Facebook, created by Mark Zuckerberg in 2004, revolutionized the way we connect and share information. From a simple college project to one of the largest social networks in the world, the platform has constantly evolved, reflecting changes in technology and user behavior.
But beyond the news and updates, Facebook has a fascinating side full of curiosities. From its innovative features to the secrets behind its algorithms, the social network offers a vast field of discoveries.
Did you know that the “Like” button was a relatively recent idea? Or that Facebook has undergone privacy crises that shaped its current policies? In this text, we will explore these and other curiosities that show how Facebook has become a cornerstone of modern digital life.
Get ready for an intriguing dive into the backstage of this social media giant.
1 – MARK ZUCKERBERG HAS ALWAYS HAD A TALENT FOR PROGRAMMING
Mark Elliot Zuckerberg was born in 1984, the son of a dentist and a psychiatrist. His interest in programming emerged at age 13 when his father gave him a book titled “C++ for Dummies”.
At that time, Mark already displayed a remarkable talent for programming, which was further honed by private lessons provided by his father.
At just 13 years old, he was already seen as a prodigy by his tutor.
2 – “ZUCKNET”
At age 13, Mark developed his first social network, which later influenced the creation of Facebook. He named this network Zucknet, allowing the computers in his home and his father’s office to exchange messages via a ping system.
Around the same time, Mark also created new versions of games, including a customized version of Monopoly that was played at his school.
These early projects marked the beginning of his journey towards creating Facebook.
3 – IT ALL STARTED AT HARVARD
While studying psychology at Harvard University in 2003, Mark Zuckerberg, along with his friends Eduardo Saverin, Chris Hughes, and Dustin Moskovitz, created “Facemash”. The site allowed users to compare photos of classmates and choose who they found more attractive, functioning as a sort of game among students.
In just four hours, the site attracted over 450 visits and recorded 22,000 photo views. However, since the images were obtained from the university’s internal database, the site caused controversy among Harvard authorities and some students.
Zuckerberg had hacked into the university’s network security system to access the images. In 2010, the domain facemash.com was sold at auction for US$30,201.
4 – “THEFACEBOOK”
In 2004, Mark Zuckerberg and his three university friends launched “TheFacebook”. The site went live in February 2004 and only introduced the “wall”, a feature that allowed users to send messages to their friends, in September.
By December of that year, the platform had already reached one million users, being exclusively for university students at the time.
This was the starting point that marked the birth of Facebook.
5 – AL PACINO’S PHOTO
Today’s users probably don’t know that in 2004, when accessing “TheFacebook”, they would find a photo of Al Pacino. The photo appeared in the top left corner, next to the name “TheFacebook” in brackets, as if it were a logo.
The choice of the image has an interesting backstory: Mark Zuckerberg asked a friend, Andrew McCollum, to create an image for the page’s logo. Andrew says he was inspired by a photo of a young Al Pacino for the design.
However, some keen observers believe the image was actually a vector version of a photo of Peter Wolf, lead singer of the J.
Geils Band, which could be found in a Microsoft clipart package. Many notice similarities between the two faces, especially in the pose.
The image was removed from the site in 2007.
6 – EXPANDING TO OTHER UNIVERSITIES AND COUNTRIES
Initially, the social network expanded to other universities, such as Stanford, Columbia, and Yale, and was quickly adopted by most of them, including in Canada. Soon after, TheFacebook began to be simply called Facebook. In 2005, the domain “facebook.com” was acquired for US$200,000.
At this stage, the platform expanded to other countries, such as the UK, Puerto Rico, Australia, New Zealand, and Ireland, but it was necessary to receive an invitation to join the network. In September 2006, Facebook was opened to the general public, allowing anyone with a valid email address and over 13 years old to register.
7 – WHY IS FACEBOOK BLUE?
Since the creation of Facebook, its interface has been dominated by various shades of blue. This is because Mark Zuckerberg is colorblind to red and green.
Interestingly, due to this condition, his eyes are more sensitive to blue, allowing him to distinguish nuances of the color that many people cannot perceive.
8 – BREASTFEEDING PHOTOS
After years of controversy over the posting of breastfeeding photos, Facebook changed its policy, allowing users to share images of breastfeeding, even if they include visible breasts and nipples, without the risk of having their profiles deleted without warning.
Until June 2014, these photos were removed as they were considered content that could be confused with pornography.
9 – HACKERS TRY TO HACK EVERY DAY
According to Facebook, there are about 600,000 daily attempts to hack accounts on the platform. Hackers and cybercriminals seek to access users’ messages, photos, and other personal information.
By revealing these numbers, the social network highlighted the importance for users to be cautious when choosing their passwords and interacting with offers from people who seem to be friends on the network.
10 – THE CAUSE OF MANY DIVORCES
Frequent use of Facebook has helped redefine the causes of divorces. Previously, signs like lipstick marks on collars or suspicious phone calls were causes for mistrust; today, jealousy has a new factor.
A survey conducted by an online divorce service in the UK revealed that Facebook has been involved in one in three separations in the country.
This is because the information shared on the social network makes it easier to discover cases of infidelity, past betrayals, and involvement with other people.
11 – DEAD AND LIVING PEOPLE
By 2060, the number of deceased profiles on Facebook is expected to surpass the number of living people. This projection is based on the analysis of the rate of new registrations and the deaths of users on the platform.
12 – THE “LIKE” BUTTON
The concept of the “Like” button was not originally developed by Facebook. The idea came from an internal project aimed at creating a simple and quick way for users to interact with content. Before the “Like” button was launched, Facebook’s development team considered several other names, such as “Awesome”.
However, they chose “Like” because it was more universal and applicable to different contexts.
When it was launched in 2009, the “Like” button quickly became one of the primary forms of engagement on the platform. It transformed the way people interacted online, encouraging a culture of social validation. The number of “likes” became a metric of popularity, leading users and content creators to seek ways to increase engagement.
The impact of the “Like” button was so significant that other social media platforms, such as Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube, adopted similar features. Additionally, the button influenced design and user experience (UX) on various other platforms, making the concept of “liking” a standard element of the internet.
Facebook evolved from a university platform into one of the most influential and widely used social networks in the world. The platform has not only facilitated global connections but has also triggered debates on privacy, mental health, and social influence.
The ongoing development of Facebook reflects both its achievements and the challenges it faces, such as combating misinformation and adapting to changing user expectations.
Looking at Facebook’s lasting impact, it is clear that while it continues to shape the digital landscape, it also highlights the need for a thoughtful and critical approach to its practices and effects on society.