Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ: META), formerly Facebook, Inc., is a global technology company best known for building social networking services and immersive computing platforms. Founded in 2004 and headquartered in Menlo Park, California, the company operates a family of consumer-facing products and services that connect users, creators and businesses. In October 2021 the company rebranded as Meta to reflect an expanded strategic focus on augmented and virtual reality technologies alongside its social media businesses.
Meta’s core consumer products include Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp and Messenger, which enable social networking, messaging, content sharing and community building across mobile and desktop devices. The company also offers advertising, analytics and business tools that help advertisers and developers reach and engage audiences across its platforms. On the hardware and platform side, Meta develops virtual reality headsets and software under the Meta Quest brand and invests in augmented and virtual reality systems, developer tools and content through its Reality Labs division.
Meta serves a global user base spanning many countries and regions and maintains operations, data centers and sales teams worldwide. The company has grown in part through notable acquisitions—such as Instagram and WhatsApp—and a 2012 initial public offering. Executive leadership is led by co-founder and chief executive officer Mark Zuckerberg. Meta continues to balance its established advertising-driven business with capital and research investments aimed at evolving next-generation computing and immersive experiences for consumers, creators and enterprises.