Step 1

First type www.facebook.com into the URL window or what’s called the Address Bar at the top of the screen.

Step 2

Fill in the form on the main page.

If you don’t already have an email address, check out the instructions on how to open a FREE GMail account, then come back to this lesson.

Avoid using anything too obvious for your password like “password” or your name. Use something memorable and meaningful to you or maybe your grade school mascot or favorite band — something you can remember but isn’t instantly obvious to others.

Fill in the correct responses for gender and birth date. This information won’t be displayed on your page (unless you want it to be).

Type the string of letters you see into the box. (This is a security check to prevent computer-generated spam.) If you can’t read the letters, click the “try different words” link to get new words. If you have speakers or headphones, there’s an audio link. It may take a time or two to get it right, but don’t give up!

Click “Sign up”.

Step 3

Facebook will send you an email to confirm that you are really you. Up near the top of the screen you’ll see a link that will take you to your email account, or you can just go there on your own. Look for an email from Facebook with the subject “Just one more step to get started on Facebook”. Open the email then click on the link to confirm.

Once you get past that, you’re in!

Facebook may already have a friend suggestion waiting for you. Feel free to add friends or skip that step. You can add friends at anytime.

Step 4

Now you can start filling out your profile, reaching out, searching for pals or family, groups, and organizations on Facebook, uploading photos, and joining in the endless activities that go on in this virtual community.

Most of the instructions are fairly simple and follow a 1-2-3 step process. Facebook has a Help Center that can answer many of your questions at www.facebook.com/help, and you can also post questions to the We Are Visible Community via Twitter or our Facebook page.

If you have text message service on your phone you may want to sign up for Facebook Mobile. You’ll be able to receive texts with your friends’ status updates and messages instantly and update your status and message friends using SMS text messages. You can always add or remove settings at anytime.

Let’s get social!