place through messaging. Always meet in a safe public location during daylight hours. Take reasonable safety precautions when meeting people.

Bring cash or use services like PayPal or Venmo to pay securely. Inspect the item before paying. Only hand over money if you are satisfied with the item. A best practice is to bring someone with you for these in-person transactions.

Facebook Marketplace makes it easy to find great deals, but use good judgment when meeting strangers for exchanges. Prioritize your personal safety.

Selling on Marketplace

To sell an item, go to Marketplace and click “Sell something”. Select the category for your item, then fill out the listing details:

• Photos – Add clear, high-quality photos showing the item from all angles.
• Title – Use a short, descriptive title including key details like brand, condition, color, size, etc.
• Description – Explain additional details, damage/flaws, reason for selling, etc. Be transparent to avoid surprises.
• Price – Research similar listings to set a fair market price. You can always negotiate later.
• Location – This helps buyers find local listings near them.

Once submitted, your listing will become searchable on Marketplace. Interact with interested buyers via Messenger. Avoid sharing contact info. Meet at a public place to complete the transaction.

Facebook Marketplace makes selling unwanted items easy and convenient. Price fairly, describe accurately, and exchange safely. These tips will lead to smooth transactions for both buyers and sellers.

Facebook Ads

As you use Facebook, you’ll notice ads mixed throughout your feed and on the sidebar. Here’s an overview of how Facebook advertising works:

Why Ads Exist

Facebook is free to use because it makes money by showing you targeted ads. Companies pay to promote products/services to specific demographics. The money from these ads funds Facebook’s services.

Targeted to You

Facebook ads aren’t random. Using information like your age, location, gender, interests, and behavior on Facebook, algorithms decide which ads might appeal to you. The goal is to show you ads for things you might actually want to know about or buy.

Your Ad Preferences

You can view the categories that Facebook assigns you for ad targeting purposes under “Ad Preferences” in your account Settings. This lets you see how Facebook characterizes you based on your profile and activity. If you see any incorrect interests or demographics here, you can remove them.

Ad Settings

Also under ad preferences, you can opt out of certain types of ads if you prefer not to see them, like alcohol/gambling ads. You can also influence the ads shown by adding interests to your preferences proactively.

Ad Transparency

Clicking “Why am I seeing this?” on any ad will reveal why it was targeted to you. This transparency feature allows you to understand how your data contributes to the ads you are shown.

Ad Controls

For additional control, you can block specific advertisers from showing you ads in the future. You can also hide an ad or report it if inappropriate.

Facebook advertising is intentionally tailored for relevance to each user. While ads sustain Facebook’s free services, you have transparency and options to adjust what ads you see.

Facebook’s Other Features

Beyond apps, games, Marketplace and ads, here are a few other optional Facebook features to be aware of:

Fundraisers – Create fundraisers for causes and share them with friends to collect donations.

Friend Lists – Organize friends into custom lists like Close Friends, Work Friends, Acquaintances to control visibility.

Rooms – Video chat with subgroups of friends in virtual “rooms” for more intimate conversations.

Campus – A special feed for college students to connect with their campus community.

Climate Science Center – Resources about climate change science and solutions.

Crisis Response – Facebook teams who monitor the platform during crises like natural disasters, providing useful information.

Watch – A video viewing hub to explore recommended and trending video content.

Live Audio Rooms – Live audio chat rooms to discuss specific topics like podcasts.

Workplace from Facebook – A separate version of Facebook for internal workplace communications and collaboration.

This covers a sample of other extras you may come across on Facebook. New features are constantly in development, so the platform is always expanding.

Responsible Use of Add-Ons

While the array of apps, games, Marketplace, and other extras can enhance your experience, it’s also important to engage responsibly. Here are some tips:

• Carefully review access permissions before using any third-party apps or games. Don’t grant unnecessary sensitive permissions.
• Avoid mindless gaming or shopping. Set healthy limits on time and spending within apps.
• Prioritize safety when meeting marketplace buyers/sellers. Consider bringing someone with you and meet in public places only during daytime.
• Understand why you see certain ads and utilize ad preference tools for greater control.
• Be selective about which extras you engage with rather than trying to use everything. Identify what adds value for you.
• Report any apps, games, items, sellers, advertisers or other content that seems inappropriate, misleading or unethical.

