How to Set Up an Instant Message on Facebook.com

By David Clair

Facebook is equipped with a chat feature similar to instant messaging on other platforms. Facebook users can send messages in real time to people on their friends lists. The message appears in a chat window on the other person's Facebook account page. The other user then has the opportunity to send a message back.

Log in to your Facebook account.

Select the name of the person you wish to send a chat message to from the list on the right side of your Facebook home page. A green dot appears next to users who are online. You can send a message to a user who is offline, but he won't receive it until the next time he signs in to his account.

Click in the chat box that opens with your friend's name at the top. Type the instant message into the text-entry area that appears at the bottom of the chat box.

Press "Enter" to send the instant message.

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