Facebook, owned by Meta, is a social media and networking service founded in 2004 by Mark Zuckerberg and fellow Harvard students. Initially exclusive to Harvard, it expanded to other universities before opening to global users 13 years or older (with some exceptions) in 2006. By December 2022, Facebook boasted nearly 3 billion monthly users. As of October 2023, it was the third most visited website globally, with the US contributing 22.56% of traffic. It also earned the title of the most downloaded mobile app of the 2010s.
2003: Facemash Launch
Mark Zuckerberg, while attending Harvard, launched a website called "Facemash". This website, similar in concept to "Hot or Not", allowed users to compare images of students and rate their attractiveness.
January 2004: Inspiration for "TheFacebook"
In January 2004, Zuckerberg was inspired by a Harvard Crimson article discussing the need for a universal face book.
February 4, 2004: TheFacebook Launch
On February 4, 2004, Mark Zuckerberg launched "TheFacebook", initially hosted at thefacebook.com. This marked the official start of the social networking service.
March 2004: Expansion to Other Universities
Facebook expands its reach beyond Harvard in March 2004, becoming available to students at Columbia, Stanford, and Yale. The platform's availability continued to expand, eventually encompassing most universities in the U.S. and Canada.
June 2004: Relocation and First Investment
In June 2004, Facebook relocated to Palo Alto, California. The company also received its first investment during this month, coming from Peter Thiel, co-founder of PayPal.
2004: Facebook Lawsuit Allegations
In 2004, Facebook faced allegations that Mark Zuckerberg broke an oral contract with Cameron Winklevoss, Tyler Winklevoss, and Divya Narendra to build the then-named "HarvardConnection" social network.
May 2005: Accel Partners Investment
Accel Partners makes a significant investment of $12.7 million in Facebook during May 2005.
September 2005: High School Version Launch
In September 2005, Facebook expanded its user base by launching a version of the platform specifically designed for high school students.
2005: Name Change and Domain Acquisition
Facebook undergoes a name change in 2005, dropping "the" from its name. They also secured the domain name Facebook.com for $200,000.
May 2006: First Intern Hired
In May 2006, Facebook brought on board its first intern, Julie Zhuo, who was later offered a full-time engineering position.
September 26, 2006: Open Registration
On September 26, 2006, Facebook made a significant change by opening its platform to anyone at least 13 years old with a valid email address. This move marked a turning point, transforming Facebook from a niche college network to a global social media platform.
2006: Development of Photo Tagging Feature
The photo tagging feature, allowing users to tag friends in photos, was developed in 2006 by Aaron Sittig and Scott Marlette.
May 2007: Launch of Facebook Developer Platform
During the inaugural f8 developers conference in May 2007, Facebook unveiled its Developer Platform. This framework allowed software developers to build applications that could integrate with the core features of Facebook.
October 24, 2007: Microsoft Investment
On October 24, 2007, Microsoft acquired a 1.6% share in Facebook for $240 million. This investment valued Facebook at approximately $15 billion, highlighting the company's rising value and potential.
2007: Realization of Zuckerberg's Colorblindness
In 2007, it was discovered that Mark Zuckerberg is red-green colorblind, which influenced the choice of blue as Facebook's primary color.
2007: Awards and Recognition
In 2007, Facebook was recognized as one of the "Top 100 Classic Websites" by PC Magazine.
2007: Launch of Facebook Pages
In 2007, Facebook Pages were launched, providing brands and celebrities a platform for interacting with their fans.
January 2008: Facebook's First Foray into American Politics
In January 2008, Facebook partnered with ABC and Saint Anselm College to facilitate live user feedback during the Republican and Democratic debates in New Hampshire. This marked Facebook's initial involvement in the American political landscape.
February 2008: Facebook Group Organizes Protest Against FARC
In February 2008, a Facebook group called "One Million Voices Against FARC" organized a protest that saw hundreds of thousands of Colombians march against the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC).
July 20, 2008: Facebook Beta Launch
On July 20, 2008, Facebook introduced a redesigned interface, "Facebook Beta", to a select group of users. This updated design aimed to provide a cleaner and more streamlined user experience, merging the Mini-Feed and Wall, introducing tabbed sections for profiles, and improving overall aesthetics.
July 23, 2008: Growth of Facebook Developer Platform
By the second annual f8 developers conference on July 23, 2008, the Facebook Developer Platform had grown substantially, with 33,000 applications and over 400,000 registered developers.
September 2008: Migration to New Interface
Facebook initiated the migration of users to the new "Facebook Beta" interface in September 2008.
October 2008: International Headquarters
In October 2008, Facebook established its international headquarters in Dublin, Ireland, marking a step in the company's global expansion.
2008: Decline in Facebook Users Under 34
From 2008 to 2018, the proportion of Facebook users under 34 years old decreased to less than half of the total user base.
2008: HarvardConnection Lawsuit Settlement
In 2008, Zuckerberg settled a lawsuit filed by Cameron Winklevoss, Tyler Winklevoss, and Divya Narendra, who alleged Zuckerberg stole their idea for HarvardConnection.com.
2008: "Facebook" Declared Word of the Year
In 2008, Collins English Dictionary recognized the growing influence of Facebook by naming it the "Word of the Year." This reflected the platform's rapid rise in popularity and its impact on language and culture.
2008: The Rise of Social Media in Politics
In 2008, emerging social media platforms, including Facebook and Twitter, began connecting vast numbers of people. Politicians and interest groups started exploring the potential of social media for message dissemination.
2008: Facebook Reaches 100 Million Users
Facebook reached a significant milestone in 2008 by surpassing 100 million registered users.
2008: EBITDA Profitability
Facebook achieved EBITDA profitability in early 2008, demonstrating its financial growth and potential for generating profits.
2008: Launch of Facebook Chat
Facebook Chat, the precursor to Messenger, was launched in 2008.
January 2009: Facebook Usage Ranking
A Compete.com study in January 2009 placed Facebook as the leading social networking platform globally based on monthly active users, signifying its dominance in the social media landscape.
February 9, 2009: Introduction of the Like Button
On February 9, 2009, Facebook introduced the iconic "thumbs up" like button, enabling users to interact with content and influencing its visibility in News Feeds.
May 2009: Organization Pages Introduced
In May 2009, Facebook rolled out organization pages, providing companies with a means to establish their presence and interact with users on the platform.
May 2009: Zuckerberg Comments on Russian Investment
In May 2009, Mark Zuckerberg commented on the $200 million Russian investment, stating that the investment was purely a buffer and not needed to achieve cash flow positivity.
June 2009: Launch of Usernames Feature
Facebook introduced the "Usernames" feature in June 2009, allowing users to select unique nicknames for their profiles, simplifying profile URL sharing.
September 2009: Facebook Becomes Cash Flow Positive
In September 2009, Facebook achieved cash flow positivity ahead of schedule after closing a roughly $200 million gap in operating profitability.
December 2009: "Unfriend" Declared Word of the Year
In December 2009, the New Oxford American Dictionary selected "unfriend" as its "Word of the Year," defining it as the act of removing someone as a friend on social networking sites like Facebook. This highlighted the emerging social dynamics and behaviors associated with online platforms.
2009: None
No events for this date.
2009: Investment by Russian Investors
In 2009, Yuri Milner's DST, along with Alisher Usmanov, invested $200 million in Facebook when it was valued at $10 billion. This investment was later revealed to be partially financed by Russian state-backed VTB Bank and Gazprom's investment vehicle, although Milner was reportedly unaware of this at the time.
2009: Facebook issues its first apology for privacy abuses
Facebook issued its first apology for privacy abuses in 2009.