Facebook offers endless possibilities. But it takes self-awareness and discipline to benefit from the platform in a safe, positive way. Make conscious choices that serve your wellbeing.

Part 7: How to be cool on Facebook

It’s about being respectful, gracious, and conscientious in your interactions. Avoid offensive language, respect privacy settings, give credit, and engage civilly with those holding different views.

Communicate clearly, resolve conflicts calmly, and avoid common mistakes. Following proper etiquette makes Facebook more enjoyable for you and your community. Keep these guidelines in mind as you connect with people worldwide.

With so many users, it’s important to follow proper etiquette on the platform to ensure you have positive interactions online. This chapter will provide guidelines on Facebook etiquette – the dos and don’ts for behaving appropriately. We’ll cover how to post respectfully, communicate effectively, and avoid common mistakes. Following proper etiquette makes Facebook more enjoyable for you and your connections.

Posting Respectfully

What you post on Facebook can be seen by many people, so it’s important to share content that is appropriate and positive. Here are some tips:

• Avoid offensive language, insults, or threats. Don’t post anything that could be perceived as bullying or make specific people feel uncomfortable.
• Be mindful of sensitive topics like religion, race, and politics. Don’t force your beliefs onto others. Keep posts constructive.
• Fact check articles and information before sharing. Don’t spread misinformation or fake news. Cite your sources.
• Give credit when sharing others’ content. Don’t plagiarize or claim work as your own.
• Keep personal details private. Ask permission before posting others’ contact information or locations.
• Avoid spamming your connections’ feeds. Don’t post too frequently or make trivial posts.
• Keep photos and videos appropriate. Nothing sexually explicit, illegal, or depicting abuse.
• Monitor comments on your posts. Delete any that are harassing or inappropriate.
• Apologize and remove any problematic posts. Don’t try to cover up mistakes.

The key is posting content that is respectful towards others. Share positively and avoid offending people or making them uncomfortable. Build an online community that is constructive.

Respecting Privacy Privacy is very important on social media. Always respect others’ privacy preferences:

• Don’t share personal information about someone else without their permission. This includes contact details, location, details about their lives.
• If asked to remove posts featuring someone, oblige as soon as possible. Respect their privacy wishes.
• Be cautious about posting photos or videos featuring others, especially minors. Get consent when possible.
• Don’t share or view private messages, photos, or other content without permission from the owner.
• Keep usernames, passwords, and login information private. Never access someone’s account without authorization.
• Restrict tagging people who don’t want to be tagged. Avoid tagging strangers.
• Don’t share addresses, phone numbers, emails, or other private info publicly on Facebook.
• Never assume something is public information just because it is online. Always check with the owner first before sharing.

It’s polite to ask for permission before posting about others online. Not doing so could upset people. Make sure you have consent.

Interacting With Strangers Facebook allows you to connect with people all over the world. When interacting with strangers on Facebook:

• Be cautious at first when chatting with people you don’t already know offline. Don’t immediately trust them with personal details, money, or favors.
• Look for common ground and mutual interests to establish a connection. Don’t pretend to be someone you’re not.
• Avoid politics, religion, race, and other controversial topics until you know them better. These could cause tension.
• Never meet strangers from Facebook in private or isolated areas. Meet in populated, public spaces if you must meet in person. Inform others of your plans.
• Don’t accept files, click unusual links, install apps or give control of your device to those you don’t know and trust. This could compromise your security.
• Block users who are harassing you, scamming you, or making you uncomfortable. You have the right to disengage.
• Report suspicious profiles or activities to Facebook. They may violate platform policies.

The internet makes the world seem smaller but appropriate precautions with strangers are still necessary. Move interactions to more trusted platforms if you plan to continue communicating.

