Today, February 4, 2025, Facebook celebrates its 21st anniversary. Over this period, the platform has grown from a student project to a global giant connecting billions of users worldwide.
The website Novyny-LIVE shares the story of how the social network was created and the successes it has achieved.
From Harvard Dorm Rooms to Early Successes
It all began on February 4, 2004, when Harvard student Mark Zuckerberg launched a website called The Facebook. Initially, the platform was only available to Harvard students. Within a month, more than half the university's students had registered on the platform. Soon after, Zuckerberg was joined by fellow students Dustin Moskovitz, who worked on programming, and Chris Hughes, who helped promote the platform.
The platform’s popularity among students led to its expansion to other Ivy League universities and later to most educational institutions across the United States and Canada. In 2005, the “The” was dropped from the name, and the platform became simply Facebook. That same year, the domain name facebook.com was purchased for $200,000.
Opening to the World and Rapid Growth
On September 26, 2006, Facebook opened registration to all internet users aged 13 and above. This decision marked a turning point, leading to massive audience growth. In October 2007, Microsoft acquired a 1.6% stake in Facebook for $240 million, valuing the company at $15 billion.
In 2008, Facebook opened its first international office in Dublin, aiding the platform’s globalization. In 2012, the company acquired Instagram for $1 billion, further expanding its influence in the social media sphere.
Challenges and Milestones
Throughout its history, Facebook faced numerous challenges, including lawsuits and criticism over user privacy. One of its first scandals came shortly after its launch when the Winklevoss twins accused Zuckerberg of stealing their idea. The legal battle ended with a $65 million settlement.
Despite these difficulties, Facebook continued to innovate, introducing features like News Feed, Groups, Events, and Chat, which made the platform an integral part of daily life for billions of people. As of January 30, 2025, Facebook boasts over 3 billion monthly active users.
In Ukraine, Facebook has become a popular tool for communication, sharing news, and community organization. As of January 2025, over 20 million Ukrainians use the platform, and the number continues to grow.
In 2021, the company rebranded itself as Meta Platforms Inc. to reflect its new focus on developing the metaverse—a virtual space where users can interact in real time through avatars.
21 Years of Global Impact
Over 21 years, Facebook has grown from a college project to a global platform influencing social, political, and economic processes worldwide. New challenges and opportunities lie ahead, making the future of the company exciting to watch.
As a bold prediction, Mark Zuckerberg claimed that by 2025, artificial intelligence will be capable of replacing mid-level programmers in the job market.
