1) Mark Zuckerberg founded Facebook in 2004 while attending Harvard University after creating a similar website called Facemash that compared student photos. 2) Facebook has grown tremendously over the years, reaching over 50 million active users by 2007 and becoming the 6th most visited site in the US. 3) To create a Facebook profile, users need a computer, internet connection, and a valid email address. They can then customize privacy settings and connect with friends.

1. FacebookWhy Bother?

2. Who is this Guy?Mark Zuckerberg - founder and CEO of Facebook, which he started in his college dorm room in 2004 with roomatesDustin Moskovitz and Chris Hughes. Attended Harvard University and studied computer science before founding Facebook.While at Harvard, he created Facemash, a website that compared students’ dorm photos side-by-side in a fashion similar to HOT or NOT. Harvard administration was not amused, and Zuckerberg faced subsequent disciplinary action.Less than three months later, he launched Facebook.http://www.crunchbase.com/person/mark-zuckerberg

3. Show Me the Money!Friendster attempted to acquire the company for $10 million in mid 2004.In the summer of 2006, Yahoo attempted to acquire the company for $1 billion dollars. Microsoft invested $240 million into Facebook for 1.6 percent of the company in October 2007. This meant a valuation of over $15 billion, making Facebook the 5th most valuable US Internet company, yet with only $150 million in annual revenue. Many explained Microsoft’s decision as being solely driven by the desire to outbid Google. http://www.crunchbase.com/company/facebook

4. Everybody and Their Dog is Using ItIn September 2006, Facebook opened to anyone with an email address.

5. Facebook’s growth in the fall of 2007 was staggering. Over 1 million new users signed up every week, 200,000 daily, totaling over 50 million active users.

6. Facebook received 40 billion page views a month. Long gone were the days of Facebook as a social network for college students.

7. 11% of users are over the age of 35, and the fastest growing demographic is users over 30.

8. Facebook has also seen huge growth internationally; 15% of the user base is in Canada.

9. More than half of Facebook members use the product every single day and users spend an average of 19 minutes a day on Facebook.

10. Facebook is 6th most trafficked site in the US and top photo sharing site with 4.1 billion photos uploaded.http://www.crunchbase.com/company/facebook

11. Create an AccountComputerInternet ConnectionValid email address

12. Your ProfileAdd as much or as little information as you want to shareYou set the limits as to what information is visible to friends and strangersYour profile picture can be any image you choose

13. PrivacyFacebook provides an extensive array of privacy optionsYou can allow others to see as much or as little of your Facebook information as you wish

14. FriendsConnect with friends & familyIgnore or block persons with whom you don’t wish to communicate