You know my friends : Facebook, now known as Meta Platforms Inc., is a technology company that has played a significant role in the evolution of the internet and social media. The company was initially founded in 2004 by Mark Zuckerberg, along with his college roommates Andrew McCollum, Eduardo Saverin, Chris Hughes, and Dustin Moskovitz at Harvard University. Here's a detailed history of Facebook's journey to becoming Meta:
2004:
- February: Mark Zuckerberg launches "Thefacebook," a social networking site for Harvard University students.
- March: Thefacebook expands to other universities, such as Stanford, Columbia, and Yale.
- June: Thefacebook moves its base of operations to Palo Alto, California, and receives its first investment from Peter Thiel.
- September: Thefacebook expands to more than 200 universities in the United States.
2005:
- February: The company drops "The" from its name, becoming "Facebook."
- May: Facebook acquires the domain name "facebook.com" for $200,000.
- September: Facebook expands to include high schools in the United States.
- December: Facebook reaches 5.5 million users.
2006:
- April: Facebook introduces the News Feed feature.
- September: Facebook opens its platform to anyone aged 13 or older with a valid email address.
- November: Yahoo! reportedly tries to acquire Facebook for $1 billion, but the offer is rejected.
2007:
- May: Facebook launches Facebook Marketplace, allowing users to buy and sell items.
- October: Microsoft purchases a 1.6% stake in Facebook for $240 million, valuing the company at $15 billion.
2008:
- February: Sheryl Sandberg joins Facebook as Chief Operating Officer.
- July: Facebook reaches 100 million users.
- October: Facebook launches its international headquarters in Dublin, Ireland.
2009:
- February: Facebook introduces the "Like" button.
- June: Facebook launches Facebook Usernames, allowing users to create custom URLs for their profiles.
- September: Facebook announces it has become cash-flow positive.
2010:
- April: Facebook launches Facebook Open Graph, allowing third-party developers to integrate with the social network.
- October: The movie "The Social Network," based on the founding of Facebook, is released.
- November: Facebook reaches 500 million users.
2011:
- September: Facebook introduces the Timeline profile redesign.
- November: Facebook settles with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) over privacy concerns.
2012:
- February: Facebook files for its initial public offering (IPO).
- April: Facebook acquires Instagram for $1 billion.
- May: Facebook goes public, raising $16 billion and giving the company a valuation of over $100 billion.
2013:
- June: Facebook introduces video on Instagram.
- September: Facebook announces 1 billion monthly active users.
2014:
- February: Facebook acquires WhatsApp for $19 billion.
- March: Facebook acquires virtual reality company Oculus VR for $2 billion.
- June: Facebook launches Facebook Slingshot, a direct competitor to Snapchat.
2015:
- March: Facebook launches Facebook Messenger as a standalone app.
- September: Facebook introduces 360-degree videos.
2016:
- April: Facebook launches Facebook Live, a live-streaming feature.
- October: Facebook launches Marketplace, a platform for users to buy and sell items within the app.
2017:
- May: Facebook reaches 2 billion monthly active users.
- October: Facebook launches Facebook Watch, a video-on-demand platform.
2018:
- March: The Cambridge Analytica scandal emerges, revealing that the data of millions of Facebook users was harvested without their consent.
- May: Facebook introduces new privacy tools in response to the European Union's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
- September: Facebook announces a security breach affecting nearly 50 million users.
2019:
- March: Facebook announces plans to integrate its messaging platforms, including WhatsApp, Instagram, and Messenger.
- July: The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) fines Facebook $5 billion for privacy violations related to the Cambridge Analytica scandal.
- September: Facebook launches Facebook Dating in the United States.
2020:
- May: Facebook acquires Giphy, a popular GIF-sharing platform, for $400 million.
- June: Facebook introduces Shops, allowing businesses to set up online stores on Facebook and Instagram.
- October: Facebook launches Facebook News, a dedicated tab for curated news content.
2021:
- January: Facebook temporarily suspends then-President Donald Trump from its platform following the Capitol riots.
- March: Facebook announces plans to build a version of Instagram for children under the age of 13.
- June: Facebook launches Bulletin, a newsletter platform for independent writers.
- August: Facebook introduces Horizon Workrooms, a virtual reality meeting platform.
- October: Facebook rebrands itself as Meta Platforms Inc., focusing onthe development of the metaverse, a shared virtual reality space. The company's social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, continue to operate under their existing names.
2022:
- Throughout the year, Meta continues to invest in the development of the metaverse, introducing new features and tools for users to interact in the virtual space.
