How do I use Facebook guide?

Facebook is one of the most popular social media platforms, with over 2 billion active users worldwide. It allows you to connect with friends and family, share photos and videos, join groups, follow Pages and public figures, and more. While Facebook is relatively intuitive to use, especially if you’ve used other social networks before, there are still plenty of ins and outs that new users should learn in order to get the most out of the platform.

Setting Up Your Facebook Account

The first step in using Facebook is, of course, signing up for an account. Here is a quick rundown of how to create your Facebook account:

Go to www.facebook.com and click “Create New Account” at the top right.

Enter your name, email or mobile number, password, date of birth and gender.
Click “Sign Up.”
Facebook will send a confirmation code to your email or mobile number. Enter it to confirm your account.

Fill out additional profile info like profile photo, location, etc.

Once your account is created, let’s look at some of the key features of Facebook and how to use them.

Setting Up Your Profile

Your Facebook profile contains basic info about you that you can share with others on Facebook. Here’s how to set up your profile:

Add a profile photo – This will be shown on your profile and with any posts you make.
Write a bio – Give background like where you’re from, what you do, interests, etc.
Specify your location, relationship status, if you have kids, etc.

Add profile sections like Work, Education, Places Lived to share more about yourself.
Tailor your privacy settings – Control who can see parts of your profile.

A complete profile gives people more context about you as they connect with you on Facebook.

Finding and Adding Friends

Connecting with friends is a big part of Facebook. Here are ways to find and add friends:

Search for friends by name or email address in the search bar.
Go to your friends list to browse friends and send requests.

Import contacts from your email or mobile phone.
Accept friend requests from people wanting to connect with you.
Use Friend suggestions – Facebook recommends friends based on mutual connections.

Build up your friends list to unlock more ways to interact on Facebook!

Posting Status Updates

Posting status updates is a quick way to share what’s on your mind and keep your friends updated throughout the day. Here’s how status updates work:

Go to your profile or the News Feed and click in the “What’s on your mind?” box.

Type an update, like what you’re doing or thinking about.
You can add photos, videos, GIFs, stickers, or tags of other people.
Click Post to share the status on your profile and in your friends’ News Feeds.

Friends can react with emoji or write comments on your status updates.

Post updates as often as you want – daily, a few times a week, or just every once in a while. It’s up to you!

Posting Photos and Videos

Photos and videos help capture moments and stories to share with friends. Post them directly to your profile:

Click Photo/Video at the top of your News Feed.
Select photos or videos from your computer or mobile device to upload.
Edit images with filters, text, stickers, and more.

Enter a description or location tag.
Choose where to post – your profile, a friend’s profile, or a Page.
Click Post and the photos will upload to your profile.

Remember, other people can see, comment on, and potentially share photos you post publicly on Facebook.

Interacting with Posts

You can interact with friends’ posts to react, comment, and share them further:

Like or use another reaction emoji – Let someone know you saw their post.

Leave a comment – Write a response or feedback on a post.
Share a post – Repost someone else’s post to your own profile.
Click Save to save a post to your Saved section to look at later.

Interacting keeps you involved in your friends’ lives and posts flowing through your feed.

Joining Groups

Groups on Facebook enable you to connect with people around shared interests, hobbies, affiliations and more. Here are some tips for joining and participating in groups:

Search for groups around topics you’re interested in.

Browse group suggestions that Facebook recommends for you.
Ask to join open groups or request to join closed groups.
Once approved, introduce yourself and read group rules.

Engage in discussions, polls, and content posted to the group.
Admins may approve or deny members and moderate discussions.

Groups are a more intimate way to connect with people around niche topics or experiences.

Following Pages

Pages allow public figures, businesses, organizations, and more to have a presence on Facebook. Here are some ways you can start following Pages:

Search for Pages on topics or by names you’re interested in.
Discover recommended Pages based on your profile.

Visit a Page and click Like or Follow.
Engage with Posts from Pages in your News Feed.
Turn on notifications to get updates from your favorite Pages.

Following Pages is an easy way to keep up with news, celebrities, brands, organizations and more.

Checking Your News Feed

Your News Feed is the constantly updating page at the center of your Facebook experience. Here are some key things to know about your feed:

See latest posts, photos, videos, and updates from friends, groups, and Pages.

News Feed is personalized based on engagement with past posts.
Use filters at the top to only show certain types of posts.
Click on names or faces highlighted in posts to learn more.

Use the More button to access feeds just from friends, groups or Pages.

Getting in the habit of browsing your News Feed helps you stay connected and catch up throughout the day.

Personalizing Privacy Settings

Facebook provides extensive options for controlling your privacy and security. Follow these steps to customize your privacy:

Go to Settings & Privacy in the dropdown menu.
Review settings under Privacy Shortcuts.
Click Privacy Settings and choose who can see certain profile info, posts, contacts, and more.

Tailor options for location sharing, tagging, audience sharing, and facial recognition.
Tighten security by requiring two-factor authentication.

Taking the time to personalize your privacy avoids oversharing and gives you peace of mind.

Using Facebook on Mobile

Facebook’s mobile apps make it easy to stay connected from your smartphone or tablet. Here are some mobile Facebook tips:

Download and install the Facebook app for your iPhone, Android, or other device.
Log in with your Facebook account details to access your profile and feed.

Enable notifications to receive alerts about new posts, messages, events, and other updates.
Post status updates, photos, videos and more right from the mobile app.
Use voice commands with Facebook M Assistant to easily navigate the app hands-free.

Facebook’s mobile apps let you scroll the News Feed, interact with friends, and share content on-the-go.

Using Facebook Messenger

Facebook Messenger is a fast way to have text conversations with friends on mobile and desktop. Here are some Messenger tips:

Install the Messenger mobile app or use it at messenger.com.

Find friends to message in your Contacts or News Feed.
Start a new conversation or create a Messenger group.
Send individual or group messages, photos, videos, audio messages, and more.

Make free voice and video calls with up to 50 people.

Messenger makes it easy to have real-time chats with the people you most care about.

Trying Facebook Dating

Facebook Dating provides a way to find romantic matches from your Facebook community. Here’s an overview:

Opt into Facebook Dating and build your dating profile.
Browse secret crushes and potential matches recommended to you.
Like profiles that catch your eye and message mutual matches.

Use Icebreakers for personalized pickup lines to initiate chats.
Plan virtual dates using Messenger video chat.

Facebook Dating leverages your existing Facebook connections and preferences to help find a meaningful relationship.

Getting Support

If you ever need help using Facebook, here are some ways to get support:

Visit the Facebook Help Center for FAQs, how-to articles and troubleshooting.
Use the Report links to flag inappropriate content or behavior.

Contact Facebook Support to submit requests for help or account issues.
Talk to a Facebook representative by phone at 1-650-308-7300.
Stay up-to-date with Facebook system status at https://www.facebook.com/platformstatus/.

Facebook aims to provide a safe community and responsive help resources for all users.

Conclusion

That covers the key features of Facebook and how to start using them as a new or beginner user. Here are some final takeaways:

Personalize your profile and privacy settings when you first join.

Connect with friends, family, groups and Pages relevant to you.
Post updates, photos, videos and engage with the community.
Check News Feed regularly and interact with content.

Use Messenger and mobile apps to stay connected on-the-go.
Get help through Facebook’s support options if needed.

With this Facebook guide, you now have a solid base to feel competent navigating the platform. Keep exploring to unlock more ways to connect, share, and interact using Facebook’s many tools and features.