16 Facebook Tricks You’ll Wish You Knew Sooner

1. More than just a social media site

What’s the first thing you do when you wake up and look at your bright phone? For many, it’s checking Facebook to see what’s new with friends or in the world. It’s a habit, but are there features you haven’t explored yet? Have you tried using Facebook’s "snooze" button for that friend who posts too much?

Facebook has been around since 2004. If you think back to that time, you might be surprised (or maybe not so surprised) by how much you’ve changed. Facebook has changed too, finding new ways to help, connect, and entertain you. There are hidden tricks and tools on the platform to make your online experience even better. Just make sure to avoid falling for those tempting Facebook scams!"

2. "Unfollowing: It's Like Unfriending, but Without the Drama!

We all have those Facebook friends whose posts annoy us or start arguments. Every time we see their posts, we cringe or get frustrated. You might even consider unfriending them to avoid the hassle. But if they're real-life friends or family, unfriending could cause problems. Here's a solution: Click the person symbol on their profile and select "Unfollow." You'll stop seeing their posts, you'll still be friends, and nobody's feelings get hurt. It's a win-win situation! And here's how to see who unfollowed you on Facebook."

3. "Finding Unanswered Friend Requests:

Go to your profile's "Friends" section. On a computer, it's on the left side of your home page; on a phone, it's near the top of the "Menu" page. There, you'll find "Friend Requests." You can see who sent requests to you, but you can also click on "View Sent Requests." On a computer, it's under the number of friend requests; on a phone, click "See All" and then the three dots on the upper right. When you click "View Sent Requests," you'll see who didn't accept your friend requests. It might sting a bit, but remember, it's their loss. You're better off without them. And speaking of being better off, here's why you should stop taking Facebook quizzes."

4. Deleting Your Facebook Search History:

Every Facebook user makes searches they might not want others to see, like looking up an ex's profile or NSFW content. But don't worry, you can get rid of them all. Click the downward arrow in the top right corner of your screen and go to "Activity Log." Then, click "More" under "Comments" and find "Search history." If there's a specific search you want to remove, look through the list and click the crossed circle next to it. Or, if you want to clear everything, just click "Clear searches" at the top. Want to keep your friend list private? Here's how to hide friends on Facebook.

5. Skipping Birthdays on Purpose:

It's a bit of a mixed feeling. On one side, we love being reminded of important birthdays so we can send a nice message and get some appreciation. But on the other hand, getting reminded of every distant acquaintance's birthday can be annoying. While you can't choose whose birthdays you're reminded of, you can turn off all birthday notifications. Just go to "Settings" (under the arrow in the top right corner), then "Notifications," and finally "On Facebook." There, you'll see everything you get notifications for, including birthdays. If you trust your memory, this could be a big change.

6: Putting Your Favorites First:

Whether you have 100 or 1,000 Facebook friends, you probably don't want to see every single thing they post. Luckily, you can prioritize the friends you really care about. In the "Friends" section of your profile, you'll see a box next to each name that says "Friends." Click on that and choose "Close friends" for the people you consider your closest pals. You'll get notifications whenever they post, and they'll be added to a special list called "Close Friends" so you can share things just with them. If you're ready to let go of some old friends, you can also learn how to delete them in bulk.

7. Seeing more of what you love

Mark Zuckerberg, who runs Facebook, has a special system that decides what you see first on your feed when you log in. It's always changing to show you more of what you like and less of what you don’t. If you want to see more posts from a page, like Reader’s Digest, just go to their Facebook page, click "Following," and then choose "See first." This means their new posts will show up at the top of your feed. This says something about what you like on social media.

8. Getting Ready for the Future: Planning Just in Case:

Talking about sad things like death is tough, but it's important to plan for the future, just in case. Facebook has a feature called Legacy Contact. This is someone you trust to manage your account if something happens to you. They can't post as you, but they can do things like pin a post about your memorial service or change your profile picture. To set up a Legacy Contact, go to your "General Account Settings" and then "Manage Your Account." You can also ask for your account to be deleted after you're gone.

9. Keeping Up with What’s Happening: Getting and Staying Informed:

Did you know that Facebook can keep you updated on your local government? It's true! The app gathers information to help you stay informed, connect with others, and even participate in voting. Just go to facebook.com/townhall and enter your address to find out who your local, state, and federal representatives are. You can also sign up for reminders about upcoming elections to make sure you don't miss your chance to vote.

10. Helping You Learn a Language:

Facebook is used by about 2 billion people all over the world. That's a lot of users! To make sure everyone can use it, Facebook is available in many different languages. In fact, as of 2020, there are about 101 languages you can choose from on Facebook. There are over 300,000 translators who work to keep everything running smoothly. If you want to practice a new language, you can try using it on social media. Or if you just want to have some fun, you can switch your Facebook language to "Pirate" or "Upside Down." Just go to "Settings" and select "Language" to explore all the options. Just be careful of online scams and stay safe!

11. Stopping Videos from Playing Automatically

Turning off auto-play is quick and easy. If you're using Facebook on your computer, go to "Settings," then "Videos," and switch the "Auto-Play Videos" setting from "Default" to "Off." On your phone, it's just as simple. For iPhone users, find "Settings," then "Account Settings," then "Videos and Photos," and turn off auto-play. Android users can go to "App Settings" and then "Autoplay." That's it! Now you won't have videos playing without your permission.

12. Keeping Your Favorite Stuff for Later

Did you know you can save posts on Facebook to read them later? It's super easy! Just look for the three dots in the top right corner of any post. Click on them and choose "Save." The post will then be saved in a folder called "Saved," which you can find on the left side of your screen under "Explore." You can read these saved posts whenever you want, and if you ever want to remove them, just click "Unsave." It's a handy way to keep track of things you want to check out later.

13.Taking a Look Back at Your Memories

If you're in a relationship, going to facebook.com/us will show you a timeline of your Facebook history with your partner. It includes photos, posts, and other sweet moments you've shared online. But if you're single, going to that link will just remind you of your relationship status on your profile. It's a nice way to reminisce about your love story, or maybe it's a reminder to enjoy your single life. Either way, it's interesting to see your past on Facebook.

14.Exploring Live Streams Around the Globe

Did you know you can watch live videos from all over the world on Facebook? Just go to facebook.com/livemap, and you'll see a map with blue dots representing live streams happening in real time. You can zoom in and out of the map to find streams in different areas. The bigger the dot, the more people are watching. Hover your mouse over a dot to see a preview of what's being streamed. It could be anything from makeup tutorials to local news events or just someone chatting with people online. It's a cool way to see what's happening around the world right now.

15:Keeping Your Account Safe

It's really important to keep your personal information safe online. Facebook can help you check if someone has accessed your account without your permission. Just go to "Settings," then "Security and Login." Look for "Where You're Logged In." You'll see a list of devices that have accessed your account and where they're located. If you notice anything suspicious, like a device you don't recognize or a location you haven't been to, click on the three dots next to it and select "Not you?" This will prompt you to change your password, so whoever accessed your account won't be able to do it again. It's a good idea to regularly check for any unusual activity to keep your account safe.

16:Finding Hidden Messages

Did you know there might be messages waiting for you on Facebook that you didn't even know about? When you open Messenger, you'll see your recent messages. But there's more to it! Look for "Message Requests." These are messages from people who want to connect with you but aren't on your friend list yet. If you recognize the sender, you can accept the message and start chatting. If not, you can decline and move on. There's also a "See Filtered Requests" option where Facebook puts messages it thinks might be spam. It's kind of like a hidden inbox. So, next time you're on Facebook, make sure to check for these hidden messages!