Facebook marks a milestone beyond two decades since its launch, a moment that highlights how a simple dormroom idea grew into a global community. The platform now connects billions of people, businesses, and creators, transforming how people share, learn, and engage daily. Over the years it expanded from a campus network to a broad ecosystem that includes groups, marketplace, live video, and tools for developers and brands. Its reach spans Canada, the United States, and countless other countries, shaping online communication and online culture. The numbers behind the site reflect a wide spectrum of activity: messages, comments, reactions, and shares fueling conversations, shaping trends, and driving digital commerce. Although privacy concerns and evolving policies have accompanied its growth, Facebook remains a central hub for social connection and content discovery for many people. This commentary offers a factual snapshot of its history and present-day influence, focusing on milestones and trivia that resonate with audiences across North America and beyond. Through these highlights, readers gain a sense of how Facebook has influenced everyday life on the internet and in real communities alike.
- Facebook originated in the early 2000s as a project led by Mark Zuckerberg. It launched in 2004 as TheFacebook, after a brief phase called Facemash during the experimental days. The venture started at Harvard and quickly expanded to other campuses, with fellow students and colleagues like Dustin Moskovitz, Eduardo Saverin, and Chris Hughes helping shape its direction in those early years.
- Today Facebook reports nearly three billion monthly active users, underscoring its position as one of the largest social networks globally. In Canada and the United States, it remains among the most popular platforms for staying in touch, discovering news, shopping through Marketplace, and connecting with communities. The scale translates into a vast ecosystem of advertisers, creators, and public figures who rely on the network to reach audiences across continents.
- The Social Network is a film released in 2010 that recounts the origin story of Facebook; it stars Jesse Eisenberg as Mark Zuckerberg and Andrew Garfield as Eduardo Saverin. The movie helped popularize the narrative about the early days of the platform while delving into the personalities and decisions that shaped its trajectory.
- In Canada and the United States, Facebook is one of the leading social networks, used by people to keep in touch with friends and family, join groups, follow pages, and run business pages for marketing and customer engagement. The platform’s tools for content creation, live video, and marketplace have kept it integral to daily life for many users in North America.
- Facebook maintains an official presence on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, sharing product updates and company news. The cross-posting and profile management across these networks help brands reach audiences where they already spend time, while keeping audiences informed about new features, policy changes, and community guidelines.
- There was a playful feature that allowed users to switch the interface to Pirate, transforming Friends into Mateys and turning likes into arr. This Easter egg appeared during earlier years and became a favourite anecdote among long-time users, illustrating the platform’s lighthearted side.
- The blue Facebook logo has a long-standing story behind its color choice. Mark Zuckerberg’s colorblindness is often cited as a reason for preferring blue, since blue is the color he can discern most clearly. The hue has also become a recognizable symbol for the service across apps, sites, and advertising.
- Celebrity influence on the platform is undeniable, with stars like Rihanna boasting massive followings that reach into the tens of millions. The extent of a celebrity’s audience on Facebook demonstrates the network’s role in entertainment, brand partnerships, and fan engagement, shaping how stars connect with fans and promote ventures.
- The Like button almost became the Awesome button in the early design phase. Designers debated naming nostalgia and energy into the core interaction, and the final choice became a simple, universally understood way to express approval. This small naming decision helped define how users engage with content on the platform.