The story of Facebook’s inception is the stuff of legend, having been popularised by the movie ‘the social network’ in 2010.
The very first version of Facebook was launched in February 2004, with the slight different name ‘Thefacebook’.
It was originally designed as a platform for students from Harvard University to connect with each other. The idea was infamously developed from ‘FaceMash’ – Zuckerberg’s DIY platform allowing users to rate the attractiveness of female students at Harvard.
Was Facebook the first social network?
The average person in the street might possibly quote ‘Facebook’ if asked about the first social network. In fact, there were others, of varying popularity.
Timeline of social network releases
Six Degrees – May 1996
Friends Reunited – June 2000
myspace – August 2003
Facebook – February 2004
YouTube – February 2005 (yes, this isn’t a social network, but it is interesting for context)
LinkedIn – May 2005
Bebo – July 2005
Twitter – July 2006
Instagram – October 2010
Google+ – June 2011
