Facebook was founded in 2004 by Mark Zuckerberg, Dustin Moskovitz, and Eduardo Saverin. Initially, the website was exclusively for Harvard University students, but it quickly expanded to include other universities, then high schools, and eventually the general public.
At its core, Facebook was designed to be a social networking platform that allowed users to connect with friends and family, share photos and updates, and join interest groups. Over time, the platform added features such as messaging, events, and pages for businesses and public figures.
In 2012, Facebook went public, becoming one of the largest tech IPOs in history. As the company grew, it faced a number of controversies, including concerns over data privacy and the spread of misinformation on the platform.
Despite these challenges, Facebook continued to grow, acquiring other social media companies such as Instagram and WhatsApp, and expanding its user base to more than two billion people worldwide.
Today, Facebook is one of the most influential companies in the world, with a massive global reach and a significant impact on how people communicate, share information, and connect with one another.