2009: Facebook Participates in PRISM Program
Since 2009, Facebook has been involved in the PRISM surveillance program, sharing user data, including audio, video, photos, emails, documents, and connection logs, with the U.S. National Security Agency, along with other social media companies.
2009: Yuri Milner Befriends Mark Zuckerberg
Russian-American billionaire Yuri Milner, who had Kremlin backing for his investments in Facebook and Twitter, befriended Mark Zuckerberg between 2009 and 2011.
February 23, 2010: Patent Granted for News Feed Aspects
On February 23, 2010, Facebook secured a patent covering specific aspects of its News Feed, including its functionality for user interaction and the EdgeRank algorithm for content ranking.
May 2010: Zuckerburg apologizes for discrepancies in privacy settings
Mark Zuckerburg apologized in May 2010 for discrepancies in Facebook's privacy settings.
June 2010: Like Button Expanded to Comments
In June 2010, Facebook extended the like button functionality to include comments.
July 2010: Facebook Reaches 500 Million Users
In July 2010, Facebook announced reaching 500 million registered users, with half of them using the platform daily for an average of 34 minutes. 150 million users accessed Facebook through mobile devices.
July 2010: 500 Million Users Milestone
In July 2010, Facebook announced it had reached 500 million users, with half of them using the site daily for an average of 34 minutes. Additionally, 150 million users accessed Facebook from mobile devices.
August 2010: North Korea Joins Facebook
In August 2010, North Korea's official government websites, including its news agency Uriminzokkiri, joined Facebook.
October 2010: Introduction of Facebook Groups
In October 2010, Facebook introduced the Groups feature, enhancing the platform's community and interaction capabilities.
November 15, 2010: Acquisition of FB.com Domain
On November 15, 2010, Facebook announced it had acquired the domain name fb.com from the American Farm Bureau Federation for an undisclosed amount.
November 2010: Valuation Surpasses eBay
In November 2010, based on SecondMarket Inc., Facebook's value was estimated at $41 billion, making it the third-largest American web company after Google and Amazon.
2010: Facebook consolidates privacy settings and announces review of third-party apps
In 2010, Facebook consolidated its privacy settings onto a single page, making it more difficult for third-party apps to access user information. Facebook also announced it would review thousands of apps for "suspicious activities."
2010: The Social Network Film
The biographical drama film "The Social Network," directed by David Fincher and written by Aaron Sorkin, was released in 2010. The film, starring Jesse Eisenberg as Mark Zuckerberg, chronicled the controversial founding and early years of Facebook and achieved critical acclaim, winning three Academy Awards and four Golden Globes.
2010: Crunchie Award for Best Overall Startup
In 2010, Facebook won the Crunchie Award for "Best Overall Startup or Product" for the third consecutive year.
2010: Revamp of Facebook Chat
Facebook Chat underwent a revamp in 2010.
January 11, 2011: Disclosure of Domain Purchase Cost
On January 11, 2011, it was disclosed that Facebook had spent $8.5 million to acquire the fb.com domain from the American Farm Bureau Federation, making it one of the ten highest domain sales in history.
February 14, 2011: Facebook Used to Identify Protesters in Bahrain
During the Bahraini uprising that began on February 14, 2011, Facebook was allegedly used by the Bahraini regime to identify and prosecute citizens involved in the protests.
February 2011: Plans to Move Headquarters
In February 2011, Facebook announced plans to move its headquarters to the former Sun Microsystems campus in Menlo Park, California.
March 2011: Profile Removal for Violations
In March 2011, Facebook reported that it was removing about 20,000 profiles daily for violations such as spam, graphic content, and underage use, as part of its efforts to boost cybersecurity.
June 2011: One Trillion Page Views
In June 2011, Facebook reached one trillion page views, making it the most visited website tracked by DoubleClick. It also became the second-most accessed website in the U.S. behind Google, according to a Nielsen study.
July 29, 2011: Facebook Launches Bug Bounty Program
On July 29, 2011, Facebook initiated its Bug Bounty Program to encourage security researchers to identify and report security vulnerabilities. Researchers who discovered such vulnerabilities were promised a minimum reward of $500.
August 2011: Launch of Facebook Messenger as a Standalone App
While remaining accessible through web browsers, Facebook Messenger became a standalone mobile application in August 2011.
September 2011: Introduction of Facebook Timeline
In September 2011, Facebook revamped user profiles introducing "Timeline", a chronological feed of user's activities including status updates, photos, app interactions, and events.
November 29, 2011: Facebook Settles FTC Charges over Privacy Promises
On November 29, 2011, Facebook reached a settlement with the Federal Trade Commission regarding charges that it had misled consumers by failing to uphold its privacy commitments.
2011: Facebook App Development Platform Boosts US Economy
In 2011, Facebook's app development platform was found to have created over 182,000 jobs in the US economy, contributing an estimated $12 billion ($16.3 billion in 2023 dollars) in economic value.
2011: Facebook's Role in the Egyptian Revolution
In 2011, during the Arab Spring, Facebook was widely recognized for its role in the Egyptian revolution. It facilitated the organization of protests and became a key communication tool for demonstrators.
2011: End of Yuri Milner and Mark Zuckerberg's Friendship Period
Yuri Milner and Mark Zuckerberg's period of friendship, during which Milner invested in Facebook with Kremlin backing, ended in 2011.
2011: Facebook Forms Political Action Committee
In 2011, Facebook established a political action committee (PAC) called FB PAC, enabling employees to participate in the political process by supporting candidates who align with the company's goals.
2011: Patent Granted for Photo Tagging
Facebook received a patent for its photo tagging feature in 2011.
March 2012: Announcement of App Center
In March 2012, Facebook announced the launch of App Center, a store selling applications that operate via the website. The store was to be available on iPhones, Android devices, and for mobile web users.
May 17, 2012: Initial Public Offering (IPO)
On May 17, 2012, Facebook's initial public offering (IPO) occurred at a share price of $38, valuing the company at $104 billion. The IPO raised $16 billion, the third-largest in U.S. history. The shares set a first-day record for trading volume of an IPO at 460 million shares.
June 7, 2012: Launch of Facebook App Center
On June 7, 2012, Facebook launched its App Center, designed to help users discover games and other applications.
October 1, 2012: Zuckerberg Visits Russian Prime Minister
On October 1, 2012, Mark Zuckerberg visited Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev in Moscow to stimulate social media innovation in Russia and boost Facebook's position in the Russian market.
October 2012: One Billion Monthly Active Users
In October 2012, Mark Zuckerberg announced that Facebook had reached one billion monthly active users, including 600 million mobile users, 219 billion photo uploads, and 140 billion friend connections.
October 2012: Facebook Surpasses 1 Billion Monthly Active Users
In October 2012, Facebook achieved another significant milestone by surpassing 1 billion monthly active users. At this point, there were 600 million mobile users, 219 billion uploaded photos, and 140 billion friend connections.
2012: Obama Campaign's Use of Facebook Data
In 2012, the Barack Obama campaign utilized a Facebook app to collect data on users and their friends. This practice, while users knowingly provided consent, drew comparisons to the Cambridge Analytica controversy. The Obama campaign used the data to connect supporters with potentially persuadable friends.
2012: Facebook as a Monolithic Application
In 2012, Facebook operated as a monolithic application, compiling into a 1.5 GB binary distributed to servers using a custom BitTorrent system, ensuring daily updates without downtime.
2012: Facebook Encourages Voter Participation
In 2012, Facebook experimented with promoting voter turnout by showing users pictures of their friends who had already voted. This initiative aimed to leverage social influence to increase voter participation.
2012: San Mateo County Becomes Top Wage-Earning County
In 2012, San Mateo County, California, became the top wage-earning county in the country, primarily due to Facebook. The average salary was reported to be $168,000 a year, 107% higher than the previous year.
