Today
Facebook hits the double digit mark! It’s almost inconceivable that it’s been
10 years since the inception of the most powerful social networking site on the
planet. That’s 10 years of sharing, liking and commenting. I doubt that even
Mark Zuckerberg himself had any idea of what was to become of his little idea,
Facemash, when he was just a kid in a dorm room at Harvard.
But with a decade under its belt and no signs of slowing down,
Facebook has undeniably become a phenomenon that even its harshest critics and
skeptics worldwide have come to, if not adopt, then at least recognize for what it is: the way the world communicates.
Today we use Facebook to connect, re-connect and keep in touch with friends, classmates
and neighbors. And that’s just on the personal side. Facebook has become an integral
part of doing business – buying, selling, marketing and just plain connecting
with clients, prospects and colleagues. Contact management at its finest! Facebook has revolutionized the way we relate
and connect on all levels.
In honor of
Facebook’s milestone anniversary, here’s a brief look back at how it came to be
what it is today…
2003 – Before Facebook, it was Facemash, and simply
a means of comparing two photos of Harvard students to choose which one was hotter.
(Okay, so Facebook came from, shall we say, less than altruistic beginnings.
But, hey, look what we can do with it now!)
2004 – Then came Thefacebook, an “online directory”
that connected college students via their own social platform.
2005 – As anyone who has seen David Fincher’s
brilliant film, The Social Network, is
aware, Thefacebook soon becomes Facebook when Justin Timberlake’s character,
Sean Parker, suggests to Jesse Eisenberg’s Mark Zuckerberg that they drop the “The”
and just call it Facebook.
2006 – The News Feed is born. Let the real sharing
begin! Also in 2006, everyone who wants to, gains access to Facebook. Prior to
September of 2006, Facebook's still just a way in which students connect with other students. In this year, however, Facebook becomes accessible to
anyone with a computer and an email address (oh, and you have to be over the
age of 13).
2008 – The phenomenon just gets bigger and bigger…
100 million users worldwide!
Also in
2008, Facebook goes mobile…There’s an app for that…
2009 – The “Like” button is introduced…
2011 – The new Timeline is introduced – bigger and
bolder than ever before! To mixed reaction, Facebook changes its look and some
of its features. I have to admit, I wasn’t a big fan at first, but I’ve since
grown used to Timeline and now don’t even remember what life (or Facebook) was like before Timeline!
2012 – Facebook and Instagram join forces. In April
of 2012, Facebook buys its budding rival, Instagram, for a cool billion.
February 4, 2014 – Everyone’s favorite social network turns 10!
And a very Happy Birthday to you, Facebook! Now, off to check my News Feed...
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