Facebook’s claim of being free is being questioned as personal information is exchanged for targeted advertising. The site’s signup page no longer states “It’s free and always will be,” but instead says “It’s quick and easy.” Facebook has not commented on the change, but analysts believe it is a more honest statement. Facebook was launched in 2004 by Mark Zuckerberg and his Harvard roommates, and was first funded by Zuckerberg and Eduardo Saverin until Peter Thiel became the lead investor.
You don’t have to pay a subscription fee to enjoy the benefits of Facebook’s social network, but is it really free? Have you always paid for Facebook, providing the social media giant with valuable personal information that allows them to return targeted advertising to you? This question was underlined in August 2019 when the Facebook signup page was changed, albeit slightly. The site used to tell the public that “It’s free and always will be,” but now the message reads, “It’s quick and easy.” Facebook has not announced the change and has been cautious about what all of this means. Analysts, however, say it’s probably just a more honest statement, especially given the European Parliament’s official statement in May, which acknowledges that data exchange is actually a form of payment.
A site millions now like:
TheFacebook was launched on February 3, 2004 by Mark Zuckerberg and his Harvard University roommates. By 2006, anyone over the age of 13 could log into the site with a valid email address.
Zuckerberg wrote the software for a site called FaceMash during his sophomore year in 2003. Facebook’s predecessor allowed visitors to compare photos of female students and decide which female student was more attractive.
Facebook was first incorporated in 2004 as a Florida limited liability company. Zuckerberg and Eduardo Saverin bore the cost of running the site until venture capitalist Peter Thiel became the lead investor, paying $500,000 USD for a 10.2 percent stake.
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