Facebook celebrated its 15th anniversary on Monday amid a paradoxical situation: The firm had its worst year ever in 2018 in terms of its public relations, with scandals from beginning to end, but at the same time it registered its biggest profits ever.
Over the course of the past 15 years, the company has become almost ubiquitous in the Internet communications sector (in addition to the platform bearing its name, it also controls Instagram and WhatsApp) and, according to the latest figures published by the firm last week, it has some 2.32 billion users around the world.
Since launching in 2004, Facebook has become one of the world’s most crucial social media platforms, transformed the way we interact with loved ones, and even how we react to news, natural disasters, and political unrest. It has also become one of the essential touchpoints for brands building an online presence.