How to Find Your Friends on Facebook

Through June 2011, Facebook gained more than 10 million users a month.

Facebook gives you a way to connect with friends, no matter where your friends are living. The site offers you several ways to find long-lost friends from high school, college or previous jobs. Facebook can search your current friends' Friend List and suggest people you may know. "Friending" a person allows Facebook to send one request from your account to another Facebook account. That person must approve you as a friend.

Instructions

1. Log in to your Facebook account.

2. Click on the "Find Friends" link, found in the blue navigation bar in the upper-right portion of the screen.

3. Look through the list of suggested friends that Facebook has compiled, using the friends of the people you already know. Click the "Add Friend" link below the person's name to send a friend request.

4. Search for additional friends using the options on the left side of the screen. You can search by hometown, by your current city, by your school, or by employers past and present. The options are compiled from your profile information. Click into the empty box next to the option you want to search with. A checkmark will appear and the suggested people will appear.

5. Go to your profile page. Click on the "Friends" link on the left side of the window. This will bring up the option to search your personal email contacts for people on Facebook. Select the email account you want to use, such as Yahoo! Mail, Windows Live Hotmail or Skype. You will be prompted to log in to that email account.

6. Search a friend's Facebook Friends list to find mutual acquaintances. Go to your friend's Facebook page. Click on the "Friends" link in the left side of the window. Your friend's friends appear in alphabetical order by first name. To add a friend to your list, click on the "Add Friend" button to the right of the person's name.

Tips & Warnings

• If it's been a long time since you spoke to the person you want to send a friend request to, or you have changed your name, send a personal message with the request. This will help the person to recognize you and accept your request.

• You will not be notified if someone rejects your friend request.

• Always be careful when sharing personal information with people you don't know well.

References

• "Facebook"; The Facebook Blog - Organizing Your Connections on the New Friends Page; Kathy H. Chan; April 2009