How to Use Facebook for Beginners (A Senior-Friendly Guide)

Facebook is the most popular social media platform in the world, and millions of people over 60 use it every single day. Whether you want to keep in touch with grandchildren, reconnect with old school friends, or simply see what is happening in your local community, Facebook makes it easy.

If you have never used Facebook before, or you signed up years ago and never quite figured it out, this guide is for you. We will walk through everything step by step, in plain English, with no tech jargon.

What Is Facebook and Why Do People Use It?

Facebook is a free website (and phone app) where you can share updates, photos, and messages with friends and family. Think of it as a giant notice board where everyone you know can post news, pictures, and thoughts, and you can see it all in one place.

Here is why millions of seniors love Facebook:

• Stay connected with family who live far away
• See photos and videos of grandchildren growing up
• Reconnect with old friends from school, work, or the military
• Join hobby groups for gardening, cooking, knitting, birdwatching, and more
• Follow local news and community events
• Buy and sell items in your neighbourhood through Marketplace

The best part? It is completely free to use.

Creating Your Facebook Account

To get started, you need to create an account. Here is how:

On a Computer

1. Open your web browser (Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, or Safari)
2. Go to www.facebook.com
3. You will see a sign-up form on the page
4. Fill in your first name and last name (use your real name so friends can find you)
5. Enter your email address or mobile phone number
6. Choose a password (make it strong and unique — see our guide on how to create strong passwords)
7. Enter your date of birth and select your gender
8. Click the green Sign Up button
9. Facebook will send a confirmation code to your email or phone. Enter that code to verify your account

On a Phone or Tablet

1. Download the Facebook app from the App Store (iPhone/iPad) or Google Play Store (Android). If you are not sure how to download apps, read our guide on how to download apps safely
2. Open the app and tap Create New Account
3. Follow the same steps as above

Tip: Write down your email and password in a safe place. You will need them every time you log in on a new device.

Setting Up Your Profile

Once your account is created, it is time to make your profile look like you. Your profile is like your personal page on Facebook. It tells people who you are.

Adding a Profile Photo

1. Click or tap on your name at the top of the page
2. Click the camera icon on your profile picture
3. Choose Upload Photo
4. Select a nice, clear photo of yourself. A headshot where your face is easy to see works best
5. Adjust the cropping if needed and click Save

Having a photo helps old friends recognise you when they search for your name.

Adding a Cover Photo

The cover photo is the large banner image at the top of your profile. You can use a favourite holiday photo, a picture of your garden, or anything you like.

1. Click Add Cover Photo at the top of your profile
2. Choose Upload Photo and select an image
3. Position it how you like and click Save Changes

Filling In Your Bio

Your bio is a short description that appears on your profile. Keep it simple:

1. Click Edit Profile on your profile page
2. Under Bio, write a sentence or two. For example: "Retired teacher. Proud grandmother of four. Love gardening and crossword puzzles."
3. You can also add your hometown, where you went to school, and where you worked. This helps old friends find you
4. Click Save

Finding and Adding Friends

Facebook is much more enjoyable when you are connected with people you know. Here is how to find them.

Searching for People

1. Click the search bar at the top of the page
2. Type the name of the person you are looking for
3. Look through the results. Profile photos and location details can help you find the right person
4. When you find them, click the Add Friend button next to their name

The other person will receive a friend request. Once they accept it, you will be connected and can see each other's posts.

Accepting Friend Requests

If someone sends you a friend request:

1. Click the people icon (it looks like two silhouettes) at the top of the page
2. You will see a list of requests
3. Click Confirm to accept, or Delete to decline

Important: Only accept friend requests from people you actually know. We will cover safety tips in more detail later in this guide.

People You May Know

Facebook suggests people you might know based on mutual friends, your school, your workplace, or your location. You will see these suggestions on your home page. If you recognise someone, go ahead and send them a friend request.

Understanding the News Feed

The News Feed is the main page you see when you open Facebook. It is a scrolling list of posts from your friends, groups you have joined, and pages you follow.

Here is what you might see in your News Feed:

• Text posts from friends sharing their thoughts
• Photos and videos from family members
• Articles and links shared by friends or news pages
• Advertisements (these are marked as "Sponsored")
• Group posts from groups you belong to

You can scroll down through the feed by using your mouse wheel on a computer, or by swiping up with your finger on a phone.

Tip: Facebook decides what to show you based on what you interact with most. The more you like, comment on, or share posts from a particular friend, the more you will see their updates.

Posting on Facebook

Now for the fun part: sharing your own updates.