Respecting Differences Facebook connects people across countries, cultures, religions, political affiliations, and more. You will encounter people with different viewpoints. To keep your interactions respectful:

• Don’t insult or attack people for having different beliefs than your own.
• Avoid sweeping generalizations about groups of people based on limited experiences. Get to know people as individuals.
• Don’t threaten or incite harm against those who are different from you. Report concerning posts to Facebook.
• Don’t disparage or judge cultural practices or traditions that seem unfamiliar. Keep an open mind.
• Listen to understand others’ perspectives, even if you disagree. Don’t dismiss their views outright.
• Express your differing opinions constructively without provoking arguments. Be civil in disagreements.
• Unfollow rather than unfriend if someone’s posts consistently upset you. Keep the connection but limit content.
• Don’t spread misinformation about groups you may not understand well. Verify stories first.

Differences make life interesting. Be respectful of diversity on Facebook and you’ll gain understanding.

Commenting Courteously

Comment sections under posts can sometimes become heated. To promote constructive discussions:

• Read the entire original post before responding to understand the full context. Don’t react just to the headline.
• Fact check information before sharing it in comments. Don’t spread rumors, false data, or conspiracy theories.
• Address ideas, not people. Critique the concept, not the person.
• Don’t use profanity, all-caps, or exclamation points as these can seem aggressive.
• Apologize if your comment came across the wrong way. Explain your intent if misunderstood.
• Respectfully disengage rather than get hostile if a debate becomes unproductive. Don’t let it escalate.
• Notify page owners about offensive comments that should be removed. Report harassing comments.
• Don’t spam repetitive comments or make irrelevant remarks. Keep comments on topic.
• Thank those who reply to your comments and answer any questions helpfully.

Following proper comment etiquette makes discussions more meaningful. Be thoughtful and conversations will stay focused.

Communicating Effectively

Clear communication helps avoid misunderstandings on Facebook. Practice good communication etiquette:

• Clarify the purpose of your message upfront. Don’t make the recipient guess your intent.
• Keep messages relevant and concise. Don’t include unnecessary details or repeat yourself.
• Use a positive tone even in difficult conversations. Avoid hostility and conflict.
• Match your medium to the message. Use chat for quick interactions and posts for sharing with many.
• Respond in a timely manner if you initiate a conversation. Don’t leave people waiting indefinitely.
• Notify connections if you will be unavailable for a period so they know to expect a delay in replies.
• Double check responses for typos, missing information, unclear phrasing, and tone. Edit before sending.
• Follow up on open questions, promised information, and unfinished discussions. Don’t leave loose ends.
• Respect other’s communication preferences. Not everyone likes frequent messaging or constant notifications.

Clear, considerate communication makes coordinating easier and prevents misunderstandings. Verify your messages are helpful, not confusing.

Asking Permission

It’s best practice on Facebook to ask for permission before posting about others, tagging someone, inviting them to events, adding them to groups, or engaging them:

• Ask for consent before tagging someone in a photo, video, or status. Respect if they decline.
• Verify it’s alright to post an image featuring them before sharing it publicly.
• Request permission before sharing personal information like their relationship status, contact details, location, etc.
• Invite connections to events and groups but let them decline without pressuring them to participate.
• Ask if now is a good time to chat before initiating a conversation. Be considerate of their availability.
• Seek approval from page owners before promoting or sharing their content. Give them credit.
• Request confirmation before assuming someone wants you to share a crowd-funded campaign or petition, even if it’s for a good cause.
• Ask partners, close friends and family their preference on relationship status displays. Avoid assumptions.

Always double check before involving someone without their consent. It shows you respect their right to choose what they participate in.

Credit and Attribution

When sharing content you didn’t create, proper attribution is key:

• Reposting others’ content without credit is a violation of trust. Always attribute original sources.
• Tag the profile of the creator and link to the original post if possible. Make sure they get recognition.
• Obtain permission before reposting content from private groups or pages. Respect their privacy.
• Confirm you have rights to share copyrighted materials publicly. Cite your source.
• Add commentary when sharing links or reposting content. Don’t just copy and paste. Provide context.
• Use direct quotes when excerpting others’ writing. Use quotation marks and mention the author.
• Avoid implying you created or own something you did not. Be clear in your attributions.