January 15, 2013: Announcement of Facebook Graph Search
On January 15, 2013, Facebook announced Facebook Graph Search, which provides users with precise answers by leveraging data present on the site. The feature was designed to be privacy-aware, returning results only from content already shared with the user.
April 3, 2013: Unveiling of Facebook Home
On April 3, 2013, Facebook unveiled Facebook Home, a user-interface layer for Android devices offering greater integration with the site. HTC announced HTC First, a phone with Home pre-loaded.
April 15, 2013: Alliance with National Association of Attorneys General
On April 15, 2013, Facebook announced an alliance with the National Association of Attorneys General across 19 states to provide teenagers and parents with information on managing social networking profiles.
May 2013: Entry into Fortune 500
In May 2013, Facebook entered the Fortune 500 list for the first time, ranked 462, based on its 2012 income of $5 billion.
August 2013: Study Reveals Facebook Accessing Links in Messenger Messages
A study published by High-Tech Bridge in August 2013 revealed that Facebook was accessing links shared within messages sent through its Messenger service.
August 2013: Facebook Launches Internet.org
In August 2013, Facebook established Internet.org in collaboration with six technology companies. The initiative aimed to expand internet access in underdeveloped and developing countries by offering a service called Free Basics, which provided access to essential low-bandwidth applications.
2013: Facebook acquires Onavo
Facebook acquired Onavo, a virtual private network (VPN) company in 2013.
2013: Ownership by Russian Investors
According to the New York Times in 2013, Russian investors, including Alisher Usmanov, owned nearly 10% of Facebook at one point. The precise details of their ownership stakes were difficult to assess.
January 2014: Users Sue Facebook over Privacy Violation
In January 2014, two Facebook users filed a lawsuit against the company, alleging that Facebook's practice of accessing links shared in Messenger messages violated their privacy.
February 3, 2014: 10th Anniversary Celebration
During the week of February 3, 2014, Facebook celebrated its 10th anniversary. By January 2014, over one billion users had connected via a mobile device.
February 2014: Expansion of Gender Settings
In February 2014, Facebook expanded its gender settings to include a custom input field, allowing users to choose from a wider range of gender identities.
March 20, 2014: Announcement of Hack Programming Language
On March 20, 2014, Facebook announced Hack, a new open-source programming language that was already being used extensively within the company.
May 2014: Introduction of "Ask" Button
May 2014 saw the introduction of the "ask" button, enabling users to request information not publicly shared on other users' profiles.
2014: Facebook acquires WhatsApp
Facebook acquired WhatsApp in 2014, a move motivated by data collected from the Onavo Protect app.
2014: Facebook Data Leak From University Quiz App
In 2014, a quiz app developed by a university researcher resulted in a significant Facebook data leak, impacting millions of users. Facebook acknowledged the breach of trust and outlined steps to prevent similar incidents.
May 13, 2015: Launch of Instant Articles
On May 13, 2015, Facebook, partnering with major news outlets, launched "Instant Articles," enabling users to access news directly on their Facebook feeds without leaving the site.
June 2015: Start of Russian Ad Spending on Facebook
Russian operatives began spending on Facebook ads in June 2015, ultimately totaling around $100,000 by May 2017.
November 2015: Facebook Redefines "Monthly Active Users"
In November 2015, Facebook revised its definition of "monthly active users" in response to concerns about the accuracy of its previous measurement. The new definition focused on users who logged in and visited the Facebook website or mobile app, or used the Facebook Messenger app, within the 30 days preceding the measurement, excluding usage through third-party services integrated with Facebook.
2015: Algorithm Revision to Filter Content
In 2015, Facebook revised its algorithm to filter out false or misleading content, such as fake news stories and hoaxes. The algorithm relied on user flags and was criticized for maintaining a "filter bubble", deprioritizing material the user disagreed with and posts with few likes.
2015: Peak Facebook Usage Among Young Americans
In 2015, Facebook usage among young Americans peaked at 58% before experiencing a subsequent decline. This marked a high point in Facebook's popularity among this demographic.
2015: Facebook's Role in Political Polarization and Misinformation
In 2015, Facebook's News Feed algorithms were identified as a potential contributor to political polarization and the spread of "fake news." Notably, the platform's role in potentially enabling conditions that led to the 2015 Rohingya refugee crisis raised serious concerns about its impact on global events.
2015: Facebook starts collecting user data from Android app
Starting in 2015, Facebook's Android app began collecting user data, including phone calls and text messages.
February 2016: Expansion of Like to Reactions
In February 2016, Facebook expanded the Like button into "Reactions," offering users five pre-defined emotions to express their sentiments.
April 12, 2016: Zuckerberg's 10-Year Vision
On April 12, 2016, Mark Zuckerberg outlined his 10-year vision for Facebook, focusing on artificial intelligence, increased global connectivity, and virtual and augmented reality.
April 2016: Quebec Class-Action Lawsuit Eligibility
Quebec residents who used Facebook as early as April 2016 and were seeking jobs or housing during that time could be eligible to join the class-action lawsuit.
2016: Predictions of Facebook's Decline
Throughout its history, commentators have made predictions about Facebook's potential decline or eventual end. These predictions have cited various factors, including a shrinking user base, legal challenges related to its closed platform nature, difficulties in revenue generation, concerns about user privacy, limitations in adapting to mobile platforms, the potential for Facebook to replace itself with a next-generation platform, and Facebook's role in Russian interference in the 2016 United States elections.
2016: Russian Interference in the 2016 U.S. Presidential Election
Russian operatives used Facebook to interfere with the 2016 U.S. presidential election by polarizing the American public discourse and exploiting divisions over black political activism and Muslims.
2016: Facebook's Regret Over Russian Interference
Mark Zuckerberg expressed regret for dismissing concerns about Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election. Facebook pledged full cooperation with Mueller's investigation and provided all information about the Russian advertisements.
2016: Facebook Combats Fake News
In 2016, following the U.S. presidential election, Facebook announced measures to combat the spread of fake news on its platform. These measures included: fact-checking by organizations like FactCheck.org and Associated Press, simplified hoax reporting through crowdsourcing, and disrupting the financial incentives for those spreading misinformation.
2016: Russian Interference in the 2016 United States Elections
In 2016, Facebook was used by unidentified political operatives, later identified as agents of the Russian government, to attempt to influence public opinion during the United States elections. This event marked a significant instance of "coordinated inauthentic behavior" on the platform.
2016: Facebook Launches "Project Ghostbusters"
In 2016, Facebook initiated "Project Ghostbusters" to gain a competitive edge over Snapchat. This project aimed to develop decryption tools to collect and analyze user traffic on Snapchat and potentially expand to YouTube and Amazon.
2016: Political Manipulation Controversy
In 2016, Facebook faces criticism for its role in the U.S. elections, specifically regarding political manipulation.
2016: Facebook Research launches Project Atlas
Facebook Research launched Project Atlas in 2016 to collect user data in exchange for payment.
2016: Russian Ad Spending During 2016 U.S. Presidential Election
During the 2016 U.S. presidential election, Russian operatives spent around $100,000 on Facebook ads to influence the election.
2016: Targeted Political Advertising on Facebook
By 2016, targeted political advertising had become common practice on social media. Facebook, with its advanced targeting and analytics capabilities, offered a powerful tool for reaching specific voter demographics. However, this also raised concerns about the potential for manipulation and the spread of hateful content.
2016: Facebook as a News Source
By 2016, it was estimated that 44% of the US population obtained news through Facebook, highlighting its significant influence as a news source.
