Meta Platforms

Meta Platforms, Inc. is an American multinational technology conglomerate headquartered inMenlo Park, California, focused on building social technologies and immersive experiences.[1][2]Founded on February 4, 2004, byMark Zuckerbergalong with co-foundersDustin Moskovitz,Eduardo Saverin, andChris Hughesinitially as "TheFacebook" atHarvard University, the company operates leading social networking services includingFacebook,Instagram,WhatsApp,Messenger, andThreads, which collectively reach billions of monthly active users globally.[3][4]In October 2021, Facebook, Inc. rebranded to Meta Platforms, Inc. to emphasize ambitions beyondsocial media, particularly in developing themetaversethrough virtual reality hardware viaReality Labsand advancements inartificial intelligence.[5][6]Primarily generating revenue from digital advertising, Meta is one of the global leaders in digital advertising, forming a duopoly with Google and holding a significant market share through its social media ecosystem.[7]It reaches billions of daily active users across its apps, establishing it as the largest social media ecosystem.[8]Meta has achieved substantial market dominance but has also faced ongoing controversies related to data privacy practices,content moderationdecisions, and antitrust concerns, with empirical evidence indicating that many criticisms stem from regulatory pressures and selective media narratives rather than unmitigated corporate malfeasance.[9]