How to See People’s Birthdays on Facebook: A Deep Dive for the Socially Savvy

The question on everyone’s mind: How exactly can you see someone’s birthday on Facebook? The answer, thankfully, is usually quite simple: Navigate to their profile. If their privacy settings allow it, their birthday (month and day, sometimes year) will be displayed in the “About” section, typically under the “Contact and Basic Info” tab. Facebook also offers convenient birthday notifications on the day itself, either in your news feed or under the “Notifications” tab. However, this visibility hinges entirely on the individual’s chosen privacy settings. Some users prefer to keep their birthdates private, and respecting those choices is paramount.

Unveiling the Birthday Mystery: Step-by-Step Guides

Let’s break down the process for finding birthdays on Facebook using different methods:

Checking Individual Profiles

This is the most direct route.

1. Search: Use the search bar at the top of Facebook to find the person whose birthday you’re looking for.
2. Navigate to Profile: Click on their name to access their profile page.
3. Find “About”: Look for the “About” tab below their cover photo. In some layouts, this might be labelled “See more about…” or similar.
4. Locate “Contact and Basic Info”: Within the “About” section, click on “Contact and Basic Info.”
5. Birthday Reveal: Scroll down to the “Basic Info” section. If the person has chosen to share their birthday, you’ll see it displayed here, including month and day (and potentially the year).

Utilizing the “Birthdays” Section

Facebook offers a dedicated birthdays section.

1. Access Events: In the left-hand menu, you may find an “Events” option. If you don’t see it directly, click on “See more” to expand the menu. Within Events you’ll find the link to “Birthdays”
2. Birthday Overview: This section shows you upcoming birthdays and past birthdays. You’ll see birthdays for that day and birthdays that occurred recently.

Relying on Notifications

Facebook often sends birthday notifications on the day.

1. Check Notifications: Keep an eye on your notifications. Facebook usually sends a notification on the day of a friend’s birthday, even if they don’t explicitly list it on their profile. The notification will include a prompt to write on their timeline.
2. Birthdays in News Feed: Facebook might also show birthdays directly in your news feed, especially for close friends.

Dealing with Privacy: When Birthdays are Hidden

Sometimes, you won’t be able to see someone’s birthday on Facebook, and that’s perfectly acceptable. People have different comfort levels regarding sharing personal information.

Understanding Privacy Settings

Facebook offers granular privacy controls. Users can choose to:

• Hide their entire birthday: This means no one will see their birthday on their profile or receive notifications.
• Show only the month and day: This is a common compromise, allowing friends to acknowledge the day without revealing the year.
• Show their birthday only to specific people: They might have created a custom list of friends who can see their birthday.
• Show their full birthday: Month, day, and year are visible to everyone (or their chosen audience).

Respecting Boundaries

If you can’t see someone’s birthday, don’t pressure them to reveal it. There might be personal reasons why they’ve chosen to keep it private. Consider asking a mutual friend who might know or simply refrain from mentioning it on Facebook.

Beyond the Basics: Tips and Tricks

Checking Past Notifications

If you think you might have missed a birthday notification, you can scroll back through your notification history. This can be a helpful way to jog your memory, especially if you’re trying to remember someone’s age.

Using Third-Party Apps (Use with Caution!)

While many third-party apps claim to find birthdays on Facebook, be extremely cautious. These apps often request access to your personal data, and some might even be scams or malware. Always prioritize your privacy and avoid apps with questionable reputations. Facebook’s own tools are usually the safest and most reliable way to find birthday information.

FAQs: Your Birthday-Finding Questions Answered

Here are some frequently asked questions regarding finding birthdays on Facebook:

1. Can I see my own upcoming birthdays on Facebook?

Yes! Go to the “Birthdays” section (accessible through “Events” on the left menu). Here, you’ll see not only your friends’ upcoming birthdays but also a notice when your own birthday is approaching.

2. Can I find a list of all my Facebook friends’ birthdays?

Facebook doesn’t offer a single, comprehensive list of all your friends’ birthdays in chronological order. The “Birthdays” section focuses on upcoming birthdays.

3. How do I change who can see my birthday on Facebook?

Go to your profile, click “About,” then “Contact and Basic Info.” Hover over your birthday and click “Edit.” Use the audience selector (the icon next to the birthday) to choose who can see it (Public, Friends, Only Me, Custom).

4. Why can’t I see a specific friend’s birthday on Facebook?

They have likely set their privacy settings to hide their birthday from you (or everyone). Respect their privacy choices.

5. Is there a way to be notified of all my friends’ birthdays?

Facebook generally notifies you of birthdays on the day itself. However, you can’t customize these notifications to receive them earlier.

6. Will someone know if I check their profile to see their birthday?

No, Facebook doesn’t notify users when someone views their profile or specifically looks at their birthday information.

7. Can I search for birthdays on Facebook using keywords (e.g., “people born in July”)?

No, Facebook doesn’t offer a search function specifically for birthdays using month or year as criteria.

8. What happens if someone deactivates their Facebook account? Will their birthday still show up?

No, if someone deactivates their account, their profile (including their birthday) will no longer be visible on Facebook.

9. Can I find birthdays of people I’m not friends with on Facebook?

If their privacy settings allow it, yes. However, if they have their birthday visibility restricted to “Friends” or a custom list, you won’t be able to see it unless you’re connected to them.

10. Are birthday notifications sent via email or just on the Facebook platform?

Birthday notifications are primarily displayed on the Facebook platform (in your notifications and news feed). You might receive email notifications as well, depending on your email notification settings.

11. Can I use a third-party app to find hidden birthdays on Facebook?

While such apps may exist, use them with extreme caution. They often violate Facebook’s terms of service and could compromise your privacy. It’s best to rely on Facebook’s built-in features.

12. How do I hide my birthday from everyone on Facebook?

Go to your profile, click “About,” then “Contact and Basic Info.” Hover over your birthday and click “Edit.” Use the audience selector and choose “Only Me.” This will completely hide your birthday from other users.

In conclusion, finding someone’s birthday on Facebook is usually straightforward, but remember to respect individual privacy settings. Facebook offers various avenues for discovering these dates, but responsible and privacy-conscious usage is key to maintaining a positive social media experience.