For more than 15 years, Facebook has helped keep the citizens of the world connected. But if the idea of downloading and using an online social media platform is new to you or even makes you a bit nervous, it can be helpful to know a few important points before you dive in. From the Activity Log (A) to Zuckerberg (Z), read on to discover the ‘what’, and more importantly the ‘why’, of a few of Facebook's key functions.
During this time of physical social distancing, but also for those who live remotely and/or have busy lives that stop them seeing people face-to-face as often as they’d like, Facebook an easy-to-use, connection-based platform that’s available to you now. So, let’s get started…
A = ACTIVITY LOG:
Your Activity Log is your one-stop-shop for everything you’ve done on Facebook. It lets know what you’ve
Liked, who tagged you in photos, who or what you’ve removed, and much more. It’s located on your
Profile
page and can be searched by year.
B = BIRTHDAYS:
You’ll never miss a friend’s birthday again (as long as that friend has their birthday on their profile that is). When you open/login to Facebook for the first time each day, birthdays will appear in your Notifications
(see N = Notifications
for more information).
C = COMMENT:
When you see a post in your Timeline
that you want to interact with, you can Like
it, Comment, or Share
it by clinking in the links at the bottom of the post. Anyone who can see the post, can see your comment so remember to Edit
for appropriateness.
D = DELETE:
It’s said that once something appears on the internet, it’s there forever. On Facebook, that doesn’t have to be the case. If you write a post or comment and then want to edit or delete it, you can. Similarly, you can hide comments people make on your posts.
E = EDIT:
It’s important to know you can edit your words on Facebook. Perhaps the information you posted has changed, or you’ve thought of something extra to add, or spotted a typo. Using the edit function can ensure you create and share the right post.
F = FRIENDS:
Facebook was originally created to help people stay in touch with their friends and family. To find friends who also have Facebook accounts, type their name in the search bar and search through the list of profiles until you find the right person. Then send them a Friend Request.
G = GROUPS:
People with common interests can create and/or join a group with members living anywhere in the world. Open groups allow anyone to join, while closed groups require an administrator to approve membership, which is often based on interest-specific criteria.
H = HELP:
If you’re unsure how to use an aspect of Facebook, or can’t find something, click on the question mark icon, located on the bar at the top of the page. There are suggested topics, or you can search key words in the search box for useful tips and How-To guides.
I = IMAGES:
A picture is worth a thousand words and you can post
an image (a photo, a GIF, an illustration) with or without words on your Timeline. You can also tag other people in the photo if you’re Friends
with them on Facebook but make sure you have their permission.
J = JUST:
because it's your view or opinion, doesn't necessarily qualify it for a public platform. Remember, Facebook is a community of all kinds of people from various backgrounds. Ask yourself – could your posts or comments potentially offend, marginalise or belittle people? Or, are they factual, kind, uplifting and/or helpful? Put yourself in the shoes of others and be thoughtful about what you post.
K = KEEP UP TO DATE:
One of the best things about Facebook is the ability to see what your friends, both near and far, are up to. People post
to share significant life moments and celebrations such as birthdays, weddings, births and holidays. It has also become a place to grieve loss and seek support.
L = LIKE:
If you wish to share your feelings about a post, hover your cursor over the word Like and it will give you six emoji options. From left to right; Like (thumbs up), Love (heart), Haha (laughing face), Wow (surprised face), Sad (crying face) or Angry (grumpy face).
M = MESSENGER:
The speech bubble icon located on the bar at the top is Facebook’s private messaging platform. Once you are connected (
Friends) with someone, you can talk to them one-on-one, or in a group, by typing messages or video calling them in Messenger.
N = NOTIFICATIONS:
When you log into Facebook, you’ll see the bell icon on the bar at the top of the screen has some numbers next to it. Those are how many notifications you have e.g.; someone has commented
on or liked
your post, a friend’s birthday, a reminder, etc.
O = OVERSEAS:
According to Facebook’s January 2020 statistics, there are more than 2 billion people around the world with a Facebook account. In the Oceania/Australia region, 54% of people have Facebook. That’s a lot of potential Friends
you can connect with.
P = POST:
Posting on your Timeline
is how you let your Facebook community know what’s happening in your life. Click on your name on the bar at the top, then start writing your message, thoughts or news to be shared, in the text box next to your profile picture.
Q = QUIZES:
Facebook isn’t just about sharing and interacting with posts. Use the search bar to find quizzes and games you can enjoy on your own. Once you have your quiz results, you can usually share them on your timeline, or invite others to play too.
R = RECOMMENDATIONS:
Once you have a group of friends on Facebook, you can ask your community for recommendations on anything from businesses to restaurants. On the left of your timeline is an Explore list, with options including the Recommendations tab.
S = SECURITY:
To protect your personal security online, make sure you have a strong password for your account. You should also have your privacy settings set so only those you want to see your posts, e.g.; your friends as opposed to the general public, can see them.
T = TIMELINE:
Your Timeline (or Home) is where you see everything your friends, or the companies you’re following, are posting. Scroll to see what’s going on in the world and interact by commenting
or liking
the posts which make you smile or think.
U = UNFOLLOW:
If you don’t like the posts filling your Timeline, you can unfollow the friend/s, or the company, whose content you don’t like. You’ll still remain Friends
with them, you just won’t see what they’re posting unless you search for their profile.
V = VIDEOS:
Videos are another way people can share what is happening in their lives. They can be added to a post, the same as a picture. Short videos are the easiest and quickest to upload and they should show a genuine side of your personality and life.
W = WHEN:
Facebook isn’t something that shuts down at night-time. It is always online. However, to know when your friends are also online, click the Chat box in the lower right-hand corner. Friends who are online while you are you will have a green dot next to their name.
X = Xactly WHAT YOU NEED RIGHT NOW:
During the social distancing/self-isolation restrictions of the current COVID-19 pandemic, Facebook is the perfect way to connect, communicate and cope with family and friends. Remember #weareallinthistogether
Y = YES, YOU CAN:
You don’t have to be a technology-whizz to use Facebook. The main features (posting
and commenting) are easy to get the hang of with a little practice. It is free to use and can be downloaded on your home computer, tablet or smart phone. Have a play with it and remember, you can’t break it!
Z = ZUCKERBERG:
Mark Zuckerberg is the man behind Facebook. He created Facebook while studying at Harvard University and whether you Like
it or not, Zuckerberg is now a multi-billionaire for giving the world one easy-to-use platform for business and personal connection.
To register for a Facebook profile, go to
www.facebook.com
and sign up. The Facebook application (app) can be download to your smart phone or tablet from the Apple or Samsung app store. To follow SQ Landscapes on Facebook, click the Facebook (f) icon below.