Imagine being a college sophomore with a revolutionary idea that changes the world.

Sounds like a dream, right? For Mark Zuckerberg, it was reality.

From creating Facebook in his dorm room to becoming one of the most influential figures in tech, his journey is a fascinating story of innovation, perseverance, and adaptation. But his story doesn't stop there. He's continuously pushed the boundaries of what's possible, from artificial intelligence to virtual reality, and even cryptocurrency. Though he's often portrayed as a humble and outgoing man, he does have his fair share of controversies in the past.

Early Life

Mark Zuckerberg was born on May 14, 1984, in White Plains, New York. He was raised in the nearby village of Dobbs Ferry, New York. His father, Edward Zuckerberg, ran a dental practice attached to the family's home, and his mother, Karen, worked as a psychiatrist before the birth of their four children.

He developed an interest in computers at an early age and began taking graduate courses at Mercy College while still in high school. He also studied at Phillips Exeter Academy, an exclusive preparatory school in New Hampshire. There he showed talent in fencing, becoming the captain of the school's team. He also excelled in literature, earning a diploma in classics.

After graduating from Exeter in 2002, Zuckerberg enrolled at Harvard University.

The Making of Facebook

Mark Zuckerberg was just a sophomore at Harvard in 2004 when he created a website called 'Facemash'. It was a simple site that allowed users to compare the photos of two students and vote on who was more attractive.

But Facemash was just the beginning. Zuckerberg saw an opportunity to create something bigger. He teamed up with his college roommates and launched 'Thefacebook' in February 2004.

But not everyone was happy with Zuckerberg's success. The Winklevoss brothers, Cameron and Tyler, claimed that Zuckerberg had stolen their idea for Facebook. They had hired Zuckerberg to work on their own social media project, Harvard Connect, but Zuckerberg had allegedly used their idea to create Thefacebook instead.

Despite the legal battle with the Winklevoss brothers, Facebook continued to grow. By the end of 2004, it had already attracted over 1 million users. Mark eventually dropped out of college to focus on Facebook full-time, and the rest is history.

In 2005, Facebook received a huge boost from the venture capital firm Accel Partners. Accel invested $12.7 million into the network, which at the time was open only to Ivy League students.

Zuckerberg's company then granted access to other colleges, high school and international schools, pushing the site's membership to more than 5.5 million users by December 2005. The site began attracting the interest of other companies that wanted to advertise with the popular social hub.

In 2010, he was named Time magazine's "Man of the Year." He is currently the chief executive officer and president of Facebook.

Mark Zuckerberg's Facebook & Meta Mess: A Legacy of Controversy Cambridge Analytica Scandal

Cambridge Analytica Scandal

In 2018, it was revealed that Cambridge Analytica, a political consulting firm, had accessed the data of millions of Facebook users without their consent. The data was used to create targeted political ads for the 2016 US presidential election. The data is alleged to have been used to manipulate the 2016 presidential election and contributed to the people's voting behavior.

Facebook collects a vast amount of data from its users, including personal information, browsing history, location data, and more. The information held was subsequently shared with third-party companies, such as advertisers and developers, to provide targeted ads and other services. And in the earlier years of Facebook, most users had no idea their information data were being stored and used. Facebook was then criticized for not being transparent enough about how it collects, uses, and shares user data.

As a result, Facebook faced regulatory scrutiny and legal action over its handling of user data, including a $5 billion fine from the US Federal Trade Commision (FTC), in 2019.

Zuckerberg then implemented changes and made efforts to improve its data practices, including introducing new privacy settings and restrictions on data sharing. However, that did not help much.

The company also faced criticism for its handling of security issues, including a 2021 incident in which the personal information of 533 million users was leaked online. Information includes phone numbers, full names, locations, email addresses, and biological information. The data set was posted on a hacking forum for free, making it available to anyone with rudimentary data skills, which can lead to impersonation and fraud.

Eventually, Meta agreed to pay $725 million to settle the class action lawsuit that claimed the social media giant gave third parties access to user data without their consent.

Meta

Now, despite all the criticisms and user concerns regarding privacy, security, and the company's ability to police its platform, Facebook rebranded as Meta Platforms, Inc. on October 28, 2021.

The company has invested heavily in augmented and virtual reality, and they aim that this change would bring together its different apps and technologies under one new brand, but not change its corporate structure. Ultimately, rebranding Facebook's shift in focus towards building a metaverse, a 3D virtual world. Meta not only own Facebook, but it also owns popular social media and communications platforms, Instagram and WhatsApp.

