Facebook Guide (2026): What Parents, Educators & Students Need to Know

Your Teen’s Facebook Profile Is Their Digital Resume

• Facebook may not be the most popular app among teens, but it can still impact their safety and online reputation. Profiles, posts, photos, and comments can shape how others, including schools and employers, view them
• Facebook makes it easy for teens to connect, share, and join communities, but not everyone online has good intentions. Strangers, unwanted messages, and public interactions can create safety concerns
• What teens share on Facebook can follow them long after they post it. Location details, tagged photos, and public posts can affect their digital footprint and future opportunities
• Facebook’s algorithms and data collection influence what teens see and how they use the platform. Understanding privacy settings, ads, and content recommendations helps families make informed choices
• Learning how to use Facebook responsibly can help teens build positive online habits. With the right conversations and safety settings, Facebook can be used to connect, learn, showcase achievements, and build a strong digital presence

The Facebook Conversation Every Parent Needs

Facebook Connects Millions of People Every Day

• Facebook is a free social media app that lets people connect with “Friends,” share updates, and join online communities
• Users can post text, photos, and videos for friends (on a private account) or for a wider audience (on a public account)
• The Feed includes content from friends, groups, pages, and ads or sponsored posts
• Facebook also offers features such as livestreams, “stories,” event listings, a Marketplace for buying and selling items, and casual games. However, its gaming features are generally not popular with teens, who prefer other gaming platforms
• The platform can be a valuable tool for students who use it professionally, for example, by keeping a clean, public profile that highlights leadership roles, volunteer work, or achievements. A private account, on the other hand, limits visibility to approved friends only
• As of 2024, just about one-third of U.S. teens say they have ever used Facebook; only about one-fifth use it daily (source: Pew Research Center)
• Facebook is part of Meta, which also owns Messenger, Messenger Kids, Instagram, WhatsApp, Threads, and Quest (Oculus VR)

Facebook's Ratings, Devices, and Parent Resources

• ‍Apple App Store Rating: 13+
• ‍Google Play Rating: T (For Teen)
• App Developer website: Meta (formerly Facebook, Inc.) (Based in the USA)
• Terms of Service
• Data Policy
• Facebook’s Family Safety Center

The App Parents Stopped Worrying About, But Shouldn't

• It’s easy for strangers, not just confirmed friends,  to find a teen’s account and send private messages, potentially leading to unwanted contact or safety risks
• Others can tag a teen in public photos, which may reflect poorly on them or appear in public search results
• Facebook collects user data, and concerns remain about how that data may be used (e.g., for targeted advertising or content recommendation)
• The platform’s algorithms influence what users see, including content that might be misleading, inappropriate, or harmful
• Oversharing personal information or opinions, even if harmless in the moment, can have long-term consequences, especially when colleges or employers look online
• Groups and discussions on Facebook offer opportunities to learn—but not all information is credible. Discernment is needed
• Because Facebook profiles often appear near the top of Google search results, what your student posts can shape their “online reputation”
• Heavy or unsupervised social-media use, on Facebook or any platform, raises concerns about mental health, well-being, and digital boundaries

How Scammers Trick People on Facebook Marketplace

Facebook Marketplace can be a great place to find deals on pre-owned items, furniture, electronics, and other discounted goods. However, as with any online marketplace, users should stay alert to possible scams. Here are some signs an offer may not be legitimate and tips to help families stay safe:

Red Flags

• Prices that seem too good to be true
• Sellers who refuse to meet in person
• Requests to pay or communicate outside Facebook/Messenger (text, WhatsApp, Zelle, gift cards, etc.)
• Newly created or nearly empty profiles
• Vague answers, inconsistent details, or pressure to act quickly

Safer Practices

• Keep communication and payment within Facebook/Messenger
• See the item in person before paying
• Check the seller’s profile (account age, activity, number of friends, Marketplace history)
• Walk away if anything feels off

Building Healthy Facebook Habits at Home

• SmartSocial recommends parents talk early with teens bout what kind of content is appropriate to post, and discuss examples (good and bad)
• Explain the risks of accepting “Friends” or messages from people they don’t know in real life
• Encourage regular reviews of Privacy Settings, especially after app updates or large changes (like adding many friends). No setting can replace good judgment
• Help your teen learn to evaluate information credibility, especially in groups or discussions—before accepting or sharing ideas