Giving proper credit demonstrates respect for people’s work and intellectual property rights. It also helps direct traffic to original sources.

Handling Conflict

Disputes naturally occur on social platforms. Handling them properly promotes goodwill.

• Don’t engage in public social media fights. Take the discussion private to resolve issues respectfully.
• Don’t retaliate against those who disagree with you. Take a constructive approach.
• Apologize promptly if you make a mistake that impacts others. Demonstrate accountability.
• Forgive minor mishaps from others. We all mess up sometimes.
• Calmly address ongoing concerns through civil conversation, not accusations.
• If discussing problematic behavior, focus on issues, not attacking the person.
• Avoid dramatic reactions and oversimplifications. Assess issues fairly using facts.
• Show empathy and give the benefit of the doubt when possible. Try to understand their perspective.
• Part ways politely if differences are irreconcilable. Agree to disagree respectfully.

Addressing conflict calmly and maturely preserves relationships and reputations. Handled poorly, it creates more discord.

Avoiding Common Mistakes

It’s easy to make missteps on Facebook, but being aware of common errors can help you avoid them:

• Don’t vent about problems publicly without considering how it may impact others. Keep some things private.
• Avoid posting in anger. Cool down first so you don’t say something you regret.
• Fact check before believing or sharing rumors, pranks, warnings, and viral content. Verify first.
• Don’t post revealing photos or crude humor. Keep your profile classy.
• Refrain from frequently posting mundane or trivial updates. Only post content that adds value.
• Don’t use Facebook to stalk people. Respect others’ privacy.
• Be cautious about befriending coworkers, employers, parents, or other delicate connections. Consider boundaries.
• Avoid publicly airing grievances with family, partners or friends. Handle issues privately.
• Don’t post political, religious or social justice rants. You likely won’t change anyone’s mind.
• Refrain from frequently soliciting business, donations, or participation. Avoid coming across sales-y.

Carefully consider your actions on Facebook to avoid damaging your relationships and reputation online. Think twice before posting.

Part 8: Advanced Facebook Tips and Tricks

Congratulations on making it through the beginner’s guide on how to use Facebook! By now, you should have a good understanding of the basics – signing up, posting updates, messaging friends, joining groups, and staying safe. But Facebook has so many features and customization options that there’s always more to learn. This advanced chapter will take you to the next level with insider tips, shortcuts, and expert techniques. Get ready for some pro Facebook skills!

Customizing Your Settings

Facebook allows you to tweak your settings to personalize your experience. Here are some options worth exploring:

Choose Who Can See Your Stuff

The audience selector lets you control who gets to view your posts, photos, videos and more. For maximum privacy, choose “Only Me” or customize it for different types of content. Go to Settings > Privacy to adjust this.

See Posts in Chronological Order

By default, Facebook’s algorithm shows you posts it thinks are most relevant. To see posts from friends in timely order, go to Settings > Feed Preferences and select Chronological Feed.

Adjust Notifications

You can specify which Facebook notifications you want to receive. Disable annoying ones and prioritize important updates. Go to Settings > Notifications to customize these.

Use Dark Mode

Switch your Facebook theme to darker colors for nighttime scrolling or to save battery life. Go to Settings > Dark Mode to enable this.

Manage Advert Preferences

See fewer irrelevant ads by updating your ad topic preferences under Settings > Ad Preferences. Adjust interests, demographics and more.

Enable Two-Factor Authentication

Add an extra security layer to prevent unauthorized access to your account. Under Settings > Security, enable two-factor authentication.

Change Default Text Size

Having trouble reading posts? Make Facebook’s text larger or smaller under Settings > Text Size. This overrides the default size.

Manage Tagging Abilities

Control who can tag you in posts and limiting visibility of existing tags under Settings > Timeline and Tagging. Great for privacy.

Streamlining Your Profile

Your profile is your identity on Facebook. Make sure it represents you in the best possible light:

Pin Featured Photos and Life Events

Show off your best pictures and biggest moments at the top of your profile. Edit your featured photos and life events.

