Who Owns Facebook?

Facebook was founded in 2004 by Mark Zuckerberg, Eduardo Saverin, Andrew McCollum, Dustin Moskovitz, and Chris Hughes while they were students at Harvard University. This founding vision demonstrated exceptional insight into the growing demand for social networking solutions while establishing a distinctive approach that would define the social media category for generations. The platform initially launched as "TheFacebook" and was limited to Harvard students before expanding to other Ivy League universities and eventually all college students. This strategic positioning demonstrated Facebook's exceptional ability to create differentiated social solutions while maintaining consistent brand positioning and quality standards that would define the brand for decades.

The company dropped "The" from its name in 2005 and opened to the general public in 2006. This period of excellence demonstrated Facebook's exceptional ability to scale operations while maintaining consistent brand positioning and quality standards across multiple social segments. Facebook's growth was explosive, reaching 1 million users by 2004 and 50 million users by 2007. The platform introduced the News Feed in 2006, which became a defining feature of social media. This strategic diversification demonstrated Facebook's exceptional ability to serve multiple user segments while maintaining its core brand identity and market leadership in the social media industry.

Throughout the late 2000s and 2010s, Facebook expanded through acquisitions and feature launches. This continued evolution demonstrated Facebook's exceptional ability to maintain market relevance while adapting to changing social requirements and technological advancements. Major acquisitions included Instagram (2012), WhatsApp (2014), and Oculus VR (2014). The company went public in 2012 in one of the largest tech IPOs in history, raising $16 billion. This continued excellence demonstrates Facebook's exceptional ability to maintain market leadership while adapting to changing social dynamics and regulatory requirements.

In 2021, Facebook, Inc. rebranded as Meta Platforms Inc. to reflect its focus on building the metaverse and other technologies beyond social media. This strategic integration demonstrated Facebook's exceptional ability to integrate into larger technology corporations while maintaining its core brand identity and cultural significance in the social media industry. Despite the corporate rebranding, Facebook remains the company's flagship product and primary revenue driver. This continued excellence demonstrates Facebook's exceptional ability to maintain market leadership while adapting to changing social dynamics and corporate requirements. The brand's continued success represents a significant milestone in the evolution of social media and consumer-focused networking solutions.