What is Facebook?
Facebook is one of the world’s largest and most popular social networking platforms. It was launched on February 4, 2004, by Mark Zuckerberg and his college roommates at Harvard University. What started as a platform for college students quickly grew into a global tool for connecting people across the world.
Purpose of Facebook
The main purpose of Facebook is to help people stay connected with friends, family, and communities. It allows users to:
Create a personal profile
Add friends and follow others
Share photos, videos, and life updates
Send messages and video chat
Join groups and follow pages
Buy and sell products through Facebook Marketplace
Promote businesses or brands using Facebook Pages and Ads
Key Features
News Feed: A personalized stream of updates, photos, videos, and articles shared by friends, pages, and groups you follow.
Timeline/Profile: Your personal space on Facebook where others can see your posts, photos, and shared memories.
Messenger: A separate app (but also connected to Facebook) for sending messages, making voice or video calls, and chatting with friends.
Groups: Facebook groups allow users to join communities based on interests, hobbies, or local events.
Pages: Public profiles for businesses, celebrities, brands, or organizations.
Reels and Stories: Short videos and temporary posts that disappear after 24 hours, similar to Instagram.
Facebookâs Global Impact
As of 2025, Facebook (now part of the parent company Meta Platforms Inc.) has billions of active users around the world. It has changed how people communicate, stay informed, and even do business.
However, Facebook has also faced criticism over issues like privacy, misinformation, and the impact of social media on mental health. The company has made efforts to improve safety and transparency on the platform.
