2016-02-04

Happy birthday Facebook

Facebook profile in 2004



Whether or not you've seen David Fincher's film The Social Network, you're probably familiar with the story of Facebook.

The brainchild of Harvard student Mark Zuckerberg back in February 2004, Facebook started as a way for university students to keep in touch.

With a clean blue-and-white design it stood in stark contrast to the cluttered, customised pages of the then-dominant social platform MySpace.

Within 24 hours of "the Facebook" going live, 1,200 Harvard students had signed up. Zuck extended the network to other Boston universities, then the Ivy League and finally to all US universities.

By October 2005 it had become simply Facebook and had reached the UK.


Facebook profile in 2009



In the early days, there was no news feed, no "like" button and certainly no Messenger - it was all "poking" and throwing sheep.

Eventually, you didn't even need a university email to sign up and that's when Facebook really exploded.

Twelve years on and Zuck is one of the richest people on the planet and his big blue social network has topped a billion active users in one single day.

Key to Facebook's success has been its ability to develop along with technology. As the internet went mobile with smartphones, Facebook went with it.

The company also acquired the likes of Whatsapp and Instagram to keep its portfolio varied and growing.



Facebook profile in 2007



Facebook hasn't been without its controversies - most of which revolve around privacy settings and the way it collects personal information to target the advertising on the site.

But the company has weathered the storms and continues to grow in popularity. Plans are in place to make sure it goes on for another 12 years and then some.

Facebook is currently building unmanned aerial drones that will beam the internet to remote parts of the planet.


Facebook profile in 2014/15



And Zuckerberg has announced he will be donating 99% of his Facebook shares - worth around $45 billion to charitable causes. Is that enough to make you "like" him?

For a full tour down Facebook memory lane, check out our gallery below.


Facebook profile in 2004

Facebook profile in 2005

Facebook profile in 2006


Facebook profile in 2007

Facebook profile in 2008


Facebook profile in 2009


Facebook profile in 2010


Facebook profile in 2011


Facebook profile in 2012


Facebook profile in 2014/15





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