January 2017: Launch of Facebook Stories
In January 2017, Facebook launched Facebook Stories for iOS and Android in Ireland, emulating the ephemeral content format popularized by Snapchat and Instagram.
January 17, 2017: Facebook Opens Station F in Paris
On January 17, 2017, Facebook's COO Sheryl Sandberg inaugurated Station F, a startup incubator campus located in Paris, France. Facebook committed to collaborating with 10 to 15 data-driven startups in six-month cycles at this facility.
May 2017: End of Identified Russian Ad Spending on Facebook
Facebook identified Russian ad spending on its platform until May 2017, totaling approximately $100,000.
June 2017: Facebook Reaches 2 Billion Users
In June 2017, Facebook reached the landmark of 2 billion users, highlighting its global reach and influence.
July 2017: Origin of Facebook Security Breach
In July 2017, a security vulnerability on Facebook emerged, which would later lead to a major breach affecting 50 million users in September 2018.
September 2017: Facebook Discloses Russian Ad Spending
In September 2017, Facebook's chief security officer, Alex Stamos, revealed that the company had discovered approximately $100,000 in ad spending connected to about 470 inauthentic accounts and Pages, likely operating out of Russia, between June 2015 and May 2017.
September 2017: Facebook Criticized for Allowing InfoWars to Publish Falsehoods
In September 2017, Facebook faced criticism for allowing InfoWars to publish falsehoods and conspiracy theories. Facebook defended its actions, stating that banning pages for sharing such content was not the right approach.
October 11, 2017: Introduction of 3D Posts
On October 11, 2017, Facebook introduced 3D Posts, enabling users to upload interactive 3D content.
October 2017: Facebook Expands Work with Definers Public Affairs
In October 2017, Facebook expanded its collaboration with Definers Public Affairs, a PR firm initially hired to monitor press coverage of the company. This expansion aimed to address concerns related to Russian interference, Cambridge Analytica's data mishandling, hate speech on the platform, and calls for regulation.
December 2017: Facebook Highlights Research on Well-being
In December 2017, Facebook highlighted research indicating that passive consumption of the News Feed led to negative feelings in users, while interacting with messages improved well-being.
2017: Revelation of Russian Financing
In 2017, the Paradise Papers revealed that the 2009 investments in Facebook by Yuri Milner's DST and Alisher Usmanov were partially financed by Russian state-backed VTB Bank and Gazprom's investment vehicle.
2017: Disinformation Campaign During Alabama Senate Election
In 2017, a disinformation campaign targeting the United States Senate special election in Alabama was carried out on Facebook and Twitter. The campaign involved the spread of misleading information and manipulation of public opinion.
2017: Facebook partners with fact-checkers
In 2017, Facebook partnered with fact checkers from the Poynter Institute's International Fact-Checking Network to identify and mark false content.
2017: Messenger Updates
In 2017, Facebook introduced new features to its Messenger app, including Messenger Day for sharing temporary photos and videos, Reactions for responding to messages with emojis, and Mentions for notifying specific users in group conversations.
2017: Decline in Facebook Usage Among Young Americans
Between 2017 and 2019, Facebook experienced a decline in usage among the U.S. population aged 12 and above, dropping from 67% to 61%, representing approximately 15 million fewer U.S. users. The decline was particularly notable among younger Americans, with the percentage of users aged 12 to 34 falling from 58% in 2015 to 29% in 2019, coinciding with the rising popularity of Instagram, another Meta-owned platform.
2017: Former Facebook executive criticizes social media's impact on society
In 2017, a former Facebook executive publicly criticized social media platforms for their negative impact on society.
January 11, 2018: News Feed Algorithm Change
Facebook announced on January 11, 2018, a change in its News Feed algorithm to prioritize content from friends and family over posts from media companies.
March 6, 2018: BlackBerry Sues Facebook
On March 6, 2018, BlackBerry filed a lawsuit against Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp for allegedly copying key features from BlackBerry's messaging app.
March 23, 2018: Information Commissioner's Office Granted Warrant to Search Cambridge Analytica
On March 23, 2018, the Information Commissioner's Office obtained a warrant to search Cambridge Analytica's London offices following their role in the Facebook data scandal. Facebook had initially claimed they were "lied to" about Cambridge Analytica's data practices.
March 25, 2018: Zuckerburg issues apology for privacy abuses
On March 25, 2018, Mark Zuckerburg issued a personal apology for Facebook's privacy abuses, which was published in leading US and UK newspapers and on CNN.
April 2018: Professor Ilya Somin receives death threats on Facebook from Cesar Sayoc
Professor Ilya Somin reported receiving death threats on Facebook from Cesar Sayoc in April 2018. Facebook took no action despite reports from Somin's friends. Sayoc was later arrested for the October 2018 US mail bombing attempts.
April 2018: Facebook Disables Tool Following Cambridge Analytica Controversy
In April 2018, Facebook disabled a tool that allowed for the collection of user data, a move prompted by the Cambridge Analytica data scandal.
April 2018: Ars Technica reports Facebook harvesting user data from Android app
In April 2018, Ars Technica reported that Facebook's Android app had been collecting user data, including phone calls and text messages, since 2015.
May 2018: Papua New Guinea Considers Facebook Ban
In May 2018, the government of Papua New Guinea announced its intention to temporarily ban Facebook for one month to assess the platform's impact on the country. However, the ban has not been implemented.
May 2018: Android users file class action lawsuit against Facebook
In May 2018, several Android users filed a class action lawsuit against Facebook for invading their privacy by collecting data through their Android app.
May 2018: Facebook Launches Dating Service
During the F8 conference in May 2018, Facebook announced the launch of its own dating service, causing a significant drop in the share prices of competitor Match Group. Facebook Dating was designed with privacy features, preventing friends from seeing each other's dating profiles.
June 7, 2018: Facebook Bug Exposes User Posts
On June 7, 2018, Facebook announced a bug that caused approximately 14 million users to have their default sharing setting for all new posts changed to "public," potentially exposing their posts to a wider audience than intended.
July 2018: Increase in Social Media Manipulation by Political Parties
In July 2018, research from the Oxford Internet Institute revealed a significant increase in the number of countries where organized social media manipulation was taking place, primarily driven by political parties spreading disinformation and junk news, particularly around election periods.
July 2018: Facebook Suspends InfoWars Head Alex Jones
In July 2018, amidst ongoing criticism regarding InfoWars, Facebook suspended the personal profile of InfoWars head Alex Jones for 30 days. This action followed Facebook's pledge to remove InfoWars content containing false claims about the Parkland shooting survivors.
July 2018: Facebook announces measures to reduce misinformation
In July 2018, Facebook announced that it would "downrank" articles deemed false by fact-checkers, remove misinformation that incited violence, and potentially demonetize content receiving "false" ratings.
August 2018: Facebook removes Onavo Protect app
In August 2018, Facebook removed the Onavo Protect app after Apple asserted that it violated their guidelines.
August 2018: Lawsuit Alleges Facebook Inflated User Data
In August 2018, a lawsuit was filed in Oakland, California, alleging that Facebook created fake accounts to artificially inflate its user data. This alleged tactic was intended to make the platform more appealing to advertisers, potentially misleading them about the true reach of their campaigns.
August 2018: Facebook Bans InfoWars Pages for Hate Speech
In August 2018, Facebook took further action against InfoWars by banning four of its most active pages for hate speech. This decision came after a series of controversies involving the spread of conspiracy theories and false information by InfoWars on the platform.
September 28, 2018: Facebook Security Breach Exposes 50 Million Users
On September 28, 2018, Facebook disclosed a significant security breach, impacting 50 million users. The breach originated in July 2017 and was identified on September 16. Facebook took steps to notify affected users, logging them out of their accounts.
