Learn How to Change Your Name on Facebook

As the subtitle noted, it is extremely important to maintain a PG-rated Facebook page, especially if you are applying for jobs, graduate programs, volunteer positions, or other notable activities. Social networks, although once considered private, are often used by employers (and others) to judge a person’s character. Being disrespectful online, posting about your hard-partying ways, and bad-mouthing others are surefire ways to not getting a new job or into a new program, or being fired from your current job.

The Issue with Facebook
Facebook has been around for more than ten years. As a result, it is extremely difficult for some people to go back and filter everything they have posted online in the previous decade. When people wrote mischievous posts in middle school and posted them online, they were not cognizant of their future plans to apply to jobs. This mischief could come back to haunt them if they don’t cover their tracks. This goes for all social networking sites — especially if you grew up using them.

Read More: 3 Tips for Recognizing Fake News Stories on Facebook

So, what do you do if you have too many damaging Facebook posts and photos to filter through? An easy way around this is to simply change your name on Facebook so that employers won’t be able to find your Facebook page. This is a popular step that many take: it’s often a precaution. You should still be wary of what you post online, however. Like elephants, the Internet never (really) forgets.

What to Do Before You Start
Before starting, Facebook advises that you review their name changing standards to ensure that you will be able to successfully change your page to display your desired name. Additionally, you can only change your Facebook name once every 60 days, so remember to choose wisely. Many people keep their first name the same, but change their last name to their middle name, or else “play” with their last name. For example, if a person’s last name is “Miller,” she might change her last name to “Mi.”

How to Change Your Name on Facebook

1. On the top right page of your Facebook home screen, you should see a drop down arrow. Click on this, and select “settings.”
2. You should then see a “name” selection. Click on this.
3. Enter your new desired name, and click “review change.”
4. You will then be asked to enter your password. Do so, and the name changing process should then take effect.