Writing a Text Post

1. At the top of your News Feed, you will see a box that says "What's on your mind?"
2. Click or tap on it
3. Type your message. For example: "Had a lovely walk in the park this morning. The daffodils are beautiful!"
4. Click the Post button

Sharing Photos and Videos

1. Click on "What's on your mind?"
2. Click the Photo/Video button (it has a green icon)
3. Select the photos or videos from your device. If you want to learn more about managing your photos, check out our guide on how to organise photos on your phone
4. Add a caption if you like, such as "Sunday lunch with the family"
5. Click Post

Choosing Who Sees Your Post

Before you click Post, look for a small button that might say Friends, Public, or Only Me. Click it to choose who can see your post:

• Public means anyone on Facebook can see it
• Friends means only your Facebook friends can see it
• Only Me means nobody else can see it (useful for saving something privately)

We recommend setting most posts to Friends for a good balance of sharing and privacy.

Liking, Commenting, and Sharing

Interacting with other people's posts is the heart of Facebook.

Liking a Post

Underneath every post, you will see a thumbs up icon labelled Like. Click or tap it to show that you enjoyed the post. The person who posted it will be notified that you liked it.

If you press and hold the Like button, you will see other reactions you can choose, such as a heart (Love), a laughing face (Haha), a surprised face (Wow), a sad face (Sad), or an angry face (Angry).

Writing a Comment

1. Click Comment under a post
2. Type your message in the comment box
3. Press Enter on your keyboard or tap the send arrow on your phone

Comments are a wonderful way to stay in touch. A simple "Looks lovely!" or "Happy birthday!" can make someone's day.

Sharing a Post

If you see something you think your friends would enjoy, click the Share button under the post. You can share it to your own timeline, in a message, or in a group.

Facebook Messenger Basics

Messenger is Facebook's messaging feature. It lets you send private messages to one person or a group, much like texting but through Facebook.

Sending a Message

1. Click the Messenger icon (a speech bubble with a lightning bolt) at the top of the page
2. Click New Message
3. Type the name of the person you want to message
4. Type your message and press Enter or tap the send button

What You Can Send

• Text messages
• Photos and videos
• Voice messages (tap the microphone icon)
• Video calls (tap the camera icon to start a face-to-face video chat)

Messenger is excellent for having private conversations that you do not want on your public timeline. Many families create group chats in Messenger to stay in touch.

Messenger on Your Phone

You can download the separate Messenger app on your phone for easier access. It works just like texting and sends you notifications when you receive a new message.

Joining Facebook Groups

Groups are one of the best features on Facebook, especially for seniors. A group is a space where people with a common interest can share posts, ask questions, and chat.

Types of Groups You Might Enjoy

• Hobby groups such as gardening, knitting, cooking, photography, or birdwatching
• Local community groups for your town, village, or neighbourhood
• Family groups where your family can share photos and plan events privately
• Support groups for health conditions, retirement, or bereavement
• Buy and sell groups for your local area

How to Find and Join a Group

1. Click the Groups icon in the left-hand menu (or the menu bar at the bottom on a phone)
2. Use the search bar to look for topics you are interested in, such as "gardening tips" or your town's name
3. Browse the results and click on a group that looks interesting
4. Read the group description to make sure it suits you
5. Click Join Group

Some groups let you in straight away. Others require an administrator to approve your request, which can take a day or two.

Group Etiquette

• Read the group rules before posting (usually pinned at the top)
• Be polite and respectful, even if you disagree with someone
• Avoid sharing personal information like your address or phone number in a public group

Privacy Settings: Keeping Control of Your Information

Privacy is extremely important on Facebook. The good news is that you have full control over who sees what. Here is how to check and adjust your settings.

Accessing Privacy Settings

1. Click your profile picture in the top right corner
2. Click Settings & Privacy, then Settings
3. Click Privacy in the left-hand menu

Key Settings to Check

Who can see your future posts?

Set this to Friends. This means only people you have accepted as friends can see what you post.

Who can send you friend requests?

You can choose Everyone or Friends of Friends. Setting it to Friends of Friends cuts down on requests from strangers.

Who can look you up using your email or phone number?

Set this to Friends if you do not want strangers finding your profile through your email.

Do you want search engines to link to your profile?

We recommend turning this off. This stops your Facebook profile from appearing in Google search results.

Blocking Someone

If someone is bothering you:

1. Go to their profile
2. Click the three dots button
3. Select Block
4. Confirm your choice

A blocked person cannot see your profile, send you messages, or interact with you in any way.

Facebook Marketplace Basics

Marketplace is a section of Facebook where people buy and sell items locally. It is similar to a car boot sale, but online.

Browsing Marketplace

1. Click the Marketplace icon (it looks like a little shop) in the menu
2. Browse items near you, or use the search bar to find something specific
3. Click on an item to see details, photos, and the seller's profile

Buying Something

1. Click Message Seller on the item you are interested in
2. Ask any questions and arrange a pickup time and location
3. Always meet in a public place and bring someone with you if possible
4. Pay in cash or use the payment method the seller prefers

Selling Something

1. Click Create New Listing in Marketplace
2. Add clear photos of your item
3. Write a description and set a fair price
4. Choose your location and click Publish

Safety tip: Never share your bank details or send money in advance to someone on Marketplace.