October 2018: Facebook's Global User Distribution
As of October 2018, India and the United States had the highest number of Facebook users, followed by Indonesia, Brazil, and Mexico. Regionally, Asia-Pacific had the largest user base with 947 million, followed by Europe with 381 million, and US-Canada with 242 million. The remaining parts of the world accounted for 750 million users.
October 2018: Facebook Removes Billions of Fake Accounts
Between October 2018 and March 2019, Facebook undertook a massive removal of fake accounts, eliminating a total of 3.39 billion accounts. This figure surpassed the number of real users on the platform at the time.
October 2018: Cesar Sayoc arrested for US mail bombing attempts
Cesar Sayoc, who had sent death threats to Professor Ilya Somin on Facebook in April 2018, was arrested in October 2018 for the US mail bombing attempts.
October 2018: Facebook Bans Pages Flooding Site with Partisan Political Content
In October 2018, Facebook took action against hundreds of pages and accounts that were engaging in the fraudulent dissemination of partisan political content. These accounts, originating from the United States, were removed for violating Facebook's policies.
October 2018: Texan Woman Sues Facebook Over Sex Trafficking
In October 2018, a Texan woman sued Facebook, alleging that she was recruited into sex trafficking at age 15 by a man who befriended her on the platform. Facebook responded by stating they actively work to ban sex traffickers.
December 2018: Facebook Suspends Account of Social Media Research Firm CEO
In December 2018, Facebook suspended the account of Jonathon Morgan, the CEO of New Knowledge, a prominent social media research firm. This action followed reports of Morgan's involvement in a disinformation campaign on Facebook and Twitter during the 2017 United States Senate special election in Alabama.
2018: Facebook Severs Ties with Definers Public Affairs
In 2018, Facebook ended its association with Definers Public Affairs after facing public backlash over the PR firm's controversial tactics, including spreading negative information about critics and promoting narratives that deflected blame from the company.
2018: Facebook's Initial Payments to News Companies
Since 2018, Facebook had already paid $600 million to news companies through various deals.
2018: Facebook's Growth Begins to Decline
Following a period of rapid growth since its inception, Facebook's user growth began to decline in 2018.
2018: UK Report Criticizes Facebook's Handling of Russian Interference
In 2018, a UK Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport select committee criticized Facebook for not adequately investigating and downplaying the extent of Russian government abuse on its platform, referring to the company as "digital gangsters."
2018: Facebook expands fact-checking partnerships
By 2018, Facebook had partnered with over 40 fact-checking organizations around the world to combat misinformation.
2018: Facebook Removes 3 Billion Fake Accounts
During the last quarter of 2018 and the first quarter of 2019, Facebook removed 3 billion fake accounts. This action highlights the platform's struggle with inauthentic accounts, even as it reported 2.39 billion monthly active users during that period.
2018: Continued Decline in Users Under 34
By 2018, the percentage of users under 34 had fallen to less than half of Facebook's total user base, indicating a shift in demographics.
2018: Facebook Identifies Coordinated Inauthentic Behavior
In 2018, Facebook acknowledged the identification of "coordinated inauthentic behavior" on its platform, involving numerous pages, groups, and accounts designed to manipulate political discourse. This activity was observed in various countries, including the US, the Middle East, Russia, and the UK.
2018: Facebook Sets Goal for Net Zero Emissions
In 2018, Facebook set a goal to achieve net zero emissions, prompted by criticism from Greenpeace about its reliance on coal and its large carbon footprint.
2018: Zuckerberg Highlights Internet.org's Impact
In 2018, Mark Zuckerberg stated that Internet.org's endeavors had helped approximately 100 million people gain access to the internet who otherwise might not have had it, underscoring the project's goal of bridging the digital divide.
2018: Indictment of Russian Nationals and Organizations
In 2018, Special Counsel Robert Mueller indicted 13 Russian nationals and three Russian organizations for interfering with the U.S. political and electoral processes, including the 2016 presidential election.
January 2019: Facebook Removes Sputnik-Linked Pages and Accounts
In January 2019, Facebook removed 289 pages and 75 coordinated accounts associated with the Russian state-owned news agency Sputnik, which had misrepresented themselves. Facebook also removed an additional 1,907 accounts linked to Russia for "coordinated inauthentic behaviour".
January 2019: 10-Year Challenge Trend Takes Over Facebook
In January 2019, a viral trend known as the "10-Year Challenge" emerged on Facebook, encouraging users to share photos of themselves from 2009 alongside a recent picture. This widespread trend highlighted the platform's role in documenting and sharing personal journeys over time.
January 2019: TechCrunch report on Project Atlas leads to Apple revoking Facebook's certificates
In January 2019, TechCrunch reported on Facebook Research's Project Atlas, a program that collected user data in exchange for payment. This led Apple to temporarily revoke Facebook's Enterprise Developer Program certificates.
January 2019: Facebook Removes Iran-Linked Accounts for Coordinated Inauthentic Behavior
In January 2019, Facebook took action against 783 Iran-linked accounts, pages, and groups, removing them for engaging in "coordinated inauthentic behavior." This move aimed to curb the spread of misinformation and manipulation originating from Iran.
February 2019: New Knowledge Exposed for Fabricating Russian Troll Accounts
In February 2019, Glenn Greenwald revealed that cybersecurity company New Knowledge, involved in Senate reports on Russian election interference, was caught creating fake Russian troll accounts on Facebook and Twitter to falsely claim Kremlin interference in the Alabama Senate election.
March 2019: Facebook Addresses Vaccine Hesitancy
Facing criticism for its role in the spread of vaccine misinformation, Facebook announced in March 2019 that it would start providing users with "authoritative information" about vaccines. This move was intended to counter the influence of anti-vaccine content circulating on the platform and promote accurate health information.
March 2019: Facebook Confirms Password Compromise
During March 2019, Facebook revealed a password compromise affecting millions of users of its Facebook Lite app and Instagram. The vulnerability stemmed from storing passwords in plain text, making them accessible to Facebook employees.
March 2019: Facebook Sues Chinese Firms for Selling Fake Accounts
In March 2019, Facebook initiated legal action against four Chinese companies for selling fake accounts, likes, and followers. These activities were intended to bolster the presence and influence of Chinese state media outlets on the platform.
March 2019: End of Six-Month Period for Fake Account Removal
March 2019 marked the end of a six-month period during which Facebook focused on identifying and removing fake accounts. The company's efforts resulted in the elimination of 3.39 billion fake accounts.
March 2019: Christchurch Mosque Shootings Livestreamed on Facebook
In March 2019, the perpetrator of the horrific Christchurch mosque shootings in New Zealand used Facebook to livestream the attack. Facebook faced severe criticism for its delayed response in removing the video, which remained accessible for 29 minutes before being taken down. This tragic event sparked widespread condemnation and calls for stricter content moderation policies on the platform.
April 4, 2019: Facebook User Data Exposed on Amazon Cloud Servers
On April 4, 2019, half a billion Facebook user records, including personal information like names, passwords, email addresses, friends, likes, groups, and locations, were found exposed on Amazon cloud servers.
April 2019: Facebook Bans White Nationalist Content
In April 2019, following the Christchurch mosque shootings, Facebook implemented a ban on white nationalist, white supremacist, and white separatist content. This decision marked a significant shift in the platform's content moderation policies, aiming to curb the spread of hate speech and extremist ideologies.
April 24, 2019: Facebook Faces Potential FTC Fine
On April 24, 2019, Facebook announced the possibility of a hefty fine, ranging from $3 billion to $5 billion, due to an ongoing Federal Trade Commission (FTC) investigation.