Add Featured Friends

Show your closest connections by pinning featured friends to the top of your friends list. Just click “Add to Featured Friends” on a friend’s profile.

Share Your Interests

The About section lets you list details like employers, schools, relationship status, interests and more. Fill it out to give people context.

Create Friend Lists

Organize friends into smart lists like Close Friends, Work Friends or Acquaintances. Adjust privacy settings for each list.

Link Other Social Profiles

Connect your Instagram, Twitter and other social media accounts to cross-promote your profiles. Add these under Featured.

Verify Your Account

Get the blue verification badge by verifying your identity on Facebook. This makes your account more trustworthy. Submit ID to verify.

Mastering Posting

Posting is central to the Facebook experience. Make your updates stand out with these tips:

Use Colorful Backgrounds

Liven up plain text statuses with colorful backgrounds. When posting, click the background selector to pick a vibrant one.

Check-In to Places

Let your friends know where you are by checking in at restaurants, stores, events and more. Click “Check In” at the top when posting.

Tag Friends in Posts

Grab your friends’ attention and drag them into a post or photo by tagging them using @. This also shares the post to their Timeline.

Go Live!

Broadcast real-time videos to your friends with Facebook Live. Go Live from your phone or computer and share moments as they happen.

Post Longer Thoughts

Instead of short statuses, share longer musings as Notes. These support formatting, photos, videos and more. Great for personal essays.

Share Playlists

Post Spotify playlists or Apple Music mixes to your Timeline to share your favorite tunes. Paste the link when creating a new post.

Check Post Reach

See how many people your posts reach and their engagement levels. Click “View Insights” on any post to analyze its performance.

Schedule Posts

Plan content ahead of time by using the scheduling tool to pick future post dates and times. Great for social media managers.

Use Hashtags Strategically

Include relevant hashtags in your posts to make them discoverable by broader audiences interested in those topics.

Tag Products

Automatically link to products you mention by typing @ and selecting it from the list. Useful for promoting brands and items.

Mastering Facebook Messages

Facebook messaging allows seamless communication with individuals and groups. Optimize your messaging with these techniques:

Pin Important Chats

Keep frequent conversations handy by pinning them to the top of your messages list. Hover over a chat and click the pin icon.

Create Shortcuts

Type @[friend’s name] in any chat to quickly send them a new message without searching for them.

See Read Receipts

See when your messages are seen with read receipts. These are on by default in new chats. Turn them on or off anytime.

Unsend Messages

Regret sending something? You can unsend messages in chats within 10 minutes of sending them. Just click “Unsend” to remove.

Control Reply Notifications

Mute notifications from especially active group chats. Long press the chat and toggle notifications off. Customize per chat.

Search Messages

Finding past info is easy. Just search for keywords at the top of any chat to pull up relevant messages automatically.

Create Chat Shortcuts

Frequently message the same people or groups? Add them as shortcuts in your bookmarks bar for quick access.

Make Video Calls

Chat the face-to-face way with video calls. In any chat, click the video icon to start a video call with friends.

Send GIFs and Emojis

React and respond using GIFs and emojis from the chat menus. Just click the smiley face in a chat to access them.

See Message History

View your full history with a friend by clicking your profile photo in the chat header to see all past messages seamlessly.

Optimizing Facebook Groups

Facebook groups make it easy to connect with communities around shared interests. Be a model group member with these tips:

Turn On Notifications

Stay in the loop! Visit the group page, click the Members button and turn on notifications under “Notifications.”

Complete Your Profile

Fill out group profile details like hometown and occupation to provide helpful context about yourself to fellow members.

Follow Group Rules

Review the group description and rules before participating to ensure you post appropriately and respectfully.

Engage Thoughtfully

Like and comment on others’ posts to build community. Ask questions to encourage discussion. Provide value.

Post Relevant Content

Share content that fits the group theme and interests instead of spamming irrelevant links and info.

Limit Self-Promotion

Groups are for community, not sales. Keep promotional posts related to the group purpose and infrequent.

Report Problematic Posts

Help keep the group healthy by reporting offensive, inappropriate or rule-breaking posts.

