In 2020, Facebook had a slightly different interface and a renewed focus on private interactions and groups, as well as the rollout of a "new Facebook" design for desktop. Here's a guide to how a new user would have started and used the platform during that time.

1. Creating a Facebook Account
The account creation process in 2020 was straightforward, requiring a few key pieces of information to get started.

Visit the Website or Download the App: You could access Facebook from a computer by going to www.facebook.com or download the app from the Apple App Store or Google Play for mobile devices.

Sign-Up Form: The home page had a sign-up form where you would enter your first name, last name, mobile number or email, new password, date of birth, and gender.

Account Confirmation: After filling out the form, you would receive a confirmation email or SMS to verify your account. Clicking the link or entering the code would finalize the process.

2. Setting Up Your Profile
Your profile was your online identity on Facebook. In 2020, personalizing it was key to connecting with friends and family.

Profile Picture: This was a circular image that represented you and appeared next to all your posts and comments. A clear headshot was recommended.

Cover Photo: This was a larger, rectangular photo at the top of your profile. It was a good place to showcase a favorite landscape, a photo of friends, or a hobby.

About Section: You could fill in biographical information like where you worked, where you studied, and where you lived. In 2020, there was a greater emphasis on filling out this section to help others find and connect with you.

3. Using the Core Features
The primary functions of Facebook in 2020 were centered around the news feed and personal connections.

News Feed: This was the central stream of posts from your friends, followed pages, and groups. In 2020, a new desktop interface was being rolled out that placed more emphasis on Groups and Events, making them more prominent in the navigation.

Posting and Sharing: At the top of the news feed was a box that said "What's on your mind?" You could post text statuses, photos, videos, and even go "Live" with a live video broadcast. You could also react to posts with different "reactions" (Like, Love, Haha, Wow, Sad, Angry) and share them with your friends.

Adding Friends: To connect with someone, you would send them a "friend request." Once they accepted, you would be able to see each other's posts on your news feeds.

Facebook Messenger: The messaging feature was a key part of the Facebook experience, allowing you to send text messages, photos, and videos. By 2020, it had become a standalone app, though it was still accessible through the main Facebook website.

Groups and Events: Facebook's new interface in 2020 highlighted Groups and Events. You could join groups based on shared interests and use the Events feature to organize or be invited to social gatherings.

Marketplace: In 2020, the Marketplace was a prominent feature that allowed users to post classified ads for buying and selling items.

4. Privacy and Security (2020 Best Practices)
In 2020, privacy was a major concern for Facebook users, and the platform had extensive settings to manage who could see your content.

Privacy Checkup: Facebook offered a "Privacy Checkup" tool that guided users through their settings.

Post Visibility: You could control who saw your posts on a per-post basis, with options like "Public," "Friends," "Friends except," or "Only me."

Off-Facebook Activity: A new feature introduced in 2020 was "Off-Facebook Activity." It allowed you to see and clear data that Facebook collected about your activity on other websites and apps, a crucial step for managing personal data.

Facial Recognition: You could disable the facial recognition feature to prevent Facebook from automatically suggesting tags of you in photos.

Location Services: It was a best practice to review and manage location services on your device and within the app to prevent Facebook from building a history of your locations.