Module 13: Understanding Social Media

What you will learn: How to use Facebook and Instagram safely to stay connected with family and friends — including how to set your privacy so only the right people see your posts, how to spot fake profiles and scam accounts, how to share photos without oversharing, and how to buy and sell safely on Facebook Marketplace.

Person using a smartphone to connect with family on social media

⏱ About 30–40 minutes — go at your own pace

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Patricia's Story

Patricia, 71, lives in London, Ontario. Her daughter had set up a Facebook account for her so they could share family photos. Patricia was nervous at first — it all felt very public, very exposed. But she quickly discovered it was the only way to see real-time photos of her grandchildren in Calgary. Their first steps. Birthday cakes. School concerts. Things she would otherwise miss entirely.

Then one afternoon, a friend request arrived. The person looked legitimate — a profile photo of a smiling man, a reasonable name, a few posts about life in Ontario. Patricia nearly accepted. Something made her pause.

She looked more closely: the account was only three weeks old, had no mutual friends, and the photos all looked like they came from a magazine. It was a scam account — the kind used to build fake relationships and eventually ask for money.

Patricia pressed "Delete Request" and felt proud of herself. She had protected the connection she valued — without losing it. This module will give you the same tools she used.

Part 1: What Is Social Media?

Social media is the name for websites and apps where people share updates, photos, videos, and messages with each other. Instead of sending individual emails, you post something once and the people you choose can see it.

Think of it like a community bulletin board — but one that only shows updates from the people you have chosen to follow or connect with.

The Platforms Most Useful for Ontario Seniors

Why Bother?

You might wonder whether social media is worth the trouble. For many seniors, it genuinely is — it is often the easiest way to see grandchildren's milestones in real-time, join hobby groups (gardening, quilting, local history), stay informed about community events, and feel less isolated. The key is learning to use it on your own terms, with your privacy protected.

Common Misconception

"Once I post something, only my friends can see it." This is not automatically true. Your privacy settings determine who sees your posts — and the default on Facebook is often broader than you would expect. Part 3 of this module shows you exactly how to fix this.

Part 2: Getting Started with Facebook

If you already have a Facebook account, feel free to skip the "Creating an Account" section and go straight to understanding the key parts of the screen.

Creating a Facebook Account

Step-by-Step: Sign Up for Facebook

  1. On your iPad, iPhone, or computer, go to facebook.com — or open the Facebook app if it is already installed.
  2. Tap or click Create New Account.
  3. Enter your first name, last name, email address, a password you will remember, your date of birth, and your gender.
  4. Tap Sign Up. Facebook will send a confirmation code to your email — enter that code to verify your account.
  5. You do not need to add a phone number if you do not want to. You can skip optional steps by tapping Skip.
Profile vs. Page — What Is the Difference?

A Profile is a personal account — it is for you as an individual. A Page is for businesses, organisations, or public figures. You want a Profile. If Facebook asks whether you want to create a Page, tap Skip or go back.

Understanding the Main Screen

Friend Requests — Accepting, Declining, and Removing

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You are in control. You never have to accept a friend request from anyone. You can take as long as you like to decide, or simply decline without any explanation.

Part 3: Privacy Settings That Actually Matter

Privacy settings are the controls that decide who gets to see your information on Facebook. Getting these right is the single most important thing you can do to use Facebook safely.

Who Can See Your Posts?

Every time you write a post, Facebook asks who should see it. You have three main choices:

Our Recommendation

Set your default audience to "Friends" for all personal posts. You can always change it for individual posts if needed, but "Friends" is a sensible starting point that keeps strangers from seeing your life.

Step-by-Step: Checking Your Privacy Settings (Facebook Privacy Checkup)

Using Facebook's Built-In Privacy Checkup

  1. Tap your profile photo or the menu icon (☰) in the top right of Facebook.
  2. Scroll down and tap Settings & Privacy, then tap Settings.
  3. Tap Privacy (or search for "Privacy Checkup" using the search bar at the top).
  4. Tap Privacy Checkup. Facebook will walk you through the most important settings one at a time.
  5. For each question, choose the most restrictive option that still meets your needs — usually Friends.

