Facebook is one of the most famous websites in the world. Almost everyone has heard of it. Many people have used it. But when was Facebook founded? And how did it grow from a small college project into a global tech giant? Let’s explore the full story in a fun and simple way.
TLDR: Facebook was founded on February 4, 2004 by Mark Zuckerberg and his college roommates at Harvard University. It started as a small social network only for students. Over time, it expanded to the public and became one of the biggest companies in the world. Today, it is part of a larger company called Meta.
The Official Birth Date
Facebook was officially launched on February 4, 2004. At the time, it was called TheFacebook.com.
The website was created by:
- Mark Zuckerberg
- Eduardo Saverin
- Andrew McCollum
- Dustin Moskovitz
- Chris Hughes
They were all students at Harvard University. They did not know they were building a future tech empire. They just wanted to connect students online.
The idea was simple. Create an online “face book” for students. A place where people could see each other’s profiles and photos.
Image not found in postmetaBefore Facebook: Facemash
Before Facebook, there was something else. It was called Facemash.
In 2003, Mark Zuckerberg built Facemash as a fun project. The site showed two student photos side by side. Visitors voted on who looked more attractive.
It spread very fast across campus.
But there was a problem.
Zuckerberg used student photos without permission. Harvard shut the site down within days. He even faced disciplinary action.
Still, the idea of connecting students online stuck in his mind.
The Launch of TheFacebook
A few months after Facemash, Zuckerberg started coding a new project.
On February 4, 2004, TheFacebook.com went live.
It was basic. Very basic.
Each user had:
- A profile page
- A profile photo
- Basic personal information
- A list of friends
At first, it was only open to Harvard students. You needed a Harvard.edu email address to join.
Within 24 hours, over 1,000 students signed up.
That was fast.
Spreading to Other Colleges
After seeing success at Harvard, the founders expanded.
Soon, TheFacebook opened to other Ivy League schools like:
- Yale
- Columbia
- Stanford
Then more universities were added.
By the end of 2004, over 1 million users had joined.
Remember. This was before smartphones. Before apps. Everything happened on desktop computers.
The site was spreading through word of mouth. Students invited students. It felt exclusive. And exciting.
Dropping “The” and Becoming Facebook
In 2005, something important happened.
The company bought the domain name Facebook.com for $200,000. They dropped the word “The.” The cleaner name stuck.
It was now simply Facebook.
The company also received its first major investment. Accel Partners invested $12.7 million.
That money helped Facebook grow faster.
Opening to High Schools and the Public
At first, Facebook was only for college students.
Then it expanded again.
- 2005: High school students could join.
- 2006: Anyone over 13 with an email address could create an account.
This was a major turning point.
Suddenly, Facebook was not just for students. It was for everyone.
Growth exploded.
Millions joined. Then tens of millions.
The News Feed Revolution
In September 2006, Facebook introduced something new.
It was called the News Feed.
This feature showed updates from friends in one central stream.
At first, people hated it.
They felt it was too invasive. Too much information.
But over time, users got used to it. Then they loved it.
The News Feed became the heart of Facebook. It kept users scrolling. And scrolling.
Rapid Growth Around the World
Facebook didn’t just grow in America.
It expanded worldwide.
By 2008, Facebook had:
- 100 million users
By 2010:
- 500 million users
By 2012:
- 1 billion users
That is massive growth in less than 10 years.
In 2012, Facebook also went public. It launched its IPO (Initial Public Offering) on the stock market.
The company was valued at over $100 billion.
Not bad for a college dorm project.
Major Acquisitions
Facebook did not just grow by itself. It bought other companies.
Some important acquisitions include:
- Instagram (2012) – Bought for $1 billion.
- WhatsApp (2014) – Bought for $19 billion.
- Oculus VR (2014) – Bought for $2 billion.
These purchases helped Facebook expand into:
- Photo sharing
- Messaging
- Virtual reality
It was building a digital empire.
Challenges and Controversies
Facebook’s history is not just success.
There have been serious challenges.
Some of the biggest include:
- Privacy concerns
- Data leaks
- Political misinformation
- The Cambridge Analytica scandal
In 2018, it was revealed that millions of users’ data had been shared without proper consent.
This damaged trust.
Governments began asking tough questions.
Mark Zuckerberg testified before the U.S. Congress.
Facebook had to rethink how it handled privacy and security.
Facebook Becomes Meta
In October 2021, another big change happened.
Facebook’s parent company changed its name to Meta.
Why?
The company wanted to focus on building the metaverse. A digital world where people interact using virtual reality.
Important detail:
- The company name became Meta.
- The social media platform is still called Facebook.
This rebranding showed a shift in vision. Facebook was no longer just a social network. It wanted to shape the future of digital interaction.
So, When Was Facebook Really Founded?
Let’s make it crystal clear.
Facebook was founded on February 4, 2004.
It began in a Harvard dorm room.
It was first called TheFacebook.
It was only for college students.
And it slowly grew into one of the most powerful companies on Earth.
Why Facebook Became So Popular
Many websites existed in 2004. So why did Facebook win?
Here are a few key reasons:
- Real identities – Users had to use real names.
- Exclusivity at first – It felt special.
- Clean design – Simple and easy to use.
- Network effect – The more friends joined, the better it became.
- Constant updates – Features kept improving.
It became part of daily life.
Birthdays. Photos. Events. Messages. Relationships.
Everything moved online.
Facebook Today
Today, Facebook has billions of active users.
It is used for:
- Staying in touch with friends and family
- Business marketing
- News sharing
- Community groups
- Buying and selling products
It is no longer just a social network. It is an entire ecosystem.
And it all started on a cold February day in 2004.
Final Thoughts
Facebook’s founding story is simple. A college student built a website to connect classmates. That website launched on February 4, 2004.
But the impact was anything but simple.
In just a few years, Facebook changed how humans communicate. It reshaped friendships. Business. Politics. Media.
Love it or hate it, Facebook’s place in history is secure.
From a dorm room experiment to a global tech powerhouse, the journey has been remarkable.
And it all began with a simple idea: help people connect.