Facebook social media platform

Facebook was founded in 2004 by Mark Zuckerberg and his roommates at Harvard University. Initially created as a networking site for college students, it has evolved into one of the most influential social media platforms globally. The service is operated by Meta Platforms, Inc., which serves as the overarching holding company for Facebook and its sister applications, such as Instagram and WhatsApp.

While the software and platform are primarily developed in the United States, Facebook's physical infrastructure, including massive data centers, is spread across multiple countries including the US, Ireland, Denmark, and Singapore. The brand remains under the ultimate ownership of Meta Platforms, Inc., which is headquartered in Menlo Park, California, and is publicly traded on the NASDAQ stock exchange.