Facebook Events

Events is a feature that lets you discover things happening near you or create your own events.

Finding Events

1. Click Events in the left-hand menu
2. Browse events near your location
3. Click on one for more details

Responding to Event Invitations

When a friend invites you to an event, you can respond with:

• Going (you plan to attend)
• Interested (you might attend)
• Can't Go (you will not attend)

Creating Your Own Event

1. Click Events, then Create Event
2. Add a name, date, time, location, and description
3. Choose whether it is Public (anyone can see it) or Private (only invited people)
4. Invite your friends and click Create

This is great for organising birthday parties, book club meetings, coffee mornings, or family get-togethers.

Staying Safe on Facebook

The internet is a wonderful place, but it is important to stay alert. Here are the most important safety tips for using Facebook.

Watch Out for Scam Accounts

Scammers sometimes create fake profiles to trick people. Warning signs include:

• A profile with very few photos or friends
• Someone you do not know sending you a friend request with a flattering message
• Anyone who quickly asks for money or personal details
• Messages claiming you have won a prize or lottery

Rule of thumb: If something seems too good to be true, it probably is.

Be Careful with Misinformation

Not everything you see on Facebook is true. Before sharing an article or claim:

• Check if it comes from a trusted news source
• Look for the same story on other reputable websites
• Be wary of posts that use lots of capital letters or exclamation marks to create urgency
• Visit our guide on how to tell if a website is safe for more tips

Reporting Problems

If you see something on Facebook that concerns you:

1. Click the three dots in the top right corner of the post
2. Select Report Post
3. Follow the prompts to tell Facebook what is wrong

Facebook reviews reports and removes content that breaks their rules.

General Safety Tips

• Never share your password with anyone
• Do not post your home address, phone number, or financial details publicly
• Be cautious about checking in to locations in real time, as this tells people where you are
• Log out of Facebook when using a public or shared computer
• Turn on two-factor authentication in your security settings for extra protection (this sends a code to your phone when someone tries to log in)

Facebook on Phone vs Computer

You can use Facebook on both your computer and your phone. Each has its strengths.

On a Computer

• Larger screen makes it easier to read posts and look at photos
• Easier to type long messages or comments using a full keyboard
• Better for managing settings as all options are clearly visible
• Access it by going to www.facebook.com in your web browser

On a Phone or Tablet

• Always with you so you can check Facebook on the go
• Camera access makes it easy to take and share photos instantly
• Push notifications alert you immediately when someone messages or tags you
• Messenger app works as a separate texting-style app for quick chats

Most people use both. You might browse Facebook on your tablet in the morning with a cup of tea, then check Messenger on your phone during the day.

Quick Summary: Your First Week on Facebook

Here is a simple plan to get comfortable with Facebook over your first week:

Day 1: Create your account and add a profile photo

Day 2: Search for and add a few close friends and family members

Day 3: Scroll through your News Feed and like a few posts

Day 4: Write your first post, even something simple like "Hello everyone! I've just joined Facebook."

Day 5: Send a message to a friend or family member using Messenger

Day 6: Search for and join a group that matches one of your hobbies

Day 7: Review your privacy settings using the steps above

Take it at your own pace. There is no rush, and you will get more comfortable every day.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Facebook free to use?

Yes, Facebook is completely free. You do not need to pay anything to create an account, post updates, message friends, or join groups. Facebook makes its money through advertising, which is why you will see sponsored posts in your News Feed. You never have to click on or buy anything from these advertisements.

Can I use Facebook without everyone seeing my information?

Absolutely. Facebook gives you full control over your privacy. You can set your posts to be visible only to friends, hide your profile from search engines, and control who can send you friend requests. We recommend going through the privacy settings section of this guide to make sure you are comfortable with your choices.

What is the difference between a Facebook Profile, Page, and Group?

A Profile is your personal account where you share updates with friends. A Page is for businesses, celebrities, or organisations (you can follow a Page to see their updates). A Group is a community of people who share a common interest. You might have a Profile, follow several Pages (like your local library or favourite TV show), and be a member of several Groups.

What should I do if I think my account has been hacked?

If you notice posts you did not write, messages you did not send, or if you cannot log in, your account may have been compromised. Go to facebook.com/hacked immediately. Facebook will guide you through securing your account. Change your password straight away and turn on two-factor authentication. If you are locked out completely, follow the on-screen instructions to verify your identity and regain access.

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Facebook is a brilliant way to stay connected with the people you care about. Start with the basics, take your time, and before long you will wonder how you ever managed without it. If you found this guide helpful, share it with a friend who might be thinking about joining Facebook too.