Meta Platforms operates the Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp platforms under one corporate group.
Meta Platforms was originally called Facebook, Inc. and was founded by Mark Zuckerberg, Eduardo Saverin, Andrew McCollum, Dustin Moskovitz, and Chris Hughes in 2004. Facebook began as a social-networking service for college students before expanding to users worldwide.
The company acquired Instagram in 2012 and WhatsApp in 2014. Instagram became a major photo- and video-sharing service, while WhatsApp developed into a global messaging platform. These services remain separate consumer brands even though they belong to the same corporate group.
Facebook, Inc. changed its corporate name to Meta Platforms, Inc. in October 2021. The rebranding emphasized the company’s interest in the metaverse, virtual reality, and augmented reality. The Facebook social network kept its original name. Meta’s main revenue source has historically been digital advertising, while its Reality Labs division develops devices and software such as Meta Quest.