How to Make a Facebook Account

Does it seem like everyone you know is on Facebook? If you would like to check out what all the buzz is about and connect with all of your friends online, why don't you create a Facebook account? Creating an account is quick, fun, and easy (but once you have one, you might spend a lot more time than you thought, building your profile page and connecting with friends). To learn how to make a Facebook account and begin sharing information with friends and family, follow the steps outlined here.

Facebook is a social networking site that allows people to connect with current and long-lost friends and other people they know. If you want to join Facebook but are unfamiliar with the process, you might think it's complicated or time-consuming. Good news: joining Facebook is easy and only take a few minutes.

How to Make a Facebook Account

To create a new Facebook account, simply follow the steps outlined on this page and in this video tutorial. Facebook connects millions of users and allows people to connect through social media. Once you have created an account, you can share photos, video clips and more with your Facebook friends. You can search for friends and family using their name or email address.

Step 1: Before You Start

• There are some things to keep in mind before you join Facebook.

1. Signing up for an account is 100% free.
2. You need to be 13 years old older to join.¹
3. You need a valid email address to sign up for Facebook.
4. You can only use the same email address once; if you already have a Facebook account and want to create an additional once, you need to use another email address.

Step 2: Signing Up

• To create a Facebook account, you will first need to sign up for one.

1. Visit Facebook's homepage.² You will be greeted by the sign up field.
2. Type in name, email address, password of choice, sex and birthday.
3. Facebook will send you a registration email next. Log in to your email account and click on the link in the email.
4. After signing up, you can start to customize your profile page and add friends.
5. When you first sign in, you will be asked to join a regional network. If you choose to do so, your profile page will be accessible to others in the network.

Step 3: After Signing Up

• Completing the basic sign-up process is only the first step in making a Facebook account. After creating a basic account, you will need to add friends and expand your profile page to make the best use of your account.

1. Facebook is meant mostly for people who want to connect with people they know. You can therefore not view someone's profile page until you become friends or they send you a message, unless you join a Facebook regional network.
2. If you want to add someone as a friend, choose "Add as Friend" after finding the person. The person has the option of declining your request.
3. If you are not sure if the person will know or remember who you are, you can send them a message before you ask to add them as a friend. This allows them to view your basic profile information for one month.
4. You can search for friends by name, use the friend finder to search through the addresses in your email account or search for friends by school or workplace.

Privacy Settings

Facebook users can control which groups can see their information and photos through the use of privacy settings. These options can be accessed by clicking on "Privacy Settings" under the "Account" tab. Here, you can customize the settings for each group of friends and members of your network, controlling who sees what information and who has access to your photo albums. When users first sign-up with Facebook, their accounts are automatically set to default settings.³ The Privacy Settings section is also where users can create and edits Block Lists for individuals they choose to block their profiles from, and edit settings for applications and games.

Conclusion

• Signing up for Facebook is quick and only takes a few minutes. After you signed up, you should spend some time adding friends to your account, however, so that you can enjoy Facebook fully.