Facebook has changed our lives in many ways. We're now able to share everything from wedding pictures to what we ate for lunch with hundreds of friends and family members. For pet owners, that opens up a whole new venue for sharing our pets with the world around us. Here are some helpful tips on how to use Facebook to express your love for your pet.
Including the Addition of a Pet to Your Facebook Timeline: Life Event
To see this in action, watch this helpful YouTube video.
- Go to your profile page and locate the status box that says "What's on your mind?" Above that box you will see "Status," "Photo," "Place," and "Life Event."
- Click "Life Event." From there, click "Family & Relationships."
- On the right will be a list of options. Click "New Pet …"
- A box will load entitled "Got a Pet." Fill out as much or as little information as you want.
- To add a photo of your pet, you can choose one you have previously added to Facebook or upload a new one. Those options show in shaded blue boxes on the right.
- Once you have chosen your photo, you need to choose who you want to see this information. On the bottom right will be three boxes. The first will say "Public," which is the default, and means that this information is available for everyone to see. To change that, click on the drop-down arrow to reveal your other three choices: "Friends," "Friends except Acquaintances," or "Only Me." Click on the option you prefer.
- Once finished, be sure to click "Save." You have now added the addition of a pet to your Facebook Timeline.
Adding a Facebook Page for Your Pet
Some people have built a Facebook page for their pet. Although this is a growing trend, you need to be careful how you do it. Building a Facebook page for your pet as if he was human violates Facebook policy. You can, however, build a Facebook Fan Page for your pet, as Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Facebook, has done for his own dog, Beast. To build a Facebook Fan Page, start with the "Artist, Band, or Public Figure" option.
Additional Facebook Tips for Pet Owners
- For the highest emotional impact, choose close-up photos of your pet that lets his personality shine through.
- Just as you would for your own Facebook page, be sure not to "over share" personal information. Choose your privacy settings wisely, and remember that your pet's name should never be part of an online password, especially if all your Facebook friends know it!
Sources:
Catharine Smith, "Mark Zuckerberg's Dog: Meet 'Beast' on Facebook," HuffingtonPost.com