Key Settings to Change Right Now

Your Old Posts May Still Be Public

Changing your default setting to "Friends" only affects new posts going forward. If you want to make old posts private too, go to Settings → Privacy → Limit Past Posts and tap Limit. This is optional, but a good idea if you have been posting publicly without realising it.

Part 4: Recognising Fake Profiles and Scams

Not everyone on Facebook is who they claim to be. Scammers create fake profiles specifically to target people — and they are often very convincing at first glance.

Red Flags of a Fake Profile

The Reverse Image Trick

If a profile photo looks too polished, you can check whether it is a stolen image. On a computer, right-click the profile photo and choose Search image (or save the image and go to images.google.com to upload it). If the same photo appears on dozens of different websites under different names, it is almost certainly fake.

Friend Request Scams and Romance Scams

The most common Facebook scam targeting older adults follows a predictable pattern:

  1. You receive a friend request from an attractive stranger — often posing as a widowed military veteran, a professional working abroad, or a lonely retiree.
  2. They are warm, attentive, and interested in your life. Conversations may go on for days or weeks.
  3. Eventually, an "emergency" arises — they need money for a flight to visit you, a medical bill, or a customs fee to release a package.
  4. They ask for an Interac e-transfer, gift cards (iTunes, Google Play, Amazon), or wire transfer. You send the money. They disappear.
This Is Very Common in Canada

The RCMP reports that romance scams cost Canadians over $50 million every year — and most victims never report it because they feel embarrassed. There is no shame in being targeted. These scammers are professional manipulators. The rule is simple: never send money to someone you have not met in person, no matter how convincing the story.

How to Report a Fake Profile or Suspicious Post

Reporting on Facebook

  1. Go to the profile or post you want to report.
  2. Tap the three dots (...) — they appear in the top right corner of any post, or on a profile when you tap the same icon.
  3. Tap Find support or report profile (or Report post).
  4. Choose the reason that best describes the problem — for example, Pretending to be someone or Scam or fraud.
  5. Follow the on-screen steps. Facebook reviews reports and removes accounts that violate their rules.
If Someone Is Pretending to Be You

If a scammer has created a fake account using your name and photos, report it to Facebook immediately via the Help Centre. You can also ask friends to report it — multiple reports speed up the review process. Visit facebook.com/help and search "report impersonation."

To report to Canadian authorities: Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre: 1-888-495-8501

Part 5: Sharing Photos Safely

Photos are one of the great joys of social media — seeing a grandchild's first day of school, a friend's new garden, or a lovely sunset. But before you post any photo, it is worth pausing for a moment.

Ask Yourself Before Posting

Setting the Privacy on a Photo Album

How to Choose Who Sees a Photo Album

  1. When creating a new photo album, Facebook will ask who should see it.
  2. Tap the audience selector (it may say "Friends" or show a small icon like a person or globe).
  3. Choose Friends for family photos. Choose Only Me for photos you are saving privately.
  4. For an existing album: tap on the album → tap the three dots (...) → tap Edit Album → change the audience.

Removing a Tag from a Photo

When someone "tags" you in a photo, your name is linked to that image and it may appear on your profile. You can remove tags you do not want.

How to Remove a Tag

  1. Find the photo you have been tagged in (it will appear in your notifications, or on your profile under Photos).
  2. Tap the photo to open it.
  3. Tap the three dots (...) or tap your name in the tag.
  4. Tap Remove Tag (or Options → Remove Tag).
  5. The tag is removed. The photo stays on the other person's page, but it is no longer linked to your profile.

Downloading a Photo from a Friend's Post

How to Save a Photo from Facebook

  1. Tap the photo to open it full screen.
  2. Tap the three dots (...) in the top right corner of the photo.
  3. Tap Download or Save Photo. The photo saves to your device's photo library.
Always Ask Before You Post Others' Photos

It is good practice to ask family members before posting photos of them — especially grandchildren. Some parents prefer their children not appear publicly online at all, even in friends-only posts.

Part 6: Dealing with Unwanted Contact

Sometimes someone on Facebook makes you feel uncomfortable — they post unkind things, keep sending messages you do not want, or just will not leave you alone. You have several tools to handle this, and you never have to explain yourself.

Unfriending vs. Blocking — What Is the Difference?