Thank the Admins

Administrator volunteers work hard to manage groups. Occasional appreciation goes a long way.

Invite Friends Carefully

Only invite friends who you think would appreciate and actively engage in this specific group.

Participate Consistently

Check back regularly, not just when you need something. Sustained engagement builds stronger communities.

Leveraging Your Network

Expand your Facebook opportunities by optimizing your network of friends, followers and connections:

Share Mutual Interest Content

When posting, click Friends underneath to target content to friends who like similar Pages and topics.

Join Friend Lists

Discover new friend lists that friends make and ask to join relevant ones to expand your circles.

Follow Interesting Profiles

Get updates from interesting public figures, companies, publishers and communities by following their Facebook Pages.

Make New Friends

Meet new people by joining Groups around your hobbies, interests and beliefs. Engage to turn groupmates into friends.

Partner With Other Pages

Grow your audience and collaborations by having related Pages share your content to their followers, and vice versa.

Cross-Promote Content

Share your Facebook posts on other platforms like Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram. Paste the links to broaden engagement.

Give Shoutouts

Thank friends for support, tag their Pages and share their content with your network to help each other gain more visibility.

Wish Friends Happy Birthday

Let your friends feel special on their big day by posting on their Timeline, sharing a special memory or sending them birthday wishes.

Share Locations

Heading somewhere fun? Share your real-time location on Facebook so friends can join you or meet up later.

Use Messenger Rooms

Video chat with up to 50 friends at once using Messenger Rooms for virtual hangouts, collaborative working or multiplayer fun.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Even experienced users run into Facebook frustrations occasionally. Try these fixes for common problems:

Boost Lagging Videos

Choppy playback? Extend your data plan or connect to WiFi to stream high-res videos smoothly. Lower quality if needed.

Resolve Login Errors

Can’t log in? Reset your password if you forgot it. If other issues persist, the site may be having temporary technical troubles.

Recover Disabled Accounts

Regain access to disabled accounts by selecting “I think my account was disabled by mistake” and following prompts.

Fix Mistagged Photos

Untag yourself from incorrect photo tags. Select “This isn’t me” option on the photo to remove the errant tag.

Block Harassing Users

Stop harassers by blocking their profile and reporting abusive content to Facebook for removal. Stay safe.

Reduce Old Post Resurfaces

Tired of seeing ancient posts reappear? Use the box on old posts to “show fewer posts like this.”

Reverse Accidental Unfriends

Mistakenly unfriended someone? Resend a friend request or find them under Previous Friends under Friends menu to restore them.

Limit Ad Tracking

Feel your ads are too eerily targeted? Restrict ad tracking in your Facebook and phone privacy settings.

Fix Glitchy Videos

If videos freeze, log out and back into Facebook to refresh feed and reset any glitches, or restart your device.

Extend Battery Life

Heavy Facebook use drains batteries. Close the app when done, enable low battery mode on your phone and lower brightness.

Advanced Security Strategies

As Facebook usage grows, it’s essential to lock down your privacy and security:

Restrict Old Posts

Limit visibility of old posts under Settings > Privacy > Limit Past Posts. Choose friends or only me.

Review Login Locations

Check Settings > Security > Where You’re Logged In to ensure only recognized locations are accessing your account.

Use Login Alerts

Enable alerts about unrecognized logins under Security Settings. Facebook will notify you of suspicious activity.

Don’t Overshare Publicly

Post personal updates more privately using friend lists. Public posts open you to unknown audiences.

Never Share Passwords

Avoid account theft by never sharing your Facebook password. Ignore messages requesting it. Facebook will never ask.

Beware of Phishing

Spot scams that mimic Facebook logins to steal your credentials. Check the URLs carefully before logging in.

Install Antivirus Software

Use antivirus programs to detect and disable malware that may infiltrate your system and misuse your Facebook presence.

Manage Apps

Remove unused Facebook-linked apps that may access your profile. Check Settings > Apps to revoke permissions.

Use Strong Passwords

Create a complex, unique password for Facebook that mixes cases, numbers and symbols. Weak passwords risk hacking.