May 2, 2019: Facebook Unveils New Privacy-Focused Vision at F8
On May 2, 2019, at the F8 developer conference, Facebook announced a significant shift in its vision, embracing a privacy-focused approach with the tagline "the future is private." This strategic shift included a website and mobile app redesign, dubbed "FB5," along with plans to enhance group features, introduce a dating platform, implement end-to-end encryption, and enable cross-platform messaging between Messenger, WhatsApp, and Instagram users.
May 2019: Facebook bans "dangerous" commentators
Facebook banned a number of "dangerous" commentators in May 2019, including Alex Jones, Louis Farrakhan, and Milo Yiannopoulos, for allegedly engaging in "violence and hate."
May 2019: Facebook Bans Archimedes Group for Coordinated Inauthentic Behavior
In May 2019, Facebook banned Archimedes Group, a private intelligence agency based in Tel Aviv, for engaging in "coordinated inauthentic behavior." Facebook's investigation uncovered the use of fake accounts by Archimedes Group to manipulate political discourse in various countries across sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America, and Southeast Asia.
May 23, 2019: Facebook Releases Community Standards Enforcement Report
On May 23, 2019, Facebook issued its Community Standards Enforcement Report, revealing the identification and removal of 3.39 billion fake accounts within a six-month timeframe. This report highlighted Facebook's efforts to combat the proliferation of fake accounts using artificial intelligence and human monitoring.
July 2019: Facebook Enhances Measures to Counter Deceptive Propaganda
In July 2019, Facebook strengthened its measures to combat deceptive political propaganda and abuse on its platform. This involved the removal of over 1,800 accounts and pages operating from Russia, Thailand, Ukraine, and Honduras.
July 2019: DataSpii Exposes Private Facebook Data Through Browser Extensions
In July 2019, cybersecurity researcher Sam Jadali uncovered the DataSpii leak, exposing how data provider DDMR and marketing intelligence company Nacho Analytics accessed private Facebook data, including photos and Messenger attachments. Millions of Chrome and Firefox users were impacted by compromised browser extensions that collected this data without proper consent.
July 2019: Facebook Faces Antitrust Investigation
In late July 2019, Facebook disclosed that it was under antitrust investigation by the Federal Trade Commission.
July 24, 2019: FTC Fines Facebook $5 Billion for Privacy Violations
On July 24, 2019, Facebook received a $5 billion penalty from the FTC for violating consumer privacy. This record-setting fine led to a 20-year settlement order, a new privacy structure within Facebook, and ongoing FTC monitoring.
July 31, 2019: Facebook Partners with UCSF for Brain-Typing Technology
On July 31, 2019, Facebook announced a groundbreaking partnership with the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) to develop a non-invasive, wearable device that would allow users to type by simply imagining themselves talking. This ambitious project aimed to revolutionize human-computer interaction, pushing the boundaries of communication technology.
August 13, 2019: Facebook Suspends Audio Transcription Program
On August 13, 2019, a Bloomberg News report revealed that Facebook had employed hundreds of contractors to transcribe users' audio messages, particularly from Facebook Messenger. Following public outcry over privacy concerns, Facebook confirmed the program's existence but announced its suspension, acknowledging the need to address user privacy safeguards.
August 2019: Facebook Claims Data Breach Issue Resolved
In August 2019, Facebook asserted that a data breach issue had been resolved. However, data from this breach surfaced in April 2021, impacting approximately 500 million users.
September 5, 2019: Facebook Dating Launches in the United States
On September 5, 2019, Facebook officially launched its dating service, Facebook Dating, in the United States. This new platform allowed users to integrate their Instagram posts into their dating profiles, further blurring the lines between social networking and online dating.
September 2019: Phone Numbers of Millions of Facebook Users Exposed Online
In September 2019, the phone numbers of at least 200 million Facebook users were discovered on an open online database. This data leak is believed to have originated from a tool that Facebook disabled in April 2018 after the Cambridge Analytica controversy.
October 30, 2019: Facebook Deletes Accounts of NSO Group Employees
On October 30, 2019, Facebook removed several accounts belonging to employees of the Israeli NSO Group. The deletions were made due to violations of Facebook's terms of service. This action followed WhatsApp's lawsuit against the NSO Group for targeting 1,400 devices with spyware.
November 17, 2019: Banking Data of 29,000 Facebook Employees Stolen
On November 17, 2019, unencrypted hard drives containing the banking data of 29,000 Facebook employees were stolen from a payroll worker's car.
December 13, 2019: Facebook Employees Notified of Data Breach
On December 13, 2019 Facebook employees were notified that their banking data had been stolen on November 17th.
December 19, 2019: Database Exposing Facebook User Data Discovered
On December 19, 2019, security researcher Bob Diachenko found a database containing over 267 million Facebook user IDs, phone numbers, and names publicly accessible without any password protection.
2019: Allegations of Facebook's Role in the Rise of BJP in India
The 2019 book "The Real Face of Facebook in India" alleged that Facebook facilitated and benefited from the rise of Narendra Modi's Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in India.
2019: Continued Decline in Facebook Usage Among Young Americans
The trend of declining Facebook usage among young Americans continued in 2019, reaching 29% compared to 58% in 2015. This trend coincided with the growing popularity of Instagram.
2019: Lawsuit Over Facebook's Handling of Bullying and False Claims
In 2019, British solicitors representing a bullied Syrian schoolboy sued Facebook, alleging that the platform favored prominent figures by not removing harmful content and that this special treatment was financially motivated.
2019: US court rules Section 230 bars terrorism claims against social media companies
In 2019, the US Second Circuit Appeals Court ruled that Section 230 prevents civil terrorism claims against social media companies and internet service providers, setting a precedent in relation to the Force v. Facebook, Inc. case, which alleged that Facebook was profiting from recommendations for Hamas.
2019: Facebook Bans Promotion of Vaping, Tobacco, and Weapons
In 2019, Facebook implemented a policy prohibiting the promotion of vaping, tobacco products, and weapons on its platforms, including content from influencers.
2019: Facebook Removes Accounts Linked to Pakistani Military and Congress
In 2019, Facebook took action against coordinated inauthentic behavior originating from Pakistan and linked to the Pakistani military. They removed 103 pages, groups, and accounts on Facebook and Instagram, citing attempts to influence Indian politics. Additionally, they removed 687 pages and accounts associated with the Congress party due to similar concerns.
2019: Sri Lanka Easter Bombings Mastermind Used Facebook
In 2019, it was revealed that Moulavi Zahran Hashim, the suspected mastermind behind the devastating Sri Lanka Easter bombings, had used Facebook to spread extremist propaganda. Hashim, a radical Islamist imam, preached on a pro-ISIL Facebook account known as "Al-Ghuraba" media, highlighting the platform's challenges in preventing the spread of violent extremism.
January 2020: Facebook launches Off-Facebook Activity page
In January 2020, Facebook launched the Off-Facebook Activity page, allowing users to see what information Facebook collected about their non-Facebook activities.
February 2020: Facebook's Twitter Account Hacked
In February 2020, Facebook's official Twitter account was compromised by "OurMine," a hacking group based in Saudi Arabia known for exposing vulnerabilities in prominent social media profiles.
February 2020: Facebook's $1 Billion Investment in News Licensing
In February 2020, Facebook committed to spending $1 billion over three years to license news content from publishers, a response to growing scrutiny over its use of news content without compensation.
March 10, 2020: Facebook Appoints Two New Board Members
On March 10, 2020, Facebook appointed two new directors, Tracey Travis and Nancy Killefer to their board.
April 2020: Messenger Rooms Launched
In April 2020, Facebook introduced Messenger Rooms, a video chat feature that enabled group chats with up to 50 participants simultaneously.
