What was the name of the first advertising system launched by Facebook in 2005?

Facebook’s first advertising system was called Facebook Flyers.

Flyers were simple, self-serve display advertisements created for Facebook’s early campus-based audience. Local businesses, student organizations, and event promoters could buy placements aimed at users from a particular college or university. The format was far more modest than modern Facebook advertising: campaigns commonly used short text, an image, and a link, and were purchased for a specified number of impressions or days.

The system belonged to Facebook’s earliest commercial period, when the service was still known as TheFacebook and access was largely limited to students. Early ads helped the company cover operating costs while preserving free access for users. Later products became more sophisticated, adding demographic targeting, sponsored links, Pages, and social advertising.

Do not confuse Flyers with Facebook Ads, which Facebook formally unveiled in 2007 as a broader advertising system. Nor are Promoted Posts or Sponsored Stories the original product; those arrived years later as Facebook’s advertising business expanded beyond campus-focused banner placements.