Mark Zuckerberg (born May 14, 1984, in White Plains, New York) is an American computer programmer, tech entrepreneur, and the cofounder of Facebook, now part of Meta Platforms, where he has served as CEO since 2004.
Zuckerberg attended Phillips Exeter Academy before enrolling at Harvard University in 2002. On February 4, 2004, he launched thefacebook.com, an online directory for Harvard students. The platform rapidly expanded, first to other universities and later to the public, evolving into one of the world’s largest social networks. Known for emphasizing real-identity profiles and what he termed the “social graph,” Facebook reshaped how people connect and share online.
In 2004, Zuckerberg and his team relocated to Palo Alto, California. He left Harvard to focus on building Facebook, securing early investment from Peter Thiel and later attracting major funding from Microsoft and Digital Sky Technologies. Facebook’s explosive growth eventually led to its 2012 IPO, pushing Zuckerberg’s net worth into the billions.
Meta and the Metaverse
In 2021, Facebook rebranded its parent company as Meta Platforms, signaling a new focus on building the metaverse. However, by 2022 Meta had accumulated significant losses in its metaverse division and struggled with user engagement. In early 2023, Zuckerberg announced a strategic shift toward generative AI, targeting creative tools and more niche metaverse applications, especially in gaming.
Public Stances and Politics
Throughout the 2000s and 2010s, Zuckerberg publicly championed topics such as U.S. immigration reform and social justice, often aligning with liberal policy positions. His organization Fwd.US criticized mass deportation policies, and he invested heavily in philanthropic initiatives.
Facebook later faced scrutiny after the 2016 U.S. election for allegedly amplifying political misinformation. Zuckerberg responded with plans for more robust fact-checking. Following the January 6 Capitol attack, he suspended former President Donald Trump from Facebook and Instagram. The accounts were reinstated in 2023 with temporary restrictions.
By 2024–25, Zuckerberg’s stance shifted notably. He criticized government pressure related to COVID-19 content moderation, signaled support for more conservative policies, and backed broader commitments to “free expression.” Meta lifted various restrictions on Trump’s accounts, donated $1 million to his 2024 inaugural fund, and announced the removal of longstanding fact-checking programs.