Turn On Login Approvals

Require an additional code after your password to log in. Enable under Settings > Login Approvals for two-factor authentication.

Advanced Facebook Advertising

Once you’re a pro Facebook user, explore Facebook advertising to spread your message:

Define Your Goals

Consider campaign goals – get video views? Collect emails? Make sales? Different objectives shape ad strategy.

Target Your Audience

Use Facebook’s detailed targeting data on demographics, interests, behaviors and more to only reach your ideal customers.

Design Captivating Creative

Create thumb-stopping images, video and carousels that appeal specifically to your goals and audience.

Start Conversations

Spark engagement with polls, questions and other interactive ad formats. Two-way communication drives results.

Track Performance

Use Facebook’s analytics to view ad reach, engagement, conversions and return on investment. Tweak underperformers.

Retarget Site Visitors

Remarket to visitors who browsed your site or content with ads encouraging them to re-engage and convert.

Make Quick Changes

Edit image text, links, audiences and more easily right from your ads manager. No need to start over.

Create Saved Audiences

Build customized audiences you can reuse across campaigns based on detailed targeting dimensions.

Automate Campaigns

Set rules to automatically optimize budget allocation across better performing ads in a campaign.

Collaborate with Teammates

Add other ad account users to manage campaigns together. Useful for agencies and marketing teams.

Integrating Third-Party Apps

Extend Facebook’s functionality by connecting external apps and services:

Link Facebook to Your Blog

Automatically post blog updates to your Facebook feed with tools like RSS Graffiti or NetworkedBlogs.

Auto-Post Instagram Photos

Enable settings to simultaneously share your Instagram snaps to Facebook for expanded reach.

Import Contacts

Sync your email and phone contacts to Facebook to easily find and connect with friends already on it.

Embed Facebook Posts

Embed public Facebook posts onto your blog or website for relevant social proof and engagement.

Auto-Delete Old Posts

Use apps like Post Ghost or Social Book Post Manager to auto-delete or archive old posts after a certain time.

Sync Facebook Events

Connect your Facebook events to calendars like Google or iCal so related dates auto-populate in your schedule.

Back Up Photos

Download your entire Facebook photo library to your computer as a backup using the Social Book Chrome extension.

Auto-Post to Groups

Usetools like Buffer or Hootsuite to schedule posts to multiple Facebook Groups in your niche. Great for marketers.

Create Shareable Quizzes

Apps like Poll Maker, Quiz Whiz and Uberviral let you make fun quizzes fans can share to their Timelines.

Manage Pages from One Place

Social media management tools like Sprout Social let you post and analyze multiple Facebook Pages in one dashboard.

Advanced Privacy Strategies

Protect your privacy using Facebook’s advanced settings and features:

Turn Off Facial Recognition

Disable Facebook’s auto-tagging of your face in photos. Go to Settings & Privacy > Face Recognition.

Restrict Your Visibility

Limit old posts and profiles that may mention you with Settings & Privacy > Who can see your future posts?

Download Your Information

Review and clean up your Facebook data. Under Settings, click Download your Information for a history of your activity.

Remove Your Number & Email

Delete your contact info from your profile to prevent misuse. Remove under About section.

Whitelist Trusted Friends

Under Settings & Privacy > Groups, create a “Restricted” friend list. Limit access to posts only to them.

Log Out on Public Devices

Always fully log out of Facebook after using it on public machines. Don’t just close the tab.

Use a Locked Folder App

Lock sensitive Facebook downloads like photos or messages behind fingerprint access using private folder apps.

Don’t Overshare Your Location

Pause Location Services unless posting from a business or place you want to tag. Avoid real-time location sharing.

Review Apps & Sites

Check Settings > Apps and Websites to remove obsolete authorizations you’ve forgotten about over time.

Turn Off Email Lookups

Disable tools that allow people to look you up by just your email address under Settings > General Account Settings.

Evaluate Friend Requests

Review profiles of all unfamiliar incoming requests. Check for fake accounts trying to infiltrate your network.

