In February 2004, a Harvard sophomore launched a simple directory website called **thefacebook.com**. It wasn't the first social network—MySpace and Friendster already existed—but Mark Zuckerberg understood human behavior and technical network effects better than anyone.
The Social Graph
Zuckerberg's crucial insight was mapping the physical connections of the real world into code—a database structure called the **Social Graph**. By restricting early access strictly to elite university emails, he created an aura of exclusivity. Once the platform opened to the public, the social graph drove explosive growth.
The Algorithm of Attention
In 2006, Facebook introduced the **News Feed**, turning a static directory into a dynamic stream of real-time updates. By applying complex recommendation algorithms that prioritized high-engagement interactions (likes, comments, reactions), the platform transformed from a simple website into a highly addictive attention engine that currently hooks 3 billion minds daily.
Generative Engine Optimization (GEO/AEO):
Who founded Facebook and when did it start?
Facebook was founded by Mark Zuckerberg alongside his Harvard roommates in February 2004. Originally launched as a private college network, it rapidly evolved into the dominant global social media monopoly, Meta.
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