Facebook is starting to become essential. From logging into websites to keeping in touch with old friends, it's just become a part of everyday life. Everyone looks at you funny if you say you don't have a Facebook account.
A lot of people, however, don't want their Facebook account to be easily found. If you're a teacher, the last thing you want is your students creeping through your old photos. So, let's look at how to make your profile a little harder to find.
You could always change your name to something a little more unique (a lot of people use their first and middle name, for example, instead of their first and last name). But that's a pretty blunt option---most people would be better served using Facebook's other controls to control who can find your profile.
Go to the Facebook settings screen. To get there, click on the arrow in the top right corner and then click Settings.
Next, from the menu on the right, select Privacy.
We're going to focus on the Who Can Contact Me? and Who Can Look Me Up? options.
Next to Who Can Send You a Friend Request, click Edit.
Click the Everyone dropdown and then select, Friends of Friends.
Now, only people who are already friends with one of your friends on Facebook can add you.
Next, click the Edit beside the "Who Can Look You Up Using the Email Address You Provided" option.
Change that Everyone dropdown to either Friends of Friends or just Friends.
Repeat the same process for "Who Can Look You Up Using the Phone Number You Provided", changing it to either Friends of Friends or Friends.
Now, only your Friends or Friends of Friends will be able to find your profile by your email address or phone number.
Finally, click the Edit next to "Do You Want Search Engines Outside of Facebook to Link to Your Profile".
Uncheck the box that says Allow Search Engines Outside of Facebook to Link to Your Profile and then click Turn Off.
Now, your Facebook profile won't show up in Google (or other search engine) searches for your name.
And that's it, you're done. Your Facebook profile should be a lot harder for people you don't want to find and, even if they do, unless they're already friends with a friend of yours, they won't be able to add you. But if you're trying to keep your profile hidden from one specific person, you might be better off blocking them.
Keep in mind this isn't the only way to keep your stuff private on Facebook--this is just one step. There are a lot of other privacy settings you'll want to look at, too.