Facebook is the largest social networking site in the world with over 1.23 billion monthly active users as of December 2014. Facebook’s mission is to give people the power to share and make the world more open and connected.
Facebook was founded in 2004 by Mark Zuckerberg while he was a student at Harvard University. The site was originally limited to Harvard students but was quickly expanded to other colleges in the Boston area, the Ivy League, and Stanford University. Facebook slowly began to open up to the rest of the world and by 2006, anyone over the age of 13 with a valid email address could sign up.
Since its launch, Facebook has become one of the most popular websites on the internet and has undergone a number of changes. The site has also been involved in a number of controversies.
In this article, we will take a look at Facebook’s history, its features, and some of the controversies it has been involved in.
History
Facebook was founded in 2004 by Mark Zuckerberg while he was a student at Harvard University. The site was originally limited to Harvard students but was quickly expanded to other colleges in the Boston area, the Ivy League, and Stanford University.
Zuckerberg had the idea for Facebook after watching a film about the college admissions process. He was concerned that the process was unfair and that there was no way to connect with people outside of your immediate social circle.
Facebook slowly began to open up to the rest of the world and by 2006, anyone over the age of 13 with a valid email address could sign up.
The site quickly became popular and by 2007, it was estimated that half of all college students in the United States were using Facebook.
In 2008, Facebook expanded beyond college students and began to allow anyone with a valid email address to sign up.
The following year, Facebook launched a number of new features including the ability to tag photos, status updates, and the introduction of the Like button.
2010 was a big year for Facebook. The site launched the Facebook Places feature, which allowed users to check into locations using their mobile phones. Facebook also introduced the Facebook Deals feature, which allowed businesses to offer special deals to Facebook users.
In 2011, Facebook introduced a number of new features including the ability to tag friends in photos, the introduction of the Timeline feature, and the ability to share articles and websites with your Facebook friends.
2012 was another big year for Facebook. The site introduced the Facebook Chat Heads feature, which allowed users to chat with their Facebook friends while using other apps. Facebook also acquired the photo-sharing app Instagram and the messaging app WhatsApp.
2013 was a relatively quiet year for Facebook, but the site did introduce a number of new features including the ability to search for people and things, the introduction of video calling, and the ability to share your location with your Facebook friends.
2014 was another big year for Facebook. The site introduced a number of new features including the ability to post articles and websites to your Facebook Timeline, the ability to save articles and websites to read later, and the ability to share your location with your Facebook friends in real-time.
2015 was a relatively quiet year for Facebook, but the site did introduce a number of new features including the ability to tag people in photos, the ability to share articles and websites with your Facebook friends, and the ability to create events and invite your Facebook friends to them.
2016 was another big year for Facebook. The site introduced a number of new features including the ability to live stream video, the ability to create Facebook Stories, and the ability to buy and sell items on Facebook Marketplace.
2017 was a relatively quiet year for Facebook, but the site did introduce a number of new features including the ability to go live with a friend, the ability to add filters and effects to your live video, and the ability to create Facebook Groups.
2018 was another big year for Facebook. The site introduced a number of new features including the ability to cross-post to Instagram, the ability to add music to your Facebook Stories, and the ability to create Facebook Events.
2019 was a relatively quiet year for Facebook, but the site did introduce a number of new features including the ability to share to your Facebook story from other apps, the ability to add music to your Facebook videos, and the ability to create Facebook Groups.
Facebook Features
Over the years, Facebook has introduced a number of features that have made it one of the most popular websites on the internet.
The following is a list of some of Facebook’s most popular features:
The ability to post updates, photos, and videos: Facebook allows users to share updates, photos, and videos with their Facebook friends.
The ability to tag friends in updates, photos, and videos: Facebook allows users to tag their friends in updates, photos, and videos.
The ability to like and comment on updates, photos, and videos: Facebook allows users to like and comment on updates, photos, and videos.
The ability to join groups andpages: Facebook allows users to join groups and pages.
The ability to add friends: Facebook allows users to add friends.
The ability to message friends: Facebook allows users to message their friends.
The ability to live stream video: Facebook allows users to live stream video.
The ability to create Facebook Stories: Facebook allows users to create Facebook Stories.
The ability to save articles and websites to read later: Facebook allows users to save articles and websites to read later.
The ability to buy and sell items on Facebook Marketplace: Facebook allows users to buy and sell items on Facebook Marketplace.
Facebook Controversies
Throughout its history, Facebook has been involved in a number of controversies.
The following is a list of some of Facebook’s most controversial moments:
The Cambridge Analytica scandal: In 2018, it was revealed that data from 87 million Facebook users was harvested by the political consulting firm Cambridge Analytica. The data was then used to influence the outcome of the 2016 U.S. presidential election.
The introduction of the Facebook Timeline feature: In 2011, Facebook introduced the Facebook Timeline feature, which allowed users to see a chronological list of their friends’ updates, photos, and videos. Many users found the Timeline feature to be intrusive and privacy-invading.
The introduction of the Facebook Chat Heads feature: In 2012, Facebook introduced the Facebook Chat Heads feature, which allowed users to chat with their Facebook friends while using other apps. Many users found the Chat Heads feature to be intrusive and privacy-invading.
The acquisition of the messaging app WhatsApp: In 2014, Facebook acquired the messaging app WhatsApp for $19 billion. Some users were concerned that Facebook would be able to access WhatsApp messages.
The introduction of the Facebook Live feature: In 2016, Facebook introduced the Facebook Live feature, which allowed users to live stream video. Some users were concerned that the live streaming feature could be used to broadcast crimes or suicides.
The introduction of the Facebook Stories feature: In 2017, Facebook introduced the Facebook Stories feature, which allowed users to share photos and videos that disappear after 24 hours. Some users were concerned that the temporary nature of the Stories feature could be used to share sensitive or private information.
The Christchurch mosque shootings: In 2019, a gunman live-streamed the Christchurch mosque shootings on Facebook. The live stream was watched by hundreds of people before it was eventually removed.
Conclusion
Facebook is the largest social networking site in the world with over 1.23 billion monthly active users as of December 2014. Facebook’s mission is to give people the power to share and make the world more open and connected.
Related FAQs
How do I sign up for Facebook?
To sign up for Facebook, you need to be at least 13 years old and have a valid email address.
How do I add friends on Facebook?
rsTo add friends on Facebook, go to your friends list and click on the add friends button.
How do I post on Facebook?
To post on Facebook, go to your profile and click on the post button.
How do I message on Facebook?
To message on Facebook, go to your messages and click on the new message button.
What is facebook chrome facebookgatlanbleepingcomputer?
Facebook Chrome is a web browser extension that allows Facebook users to share links and information with their Facebook friends. The extension also allows users to see what their friends are sharing on Facebook.