We are going to kick things off with facebook.com or thefacebook.com, before Justin timberlake made them to drop the “the”.
I don’t think I need much introductions to what facebook is, we’ve all seen the movie. I’ll just do a quick summary though.
Facebook the company, is a $600B publicly traded corporation based out of United States and is the 6th most valuable company in the world. It is the world’s largest social network with, as of 2019, 2.45 billion monthly active users.
It was initially started in 2004 as a social network for Harvard students, later to all college students eventually became the social network we use today. Now, let’s go back in history and see how facebook was at its early stages.
The year is 2004
Hundreds Register for New Facebook Website
February 9, 2004 | thecrimson.com
After about a week of coding, Zuckerberg launched thefacebook.com last Wednesday afternoon. The website combines elements of a standard House face book with extensive profile features that allow students to search for others in their courses, social organizations and House.
100s register, you read that right. In 2004 internet, that’s considered VIRAL.
Facebook Expands Beyond Harvard
March 1, 2004 | thecrimson.com
Harvard students are no longer the only ones cyber-stalking their classmates and professors on thefacebook.com. With the click of a keyboard and squeak of a mouse, students at Columbia University and Stanford University can now track down that hottie in section or get help with problem sets.
Yep, It’s now becoming a phenomenon among the college going within a month of launching.
Facing Off Over The Facebook
September 15, 2004 | thecrimson.com
The founders of ConnectU allege that Zuckerberg stole their idea for a networking site while he was doing unpaid work for them. Zuckerberg then coded on overdrive, releasing thefacebook long before ConnectU came online. By the time Winklevoss and company’s offering was ready, Zuckerberg had already earned the allegiance of practically the entire College clientele. This being Harvard, ConnectU decided to sue.
The first of several controversies of Facebook. (Evan spiegel would later relate to the winklewoss)
Firm Invests $13M in Facebook
March 27, 2005 | thecrimson.com
Accel Partners, based in Silicon Valley, announced that it would invest in the 15-month old company, which currently has nearly three million registered users at over 800 colleges.
Finally, a validation for the website. TheFacebook has become Facebook and facebook.com is now Facebook the company.
That is it. Facebook grows exponential post this era, and it is what we see today. A behemoth.
Everything has to start somewhere. In Facebook’s case, the founder needed a way to get to know his fellow students.
That concludes our first issue. Please share with me any feedback you might have. mail@avinoth.com.
I have just started this newsletter, so any suggestions you provide would be awesome and this will help me in making this a best experience for all of you.