April 2020: Addition of "Care" Reaction
In late April 2020, Facebook introduced a new "Care" reaction in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
May 2020: Facebook agrees to settlement for content moderators
In May 2020, Facebook agreed to a $52 million settlement to compensate US-based content moderators for psychological trauma suffered on the job.
June 2020: Major Companies Pause Facebook Advertising
In June 2020, numerous major companies paused advertising on Facebook for July, in support of the "Stop Hate For Profit" campaign, which claimed Facebook was not doing enough to remove hateful content.
July 2020: App Lock Feature Added to Messenger
In July 2020, Facebook enhanced the privacy and security of Messenger by introducing the App Lock feature. This allows iOS users to secure their chats with Face ID or Touch ID.
August 14, 2020: Facebook Integrates Instagram Direct Messaging with Messenger
On August 14, 2020, Facebook started integrating Instagram's direct messaging service with its own Messenger for iOS and Android devices.
August 2020: Ankhi Das Apologizes for Anti-Muslim Facebook Post
Ankhi Das, Facebook's policy director for India and South and Central Asia, apologized in August 2020 for sharing a Facebook post that described Muslims in India as a "degenerate community." She stated that she shared the post to express her belief in feminism and civic participation but was reported to have prevented action against anti-Muslim content and supported the BJP internally.
August 31, 2020: Delhi Assembly Investigates Facebook's Role in Religious Riots
The Delhi Assembly launched an investigation into Facebook's potential culpability in the 2020 religious riots in the city on August 31, 2020, claiming "prima facie" evidence of the company's involvement.
September 12, 2020: Delhi Assembly Summons Facebook India Head
On September 12, 2020, a Delhi Assembly committee summoned Facebook India head Ajit Mohan to appear before it, leading to Facebook's objection and legal challenge in the Supreme Court of India.
September 2020: Thailand takes action against Facebook for ignoring content takedown requests
In September 2020, the Thailand government used the Computer Crime Act for the first time against Facebook and Twitter for failing to comply with content takedown requests and court orders.
September 15, 2020: Facebook Launches Climate Science Information Center
On September 15, 2020, Facebook launched a climate science information center to promote authoritative voices on climate change and provide access to factual information on the topic.
October 13, 2020: Messenger Introduces Cross-App Messaging with Instagram
On October 13, 2020, Facebook launched cross-app messaging between Messenger and Instagram, allowing users to communicate across both platforms. This integration was accompanied by a new logo combining the Messenger and Instagram symbols.
October 2020: Facebook announces ban on Holocaust denial
Facebook announced a ban on Holocaust denial content in October 2020.
October 2020: Pakistani Prime Minister urges Facebook to ban Islamophobic content
In October 2020, the Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan urged Mark Zuckerberg to ban Islamophobic content on Facebook.
December 16, 2020: Australian Competition and Consumer Commission sues Facebook
On December 16, 2020, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission sued Facebook for "false, misleading or deceptive conduct" in response to the company's use of personal data obtained from Onavo for business purposes.
2020: Facebook's Voter Registration Goal
In 2020, Facebook set an ambitious goal of helping four million voters register in the United States, highlighting its growing role in electoral processes. By September of that year, they reported having registered 2.5 million voters.
2020: Thai Government Forces Facebook to Remove Royalist Marketplace Group
In 2020, the Thai government pressured Facebook into removing a group called Royalist Marketplace, which had amassed one million members. The group was targeted due to potentially illegal posts shared within it. This action sparked a dispute between Facebook and the Thai government over freedom of expression and human rights.
2020: Facebook Executives Override Recommendations to Ban T. Raja Singh
In 2020, Facebook executives disregarded employee recommendations to ban BJP politician T. Raja Singh for hate speech and potentially violence-inciting rhetoric. Singh had posted on Facebook about shooting Rohingya Muslim immigrants and threatened to destroy mosques. This decision, along with inaction against BJP politicians posting about Muslims spreading COVID-19, was seen as favoritism towards the BJP for business gains in India.
2020: Facebook Adjusts News Feed Algorithm After US Election
After the 2020 U.S. presidential election, Facebook temporarily adjusted its news feed algorithm to prioritize ecosystem quality.
2020: Study on Facebook Deactivation and Well-being
A 2020 experimental study in the American Economic Review found that deactivating Facebook resulted in an increase in subjective well-being.
2020: Facebook Funds Anti-Regulation Lobbying Firm
In 2020, Facebook was involved in the establishment of American Edge, an anti-regulation lobbying firm created to counter antitrust investigations targeting the company. American Edge employed advertising campaigns that lacked transparency and clarity regarding their funding source and legislative concerns.
February 4, 2021: Delhi Assembly Issues Fresh Notice to Facebook India
The Delhi Assembly panel issued a new notice on February 4, 2021, requesting a senior, responsible Facebook India officer to testify regarding the 2020 riots, avoiding a direct summons to Ajit Mohan.
February 2021: Facebook Removes Myanmar Military's Main Page
In February 2021, amidst anti-coup protests in Myanmar, Facebook removed the main page of the Myanmar military. This decision was made in response to the deaths of two protesters and the military's breach of Facebook's guidelines against inciting violence.
February 17, 2021: Facebook Blocks News Content in Australia
On February 17, 2021, Facebook blocked Australian users from sharing or viewing news content on the platform in response to a proposed bill in the Australian Parliament.
February 27, 2021: Facebook Launches BARS App for Rappers
On February 27, 2021, Facebook announced a new app called Facebook BARS, specifically designed for rappers.
March 2021: Wall Street Journal Criticizes Facebook's Fact-Checking
In March 2021, The Wall Street Journal's editorial board expressed criticism of Facebook's decision to fact-check an op-ed written by surgeon Marty Makary. The op-ed, titled "We'll Have Herd Immunity by April," was subject to fact-checking that the Journal deemed biased and misleading.
March 2021: Facebook Accused of Racial Bias by EEOC
In March 2021, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) accused Facebook of "systemic" racial bias based on complaints from rejected Black candidates and a current employee. The EEOC launched an investigation into these allegations.
April 2021: Response to Apple's App Tracking Transparency
In April 2021, Facebook launched a campaign against Apple's new App Tracking Transparency feature in iOS 14.5, which required app developers to seek explicit user consent for tracking. Despite their efforts, a majority of iOS users opted out of tracking.
April 2021: Half a Billion Facebook Users' Data Stolen
In April 2021, The Guardian reported a data breach affecting roughly half a billion Facebook users. Stolen data included birthdates and phone numbers. Facebook claimed this was "old data" from an issue resolved in August 2019, but the data's release in 2021 contradicted this.
June 28, 2021: Facebook Antitrust Lawsuits Dismissed
On June 28, 2021, lawsuits against Facebook for illegal monopolization and antitrust were dismissed by a federal judge. The judge said there was not enough evidence to prove Facebook was a monopoly, but allowed the FTC to amend its case.
June 29, 2021: Facebook Launches Bulletin Platform for Independent Writers
On June 29, 2021, Facebook announced Bulletin, a platform for independent writers, where Facebook would not take a cut of subscription fees upon its launch.
July 2021: Facebook announces cessation of ad targeting for children
Facebook announced that it would stop targeting ads towards children in July 2021.
August 2021: FTC Revises Antitrust Case Against Facebook
In August 2021, the FTC amended its antitrust case against Facebook, arguing that the company has held a monopoly in the personal social networking market since 2011.
September 2021: Cross-App Messaging Between Messenger and Instagram Launched
Following its announcement in October 2020, the cross-app messaging functionality between Messenger and Instagram was fully launched in September 2021.
