Using Facebook to Stay in Touch
Facebook is a free website and app where you can see updates from family and friends, share photos, and send messages. It's like a digital family bulletin board where everyone can stay connected.
What Can You Do on Facebook?
See Family Updates
View photos, life events, and updates from your children, grandchildren, and friends.
Share Your Life
Post your own photos, thoughts, and updates for family to see.
Send Messages
Have private conversations through Facebook Messenger.
Video Calls
See and talk to family through video chat, even across the world.
Find Old Friends
Reconnect with friends from school, work, or years past.
Join Groups
Connect with people who share your interests, hobbies, or community.
Creating a Facebook Account
Go to Facebook
On a computer, go to facebook.com. On your phone, download the Facebook app from the App Store or Play Store.
Click "Create New Account"
This is usually a green button below the login area.
Enter Your Information
Fill in your name, email or phone number, birthday, and choose a password. Use your real name so family can find you.
Confirm Your Account
Facebook will send a code to your email or phone. Enter this code to verify it's really you.
Add a Profile Photo
This helps family and friends recognize you. You can skip this and add one later.
Find People You Know
Facebook may suggest people to connect with. You can skip this and search for specific people later.
Understanding the News Feed
What is the News Feed?
When you open Facebook, you see a stream of posts from friends and family. This is your "News Feed" - it shows you updates from people you're connected to.
Text updates, photos, or videos that people share
Tap the thumbs up to show you enjoyed something
Write a response to someone's post
Pass along something to your own friends
Finding and Adding Friends
To Find Someone Specific:
- Tap the search bar at the top
- Type the person's name
- Look through the results (profile photos help identify people)
- Tap on their name to view their profile
- Tap "Add Friend"
- Wait for them to accept your request
Tip: Ask Family for Help
If you're having trouble finding someone, ask a family member who's already on Facebook to help you find them or send you their profile link.
Posting Updates
Share Something on Facebook:
- Find the box that says "What's on your mind?"
- Tap or click in the box
- Type your message
- To add a photo, tap the Photo button
- Choose who can see it (usually "Friends" is a good choice)
- Tap Post
What to Post
- Photos from family gatherings
- Life updates (trip, accomplishment, new hobby)
- Birthday wishes for friends and family
- Interesting articles or recipes to share
- Thoughts you want to share with family
Sending Private Messages
For private conversations, use Facebook Messenger:
- Tap the Messenger icon (speech bubble)
- Tap the pencil icon to start a new message
- Type the person's name and select them
- Type your message and tap send
You can also start a video call from Messenger by tapping the video camera icon.
Privacy and Safety
Be Careful What You Share
Don't post your home address, when you're away on vacation, or sensitive information. What you post can be seen by many people.
Control Who Sees Your Posts
Before posting, check the audience selector (usually shows "Friends"). This controls who can see each post.
Only Accept Friends You Know
If you don't recognize someone's name, don't accept their friend request. Scammers create fake profiles.
Beware of Scams
If a "friend" messages asking for money or clicking a link, be suspicious. Their account may have been hacked. Call them to verify.
Common Questions
Is Facebook free?
Yes, Facebook is completely free to use. They make money from advertising, not from users.
Can I use Facebook without an account?
You need an account to see most content, post, or message people. You can view some public pages without logging in.
How do I know if someone saw my message?
In Messenger, you'll see a small version of their profile photo below your message when they've read it.
What's the difference between Facebook and Messenger?
Facebook is the main app for posts, photos, and updates. Messenger is specifically for private messages and video calls. They work together but are separate apps on phones.
Facebook Basics
- News Feed shows updates from friends
- Like button to show you enjoyed something
- Comment to respond to posts
- Messenger for private messages
- Only add people you know as friends