The rebranding not only concerns users regarding its privacy and security, but has also raised questions about the potential for the metaverse to be used for malicious purposes, such as propaganda and hate speech.

Regardless of all the changes made, the largest individual shareholder of Meta is still its founder and CEO, Mark Zuckerberg.

Zuck's Crypto Quest: A Decade of Disruption

Zuckerberg's interest in cryptocurrency dates back to 2010, when he started exploring Bitcoin. Recounting back to an interview, he commented on Bitcoin, "a pretty cool idea". He has never publicly disclosed whether he holds any cryptocurrency coins, but he did dabble and contribute to the cryptoworld. (or at least he tried)

Libra

In 2019, Facebook announced Libra, a new cryptocurrency aimed at revolutionizing global payments. Zuckerberg testified before Congress, emphasizing Libra's potential for financial inclusion. He had the intention of providing financial services to 1.7 billion people around the world without access to a bank account. It can be used to send tokens instantly, anywhere in the world, on platforms like Facebook, WhatsApp and Messanger, as well as on other websites and apps mostly affiliated with Meta. The coin was also created to compete with China's digital yuan.

However, Libra faced intense regulatory scrutiny, yet again with the same old problem Zuckerberg has always faced, data privacy and financial stability. He faced criticism for his handling of the project, and subsequently, Libra's launch was delayed.

Rebranding to Diem

Libra was eventually rebranded to Diem in December 2020 after the project faced legal challenges regarding its name and logo, as well as generating backlash from government regulators in the European Union, US and the general public.

Diem is a stablecoin, a type of cryptocurrency designed to be less volatile. The Diem Association is a separate organization from Facebook, although its funding comes from the company. The cryptocurrency is designed to be less of a financial rollercoaster, its value linked to less volatile assets such as national currencies and commodities. Foreseenably, the venture caused concern among regulators and politicians. Not to mention, the venture also has a lack of traction or adoption.

Soon, Zuckerberg's crypto venture came to an end in 2022, when the Diem Association sold the assets to Slivergate Capital Corporation for $182 million. However, it's not clear if he still has a stake in the Diem project.

On the bright side, Zuckerberg's Meta continues to explore the potential of Web3 technologies, and it is likely that he will remain relevant and a key player in the cryptocurrency space.

Zuckerberg's Next Chapter: Leading Meta into Uncharted Territory

Despite all the backlash, criticisms and doubts Zuckerberg and Meta have faced, both of them have definitely come a long way. A few examples of Zuckerberg's Web3 innovations are Horizon Worlds and Meta AI.

Horizon Worlds

Meta developed a social virtual reality platform, Horizon Worlds, that allows users to meet other players, socialize with friends and engage in various activities. It offers a range of games and activities, from casual games to more immersive experiences.

You can even attend virtual events, concerts, and experiences, such as meditation sessions or art exhibitions. It has already hosted numerous concerts, including BlackPink, Cardi B, Doja Cat, and many more. Horizon Worlds is accessible through Meta's VR headsets which is priced from US$199 and users can attend the virtual concerts, interact with others and explore various experiences within the platform.

The response to these events has been positive so far, with users appreciating the immersive experience, opportunity to connect with other fans and getting a close up with their favorite idols.

Meta AI

Meta AI was created to be an assistant for Facebook users and to provide more accurate search results. The Meta AI system is based on the Llama 3 model, which is similar to ChatGPT, and it can be used to generate images and text based on a user's prompts. The Meta AI system is also used to provide information on Facebook and Instagram, and it can be used to help users plan dinner, study for tests and more.

However, it has been embroiled in several controversies and issues since its launch, including concerns over bias and toxicity in its responses, a lack of transparency and sources for its information, and its vulnerability to misinformation and disinformation.

Additionally, its large language model, LLaMA, was leaked online shortly after release, raising security concerns. Furthermore, Meta AI has been accused of regurgitating search results without proper citation, and its responses have been criticized for being unoriginal and potentially harmful.

The AI system has also been used to spread spam and propaganda, and its handling of sensitive topics has been deemed inadequate. Overall, Meta AI's controversies highlight the need for more accountability, transparency, and ethical considerations in AI development and deployment.

From virtual reality to decentralized finance, Mark Zuckerberg's Web3 innovations are building a future that's more immersive, more inclusive, and more interconnected than ever before. And as the metaverse continues to evolve, one thing is clear: Mark Zuckerberg's vision for a decentralized, community-driven internet is not just a dream, but a reality that's already taking shape.