# Zuckerberg (DD-536)

> Mark Zuckerberg co-founded Facebook in 2004 while a student at Harvard and remains CEO of its parent, renamed Meta Platforms in 2021. Under him the company acquired Instagram (2012), WhatsApp (2014) and Oculus (2014) and expanded into messaging and virtual reality. He has been central to debates over data privacy, misinformation, content moderation and social media's political impact. The footage, credited to TheProjectTV, shows Zuckerberg.

- Department: People (also Tech)
- First published: 2025-04-06
- Last updated: 2025-04-06
- Permalink: https://detailenjoyer.com/case/zuckerberg/
- Author: Marcus Easterling (DetailEnjoyer), The Detail Department

## On the timeline

- **2004**: Facebook launched
- **2021**: Renamed Meta

Full timeline: https://detailenjoyer.com/timeline/?case=zuckerberg

## Quick facts

- **DD-536-F01**: 2004, Harvard. _(Write-up · Exhibit A (Launched))_
- **DD-536-F02**: Meta Platforms. _(Write-up · Exhibit B (Company))_

## Write-up

Mark Zuckerberg launched Facebook from Harvard in 2004. Meta now owns Instagram and WhatsApp.

1. **Launched**: 2004, Harvard.
2. **Company**: Meta Platforms.
3. **Rename**: 2021.
4. **Buys**: Instagram, WhatsApp, Oculus.
5. **Debates**: Privacy, moderation.

## Related case files

- [Thiel (DD-554)](https://detailenjoyer.com/case/thiel/): I linked an early Facebook investor

## Reel vs. record

- **Note**: None needed.

## Video: Zuckerberg: Mark Zuckerberg Launched Facebook From Harvard in 2004

- Duration: 27.4 s · Published: 2025-04-06
- File: https://detailenjoyer.com/assets/videos/DIGukggRz3e.mp4

### Transcript

Did you know, Mark Zuckerberg is an American tech entrepreneur best known as the co-founder and CEO of Meta Platforms, formerly Facebook, which he launched in 2004 while attending Harvard. Under his leadership, Facebook grew into one of the world's largest social media platforms, acquiring companies like Instagram, WhatsApp, and Oculus. To expand its influence across digital communication, messaging, and virtual reality, Zuckerberg has been central to discussions around data privacy, misinformation, content moderation, and the political impact of social media. NOW YOU KNOW!

## Questions & answers

**Q: Facebook launched?**  
A: Harvard. _(Source: Write-up · Exhibit A (Launched) · Wikipedia: Mark Zuckerberg)_

**Q: Parent company now?**  
A: 2021. _(Source: Write-up · Exhibit B (Company) · Wikipedia: Mark Zuckerberg)_

**Q: Acquired?**  
A: 2012. _(Source: Write-up · Exhibit C (Rename) · Wikipedia: Mark Zuckerberg)_

**Q: VR company?**  
A: 2014. _(Source: Write-up · Exhibit D (Buys) · Wikipedia: Mark Zuckerberg)_

**Q: University?**  
A: Dorm. _(Source: Write-up · Exhibit E (Debates) · Wikipedia: Mark Zuckerberg)_

## Sources

- [Wikipedia: Mark Zuckerberg](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Zuckerberg)

## Cite this case file

Easterling, Marcus. "Zuckerberg." The Detail Department (DetailEnjoyer), case file DD-536, last updated Apr 6, 2025. https://detailenjoyer.com/case/zuckerberg/