After 10 years of Facebook a lot has changed: Like who's logging on, the way it makes money, and the goals Zuckerberg and his team are chasing. But one thing that hasn't changed, after a decade, Facebook is just as relevant now as it has ever been.
Facebook went live for the first time February 4, 2004 from Mark Zuckerberg's Harvard dorm room. (Via Sony Pictures / "The Social Network")
Within one year, thefacebook.com reached 1 million college students across the country and that was without Facebook even offering the ability to upload photos yet — which came in October of 2005. (Via Slate)
In an interview with Harvard's student newspaper, a nonchalant Zuckerberg talked about the future of his social network, "I assume eventually I’ll make something that is profitable," adding "Maybe when I’m bored with it, then we’ll [sell the company], ... But I don’t see that happening anytime in the near future. ... And ‘near future’ being like anytime in the next seven or eight days."
As big as Facebook was at the time, it would only get bigger, reaching 550 million users in 2010 and one billion users by 2012.
But with more users comes grandparents, businesses and advertisers to begin making Facebook "uncool."
Though, according to Zuckerberg, cool isn't the goal anymore, "Maybe electricity was cool when it first came out, but pretty quickly people stopped talking about it because it’s not the new thing. … Are fewer people turning on their lights because it’s less cool?" (Via The Atlantic)
Now Facebook boasts a whopping 1.23 billion users worldwide and seems to have figured out how to make money as well. After a record-breaking public offering and then a very shaky start on the market, Facebook is now valued at more than $156 billion. (Via CBS)
Facebook reported a $1.5 billion profit last year and more than half of that revenue came from mobile advertising. Digital Trends writes, "What was perceived as Facebook’s Achilles Heel has turned into the company’s golden goose."
And seemingly Zuckerberg, will continue to steer the company to mobile. With the acquisition of Instagram in 2013 and the launch of the mobile app Paper, Facebook continues to put a major emphasis on its mobile users. (Via College Humor & Facebook)
Instagram boasts more than 150 million monthly active users and though Paper just launched, reviews seem to be positive with TheVerge writing "Mark Zuckerberg has finally done it. After a long succession of mobile mishaps, he has delivered the portable Facebookapp I've always wanted"
Zuckerberg posted his feelings on the momentous anniversary where else but his Facebook page, Tuesday morning writing, "I'm so grateful to be able to help build these tools for you. I feel a deep responsibility to make the most of my time here and serve you the best I can. Thank you for letting me be a part of this journey."