How Facebook Can Help Students Learn, Connect, and Grow

• Use the account to showcase strengths, like volunteer work, hobbies, accomplishments, or creative projects
• Periodically check what public profile or posts look like (or even view the account in an “incognito/private” browser). Ask: “If a college admissions officer or employer saw this, what would they think?”
• Un-tag or ask friends to remove photos/comments that might no longer reflect who your teen is or want to be
• Encourage thoughtful, respectful posting, instead focus on authenticity rather than popularity or validation

What Facebook Can Reveal to Colleges and Employers

A student’s Facebook profile can offer a surprisingly detailed picture of who they are, including:

• Real names and nicknames
• Friends and influencers they follow or interact with
• Interests, hobbies, and activities
• Personal photos and travel history
• Personality, shown through status updates and comments

Think Before You Share: Protecting Your Digital Reputation

• Never use the “check-in” feature, it reveals your location
• Ask friends not to share or tag your private information on social media
• Avoid posting about breaking school rules, teachers, principals, and college admissions officers can discover your page
• Be cautious about party pictures. If you’re tagged in photos showing underage drinking or illegal activities, you could face consequences even if you didn’t participate

How to Audit Your Facebook Activity

While deleting old posts might not remove them entirely from the internet, cleaning up your profile helps control what recruiters and admissions officers see:

1. In the Facebook app, go to Settings & Privacy > Your Information > Activity Log
2. Review sections like Your Posts, Activity You're Tagged In, Interactions, Groups, Events and Reels, Profile Information, and Connections
3. Consider removing anything that doesn’t reflect your current values or positively represent you

7 Social Media Tips for Teens on Facebook

• Don’t include your middle name on your profile or any social media account
• Avoid using the “check-in” feature from your home or allowing friends to do so
• Don’t share vacation plans or travel dates publicly to avoid signaling when your home may be empty
• Ask friends to respect your privacy and keep your information off their posts
• Remind your teen that teachers, principals, and even parents can see their profile, so following school rules online matters
• Be very cautious about party photos: if tagged in pictures involving drinking or drugs, your teen could face trouble, even if they didn’t participate
• Encourage your teen to think before posting: everything online can potentially be seen by important decision-makers

The Social Media Mistakes That Can Come Back Later

• Open the Facebook app and tap the three horizontal lines (menu icon), usually in the bottom right corner on iOS or top right on Android. Scroll down and tap Settings & Privacy, then tap Settings. Under Audience and Visibility, select Followers and Public Content
• Review and adjust these important settings:‍
• Who Can Follow Me? (choose “Friends” or “Public”)‍
• Who Can See the People, Pages, and Lists You Follow?
• Public Post Comments (who can comment on your public posts)‍
• Public Post Notifications (who gets notified about your public activity)‍
• Public Profile Info (what information is visible publicly)

Additional privacy tips

• Consider keeping the most restrictive settings—such as limiting followers to “Friends” or “No One”, until your student is ready to build a public presence with a clear plan for sharing and monitoring
• Remember that Facebook’s interface updates regularly, so menu names or locations may change slightly, look for similar wording if you don’t see these exact options
• Encourage reviewing privacy settings periodically, especially after app updates
• Keep in mind no privacy setting is completely foolproof; combining strong settings with thoughtful posting habits provides the best protection

Additional permissions to consider

There are many additional privacy settings available, including:

• Ad preferences
• Reviewing tags
• Location
• Active Status

Additional Resources

Shine Online: Positive Impact of Social Media and Screen Time

Instagram App Guide: What Parents, Educators, & Students Need to Know

Messenger Kids: Facebook Chat App for Younger Children

Conclusion

Facebook can be a great tool to help students Shine Online™, even if it's no longer teens' first choice when it comes to social media. It still maintains a wide reach among adults, making Facebook, when used wisely and with intention, a great place to make a good impression on people such as college admissions officers, potential employers, and others.

Facebook can offer students a great way to share their strengths and goals. But like all social media platforms, it should be used in moderation. Continuous scrolling can lead users to compare themselves to others and to lose interest in offline activities. Students should remember to always stay smart about what they post and to never let Facebook, or any social media app, dominate their life.