Facebook, now known as Meta Platforms, is a social networking site that allows users to connect and share with family and friends online. It was created in 2004 by Mark Zuckerberg while he was enrolled at Harvard University. Initially designed for college students, it expanded to anyone over the age of 13 with a valid email address. Today, Facebook is the worlds largest social network, with more than 1 billion users worldwide. Users can send "friend requests" to people they may or may not know and share pictures, music, videos, and articles, as well as their own thoughts and opinions with however many people they like. Facebook also allows users to send messages and post status updates to keep in touch with friends and family. The site has made communicating much easier and has become an expected part of being online. Facebook is also a business and had its initial public offering on May 18, 2012, on the Nasdaq stock exchange trading under the symbol FB. On October 28, 2021, the company rebranded as Meta.