Facebook was created by Mark Zuckerberg at Harvard University in 2004. It started as a campus network but grew rapidly to include other universities and eventually the world. Facebook now has over 1.94 billion users globally and has acquired other popular apps like WhatsApp and Instagram. While Facebook enables people to connect and communicate with friends, it also faces criticisms around privacy, data monitoring, and potential for addiction through social games. Companies also find Facebook useful for advertising, recruiting workers, and raising brand awareness.