subject: Learn How To Use Facebook Chat [print this page] You too can learn how to instant message on Facebook using the new Facebook Chat. It's pretty easy to use and a faster way to communicate with FB friends. Before all you could do was write on a friend's wall, send them a message or poke them, but within the last couple of years the popular social networking site has added an instant messaging capability.
If you're already a Facebook user there's nothing you have to install or download. All you need is a Facebook account to do it. Once you've logged in then you should be automatically logged into Facebook Chat. You can start chatting right away if you wish.
It shouldn't be too hard locating the Facebook Chat application. At the bottom right corner you'll find your Facebook Chat tools. One of the first three tools is the online friends tool, and it tells you which of your friends are online at the moment. Notifications is the next tool. It lets you know if you have any new Fb notifications. The third tool is the actual chat tool.
Before attempting to chat check and see which one of your friends is currently online and logged into chat. The "Online Friends" tools located at the bottom of your page allows you to do this. You can see who has a green dot next to their name and who has a regular grey moon. The green dot means that the user is currently online and you can begin chatting with them. A moon means the person hasn't been online for at least 10 minutes.
If your friend has a green dot try clicking on their name. A chat box will pop up, and you can begin typing your message in the box. Be sure to hit 'Enter' after each message you have typed. This is how you send a message. Now you have started to chat!
Even when your Facebook friends are not online you can send them a message. Find their name on the list then click on it. If you leave them a message they will get it when they come back online. It will show up at the bottom of their browser when they return, and they should receive a message in their inbox. They are still notified of your message though so they can chat back.
Some people like to be able to hear a notification sound when they get a new chat message but others don't. Some find it annoying after a while. If you prefer the message notification to be turned on silent just click on the chat menu and click on the settings link in the pop up bar. Here you can click on "Play Sounds for New Messages" to turn it on or off.
To enhance your chatting experience even more try using Facebook emoticons and smileys. There are so many to choose from. The emoticons are cute, fun and easy to create. You're probably familiar with the traditional smileys but there is a list of other customized emoticons just for Facebook. As you learn how to chat try learning the shortcuts for these cute little characters.
