Annabelle MortensenSkokie Public LibraryDecember 13, 2010

Agenda

• What is Facebook?

• Creating a profile

• Live demonstration of the basics: navigating the site, finding friends, writing status updates, sharing photos and video

• Privacy settings and best practices

• Q&A

What is Facebook?

• Free social networking site founded in 2004 by Harvard student Mark Zuckerberg.

• Originally limited to colleges; now open to anyone who registers.

 • Currently 500 million registered users;

approximately 70 percent outside the United States. Largest segment of new registrations are adults 65 and older.

What can you do on Facebook• Keep up with friends, family and

acquaintances around the world by sharing updates, photos, videos, articles and more

• Send a private message or chat in real-time with your friends

 • Connect with people you've lost touch

with • Stay up to date with your favorite

businesses, organizations, causes and celebrities

• Play games, send invitations, locate friends at your favorite places and more

(Mild) disclaimer

• Like many websites, Facebook is constantly evolving. Controls change or are renamed, new tools are introduced, and the company may alter the look of a page or function. 

 • This class is intended as an overview on the

basic principles of Facebook. For up-to-date instruction on any element of the site, click on the Help link at the bottom of any Facebook page (you do not need to be registerd or logged in to search or view Facebook's Help area).

Signing up to Facebook (Creating a profile)

• Users must be 13 years old and have a valid email address. 

 • In theory, you must be yourself--no aliases or

multiple accounts  • Sign up form appears on the Facebook

homepage (www.facebook.com). Aside from providing your name and email, you'll also be prompted to search for friends, provide school and employment information and submit a profile photo.

 

Now what?

• Navigating the site. • Sharing information.

  • Managing your notification settings

through the My Account page.

Privacy

"Facebook's policies, more than those of any other company, are helping define the standards for privacy in the Internet age."                                  --The New York Times 

 

Privacy, cont.

• Facebook gives users control over their profiles and the way their personal information is shared. However, you are not prompted to view or alter these settings when you sign up.

• These settings can be managed through the account tab at the top left of your profile page.

 • Review your settings every few months

to ensure that they meet your needs

 

Protecting your info

• Under My Account>Settings, create a security question (under Security Question) and sign up for login notifications (under Account Security)

 • Under Privacy Settings, check settings

under Connecting on Facebook, Sharing on Facebook (choose Customize Settings) and Applications and Websites.

Other ways to stay safe

Use common sense!

•  Give yourself a unique password that you only use for Facebook

 • Don't list your home address or mention

that you'll be away from home • Don't reveal compromising information

from your wild days.

Choose your friends wisely!

• Remember you only control your own security settings. A comment you make on a friend's wall or photo may be visible to the world. Proceed accordingly.

 • Don't assume that your friends' security

settings are as strong as yours. If you see something suspicious (such as receiving a message or link that seems like spam), their account may have been hacked. Notify them and report it to Facebook (detail available on Help page).

And an additional (beyond the basics) tip:

• Facebook allows you to create hierarchies of friends so that information can be shared selectively. You can create a Group or a List to separate family, work friends, former classmates, etc. You can also hide a particular person or persons from receiving a piece of information. Go to the Help area to learn more about how to set up Groups and/or Lists.

Questions?

• Slides and handouts available at www.skokielibrary.info

 • Contact me at

amortensen@skokielibrary.info • Visit the Help section on Facebook.com

 • SPL cardholders can access an extensive

Facebook tutorial from home through the Lynda.com database, available on our website