Adjust News Feed Privacy

Limit visibility of friends’ posts about you in News Feed under Settings & Privacy > Your Activity > News Feed controls.

Beware of Data Brokers

Opt out of data aggregator sites that create profiles of your social data for marketing at privacyprotection.org.

Monitor “On This Day”

Review resurfaced posts yearly On This Day highlights to delete sensitive old posts that may now cause problems.

Helpful Facebook Resources

Your journey to Facebook mastery doesn’t end here! Further develop your skills with these additional resources:

Facebook Business Resources – facebook.com/business/resources

Official guides, tips, formats and best practices for businesses marketing on Facebook.

Facebook Media Library – facebook.com/fbmedia

Free stock photos, videos and tools to enhace your Facebook presence. Great for ads.

Facebook Blueprint – facebook.com/blueprint

Free Facebook ad certification course to get hands-on practice with Facebook marketing tools.

Facebook Newsroom – about.fb.com

Official blog covering Facebook product updates, announcements, new features and more.

Facebook Accessibility – facebook.com/accessibility

Learn how Facebook supports users with disabilities. Enable accessibility-focused tools.

Facebook Ads Library – facebook.com/ads/library

Searchable database of ads running on Facebook to understand what’s engaging audiences.

Facebook Research – research.facebook.com

Facebook’s own published research on AI, internet access, misinformation and more to inform you about their latest developments.

Facebook Jobs – facebook.com/jobs

Search for open roles and internships at Facebook and its development studios around the world.

Oversight Board – oversightboard.com

Learn how this independent body makes content decisions and policy recommendations for Facebook.

Facebook Investor Relations – investors.facebook.com

Financial info, earnings transcripts, SEC filings and investor resources.

Facebook Culture – facebook.com/careers/culture

How Facebook maintains its company values, diversity and inclusive communities for employees.

Facebook Sustainability – sustainability.fb.com

Efforts to design sustainable data centers, reduce emissions, use renewable energy and conserve water.

Portal from Facebook – portal.facebook.com

Facebook’s video calling devices for home use. Review product specs, apps and smart camera features.

Facebook Annual Report – investors.facebook.com/financials/annual-reports

Yearly report on Facebook company operations, performance, financials and leadership priorities.

Oculus from Facebook – oculus.com

Details on Oculus virtual and augmented reality headsets, apps and games created by this Facebook company.

Workplace from Facebook – workplace.com

Business communication tool for internal company messaging, groups, events and more.

Facebook Pay – pay.facebook.com

Facebook’s integrated payment system for sending/receiving money and making purchases across apps.

Facebook Dating – facebook.com/dating

Opt-in dating feature to match with potential romantic partners from your extended social circles.

Facebook Avatars – facebook.com/avatars

Personalize your digital self with this avatar maker. Use it in comments, Stories and Messenger.

Facebook Defense – about.fb.com/news/2021/08/taking-action-against-targeted-attacks

How Facebook defends against nation-state bad actors, hacks, influence operations and threats.

Facebook Journalism Project – facebook.com/journalismproject

Supports the news industry through programs and partnerships focused on journalism.

Facebook IQ – facebook.com/business/marketing/facebook-iq

Industry research and marketing resources for businesses to leverage consumer insights.

Facebook Developer Docs – developers.facebook.com/docs

Technical documentation for developers building apps integrated with Facebook products and APIs.

Facebook Bug Bounty – facebook.com/whitehat

Get rewarded for finding and reporting bugs and vulnerabilities on Facebook platforms.

Facebook for Developers – developers.facebook.com

Developer community, API documentation, SDKs, tools and events for building on Facebook technologies.

Facebook Design – facebook.design

Design guidelines, resources and case studies for crafting beautiful Facebook-family apps and sites.

Facebook Developer Circles – developers.facebook.com/developercircles

Global community of developers interested in collaborating on tech events and peer support.

Facebook Device Partnerships – facebook.com/devices

Partner with Facebook to bring tech like messaging, gaming, virtual reality and more to devices.

Facebook Reality Labs – facebook.com/frl

Facebook division researching next gen technologies in AR, VR, brain computing interfaces and more.