How to Block Someone

Blocking a Person on Facebook

  1. Go to their profile (tap their name anywhere you see it).
  2. Tap the three dots (...) near the top of their profile page.
  3. Tap Block.
  4. Confirm by tapping Block [their name].
  5. They are now blocked. The action is immediate and silent.

The "Snooze" Option — Take a Break Without Unfriending

If someone posts a lot and you find their posts annoying or upsetting — but you do not want to unfriend them (perhaps they are a family member) — you can Snooze them for 30 days.

How to Snooze Someone

  1. Find one of their posts in your News Feed.
  2. Tap the three dots (...) in the top right corner of their post.
  3. Tap Snooze [their name] for 30 days.
  4. Their posts disappear from your feed for 30 days. After that, things return to normal automatically. They never know you did this.

Reporting Harassment

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Remember: Blocking or reporting someone is always the right call if they are making you feel unsafe. You owe no one access to your online life.

Part 7: Facebook Marketplace Safety

Facebook Marketplace is a buy-and-sell feature built right into Facebook — think of it as a digital community garage sale. You can find furniture, appliances, vehicles, and more from people in your local area.

Many Ontario communities also have local Facebook Groups for buying and selling (for example, "St. Thomas Buy/Sell/Trade") — these often have more accountability because the group members know each other.

Safe Buying on Marketplace

Common Marketplace Scams

Gift Cards Are a Scam Signal

If anyone on Marketplace — or anywhere online — asks you to pay using iTunes gift cards, Google Play gift cards, or Amazon gift cards, stop immediately. No legitimate business or private seller accepts gift cards as payment. This is the single most common payment method used by scammers targeting older Canadians.

Safe Selling on Marketplace

Part 8: Instagram Basics

Instagram is a photo and short-video sharing app owned by the same company as Facebook (Meta). While it tends to attract a younger audience, many families use it to share everyday moments — and many seniors find it a lovely window into their grandchildren's lives.

How Instagram Differs from Facebook

Making Your Instagram Account Private

How to Set Your Account to Private

  1. Open the Instagram app and tap your profile photo in the bottom right corner.
  2. Tap the three lines (☰) in the top right corner.
  3. Tap Settings and privacy.
  4. Tap Account privacy.
  5. Turn on the Private account toggle. It will turn blue when active.
  6. Only people you approve can now follow you and see your posts.

Stories vs. Posts — What Is the Difference?

Direct Messages (DMs) — Be Cautious

Instagram has a private messaging feature called Direct Messages (DMs). If your account is private, only people you follow can message you. If it is public, anyone can send you a message request.

Watch for DM Scams

If a stranger sends you a message on Instagram that seems unexpectedly friendly, asks personal questions, or eventually requests money or personal information — this is a scam. The same romance scam pattern that exists on Facebook is also common on Instagram. Block and report suspicious accounts using the same three-dots (...) menu.

Following Family on Instagram

The easiest way to see your grandchildren's or children's Instagram posts is to ask them to share their username with you. Search for it in Instagram's search bar (the magnifying glass icon), tap their name, and tap Follow. If their account is private, they will receive a follow request to approve.

Your Progress Checklist

Tick each item when you feel confident about it:

Canadian Resources for Social Media Safety

If you would like more guidance on social media safety, or need to report something concerning, these Canadian resources are here to help:

  • Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre: 1-888-495-8501 — report social media scams, romance fraud, and fake accounts
  • Cyber-Seniors Canada: 1-844-217-3057 — free tech help from trained volunteers, including social media walkthroughs
  • Canadians Getting Connected: 1-855-808-0505 — free digital literacy coaching for seniors across Ontario
  • CyberTip.ca — report online exploitation or threats at cybertip.ca or call 1-866-658-9022
  • RCMP Social Media Safety Tips: Visit rcmp-grc.gc.ca and search "social media safety" for plain-language guidance

Related Modules

Module 2 The Security Shield Social media is a prime target for scammers — your security knowledge is essential for staying safe online. Module 3 Passwords & Biometrics A strong, unique password for each social media account stops hackers from taking over your profile. Module 9 Understanding AI AI-generated fake profiles and deepfake videos are increasingly common on social media — learn to spot them.
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