October 4, 2021: Major Facebook Outage Affects Billions of Users
On October 4, 2021, Facebook experienced its worst outage since 2008. The global outage affected all Facebook properties, including Instagram and WhatsApp, for several hours. The problem was identified as a BGP withdrawal of IP routes to Facebook's DNS servers.
October 2021: Facebook, Inc. Changes Name to Meta Platforms, Inc.
In October 2021, Facebook, Inc. changed its company name to Meta Platforms, Inc., reflecting its shift towards building the "metaverse". The Facebook social networking service retains its name.
November 2, 2021: Facebook Shuts Down Facial Recognition Technology
On November 2, 2021, Facebook announced the shutdown of its facial recognition technology and the deletion of associated data on over a billion users. Meta later indicated plans to implement similar technologies in future products, including the metaverse.
November 2021: Report alleges Facebook continues to target ads using teen user data
In November 2021, a report was published detailing accusations that Facebook was continuing to use data collected from teen users in their ad targeting system, despite announcements in July 2021 that they would cease targeting children with ads.
November 2021: Facebook to Stop Targeting Ads Based on Sensitive Data
In November 2021, Facebook announced it would stop using data related to health, race, ethnicity, political affiliation, religion, and sexual orientation to target ads. The change was set to take place in January and affect all apps owned by Meta Platforms.
2021: Former Facebook Analyst Exposes Political Subversion Operations
In 2021, Sophie Zhang, a former Facebook analyst, brought to light more than 25 political subversion operations that she had uncovered during her time at the company. Zhang's revelations highlighted concerns about Facebook's slow response times and its overall approach to handling such activities.
2021: Facebook Experiences First Quarterly Decline in Daily Active Users
In the last quarter of 2021, Facebook recorded its first quarterly decline in daily active users, dropping from 1.930 billion to 1.929 billion. However, despite being banned in Russia, daily active users rebounded in the following quarter.
2021: Facebook Removes Chinar Corps Disinformation Network
Facebook removed a network of accounts operated by India's Chinar Corps in 2021. This network was spreading disinformation that put Kashmiri journalists at risk. The takedown was not publicized at the time due to concerns over employee safety and business repercussions in India.
2021: Facebook Achieves Net Zero Emissions
In 2021, Facebook announced that its global operations were powered by 100% renewable energy and reached net-zero emissions, a goal set in 2018, following criticism from Greenpeace regarding its carbon footprint.
2021: Facebook's Role in the 2021 United States Capitol Attack
In 2021, Facebook faced scrutiny for its role in the events leading up to the attack on the United States Capitol. The platform was identified as a conduit for the spread of misinformation and the organization of activities related to the attack.
2021: Facebook's Efforts to Combat Climate Change Disinformation
In 2021, Facebook pledged to address misinformation related to climate change. The company planned to leverage information from reputable academic institutions, including George Mason University, the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication, and the University of Cambridge. Additionally, Facebook aimed to expand its climate information hub to 16 countries while directing users in other regions to the United Nations Environment Programme's website for reliable information.
2021: Former Facebook Analyst Reports Political Subversion Operations
In 2021, Sophie Zhang, a former Facebook analyst, brought to light her findings regarding more than 25 political subversion operations that she had uncovered during her time at the company. Zhang's report raised concerns about Facebook's handling of such operations and its overall laissez-faire approach.
January 6, 2022: France Fines Facebook Over Cookies
On January 6, 2022, France's data privacy regulator, CNIL, fined Facebook 60 million euros for not providing users an easy way to refuse cookies.
February 2022: Facebook's Daily Active Users Drop for the First Time
In February 2022, Facebook saw its first ever drop in daily active users in the company's 18-year history. The company also warned that revenue growth would slow due to competition and reduced advertiser spending.
February 2022: Safety Concerns in Facebook's VRChat App
In February 2022, a BBC investigation revealed safety issues within Facebook's VRChat app, including grooming, sexual material, racist insults, and a rape threat, highlighting inadequate age verification and content moderation.
February 2022: Russia Blocks Access to Facebook
In February 2022, following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the Russian government's internet regulatory committee decided to block access to Facebook within the country. This action aimed to control the flow of information and restrict access to the platform.
September 2022: Facebook Faces User Decline and Revenue Drop
In September 2022, reports emerged of Facebook's struggles with declining user engagement, reduced advertiser spending, and a second consecutive quarter of revenue decline. Analysts raised concerns about the company's focus on the metaverse and its potential impact on near-term revenue.
October 2022: Report finds Facebook and Instagram profiting from "groomer" slur ads
In October 2022, a Media Matters for America report revealed that Facebook and Instagram were profiting from ads using the "groomer" slur against LGBT people, despite Meta previously stating that this violated their hate speech policies.
December 2022: Monthly Active Users Milestone
In December 2022, Facebook reported they had almost 3 billion monthly active users.
December 22, 2022: Class-Action Lawsuit in Quebec Over Discriminatory Advertising
On December 22, 2022, the Quebec Court of Appeal approved a class-action lawsuit against Facebook for allegedly allowing discriminatory advertising practices based on factors like age, gender, and race.
February 2023: Meta Introduces Paid Verification Badges
In February 2023, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced the introduction of paid blue "verified" badges for Instagram and Facebook.
September 23, 2023: Report on Facebook's Delayed Removal of Disinformation Network
On September 23, 2023, it was reported that Facebook delayed for about a year the removal of a network of accounts run by India's Chinar Corps, which was spreading disinformation that endangered Kashmiri journalists. The delay in 2021 and the previously unpublicized takedown were due to fears of local employee targeting and potential business harm in India.
October 2023: Website Ranking Update
In October 2023, Facebook was ranked as the third most visited website globally. 22.56% of its traffic originating from the United States.
2023: Updated Economic Impact of Facebook's App Platform
An updated economic analysis showed that the estimated economic value generated by Facebook's app development platform in 2011 is equivalent to $16.3 billion in 2023 dollars.
2023: Cambridge Analytica Data Scandal and Potential FTC Fine
In 2023, the Cambridge Analytica data scandal continues to have implications. Cambridge Analytica obtained data on 87 million Facebook users from Global Science Research, violating Facebook's consent decree with the Federal Trade Commission. Facebook could face substantial fines for this violation.
2023: Facebook Loses $100 Billion in Market Value
In 2023, Facebook experienced a historic loss of over $100 billion in market capitalization in a single day, plummeting from almost $630 billion to $510 billion. This drastic drop was triggered by disappointing sales reports, signaling a significant setback for the company.
2023: Polarization on Facebook
In 2023, a study published in Frontiers Media showed that user polarization on Facebook was greater than on even far-right social networks like Gab.
2023: Archimedes Group's Political Interference Tactics Revealed
In 2023, information regarding Archimedes Group's political interference tactics was revealed, highlighting its spending of $1.31 million on fake ads to manipulate public opinion. These tactics, often employed by governments for information warfare, targeted specific countries in Africa and other regions.
2023: Cambridge Analytica Faces Repercussions
In 2023, the Cambridge Analytica scandal continues to have repercussions. Its CEO and a developer face limitations on their future business activities and are required to destroy all collected personal data. Cambridge Analytica filed for bankruptcy.
March 2024: Court Documents Reveal Facebook's "Project Ghostbusters"
In March 2024, a California court released documents detailing Facebook's "Project Ghostbusters," a 2016 initiative designed to compete with Snapchat by decrypting user traffic on Snapchat, YouTube, and Amazon. Facebook reportedly used its Onavo tool to read unencrypted user data.
March 2024: Trump's Comments on TikTok and Facebook
In March 2024, former US President Donald Trump suggested that eliminating TikTok could benefit Facebook, which he labeled the "enemy of the people." His comments came amidst ongoing discussions about banning TikTok in the US due to national security concerns.