Facebook is a good way of keeping track of birthdays. This is because most people sign up using their real birthdate, and then opt to share it on Facebook. So you can simply rely on Facebook notifications rather than referring to a calendar.
Until now, your choices of birthday greeting have been limited to posting on someone's wall. Maybe with a couple of emojis or a GIF to spice things up a little. However, Facebook is now offering a new way for you to wish someone a Happy Birthday.
How to Send Birthday Wishes Using Facebook Stories
Facebook's new method for wishing someone a Happy Birthday utilizes Facebook Stories. Which are the ephemeral posts which sit atop your News Feed. Facebook Stories usually comprise of a photo or video, making them a more visual way of using Facebook.
From now on, when one of your close friends (as identified by Facebook) has a birthday, you'll be invited to wish them a Happy Birthday. If you tap on the notification you'll be invited to take a photo or short video and customize it to your heart's content.
There are lots of ways to customize Birthday Stories, so you can personalize yours to the recipient's tastes. You can even add a music sticker to add a soundtrack. And if you're struggling for inspiration, you can use one of Facebook's digital birthday cards.
You could technically already use Facebook Stories to wish someone a Happy Birthday. However, Facebook has now formalized the procedure, adding birthday notifications to the Stories tray, ways to customize your Birthday Stories, and a selection of birthday cards.
You Could Send a Happy Birthday Meme Instead
In the post on the Facebook Newsroom announcing Birthday Stories, Facebook explains why it's introducing the feature. Apparently, 500 million people now use Facebook Stories every day, so it makes sense to help people use Stories in more imaginative ways.
If Facebook's Birthday Stories don't quite hit the spot, you should check out sending a birthday message by phone or the best Happy Birthday memes you can send instead. Just be aware that the reaction you get from these will depend on whether or not the recipient has a sense of humor.