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On this day in history, February 4, 2004, Harvard student Mark Zuckerberg launches 'The Facebook'
Facebook is arguably one of the most recognizable names of the 21st century.
The social media site is known as a place to share photos, post on your “wall” and update your friends and family on almost any topic of your choosing.
Mark Zuckerberg, born in White Plains, New York, is best known as a creator of Facebook. His story is one of trial, error and ultimately success — and it is still evolving.
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On this day in history, Feb. 4, 2004, Harvard student Zuckerberg launched what was then known as The Facebook.
Zuckerberg’s path to Facebook started in 2003 with an online program called Facemash, of which he was primary developer.
Mark Zuckerberg was a student at Harvard University when he launched Facemash and The Facebook. He eventually dropped out to run the business. (Taylor Hill/Getty Images)
The concept revolved around the idea that students could judge the attractiveness of fellow college students who were using the program, according to Britannica.
The site was considered initially successful — with 450 students joining right off the bat.
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Facemash violated a university policy, however — and was shut down after just two days, as Britannica noted.
The Facebook launched in Feb. 2004. Its purpose was to allow college students to share photos and personal updates with others. (Juana Arias/The Washington Post via Getty Images)
Zuckerberg took note of the fast success of Facemash and decided to launch a different site for Harvard students, called The Facebook, in Feb. 2004.
This intriguing site was different — allowing students to post photos and information about themselves, such as their class schedules, as Britannica recounted.
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The popularity increased — and the site soon expanded to include students at Yale and Stanford.
Within the first four months of the site’s going live, more than 250,000 students were on The Facebook — spanning over 34 schools, according to Britannica.
Facebook’s popularity skyrocketed after its launch — and has held steady for some 20 years. (iStock)
By the end of 2004, The Facebook had over one million users — with Zuckerberg dropping out of Harvard to run the business.
Continued success came when the platform introduced a tagging feature and unlimited photo uploads — and lowered the sign-up age to 13.
Facebook was also able to monetize its app early on by allowing companies to buy advertisement space within the site.
The social media platform is available as a cell phone app. As technology has evolved, so has Facebook. (iStock)
Over the years, Facebook — based in Menlo Park, California — has faced backlash for a lack of privacy and for selling users’ data, according to History.com.
The story of Facebook’s founding and its early and complicated road to success was turned into a movie in 2010 starring actor Jesse Eisenberg and featuring Justin Timberlake — called “The Social Network.”
On this day in history, Feb. 4, 2004, Mark Zuckerberg’s “The Facebook” launched for Harvard students. Meta Platforms is headquartered in Menlo Park, California. (Taylor Hill/Getty Images/iStock)
(At the 83rd Academy Awards, the film received eight nominations, including for Best Picture, Best Director and Best Actor for Eisenberg — and won for Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Original Score and Best Film Editing.)
Zuckerberg’s technology company Facebook, Inc. today owns multiple companies such as Instagram, WhatsApp, Messenger and more.
In October 2021, Facebook, Inc. announced that its parent company name would change to Meta Platforms — alluding to a virtual reality experience for users on their platforms, according to Britannica.
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BOULDER COUNTY, Colo. — If you feel like we’ve had a lot of red flag days across Colorado since the start of the year, you’re right.
According to our Denver7 weather team, there have been 369 red flag warnings across the state since the start of 2026, marking the second-highest number recorded to date since 2005. In 2023, there were 408 red flag warnings from Jan. 1 through April 22 of that year, according to Denver7 meteorologist Danielle Grant
A red flag day happens when warm temperatures, low humidity and strong winds combine to create critical fire weather conditions.
▶️ WATCH: Denver7’s Claire Lavezzorio talked red flag fatigue with residents and officials
Colorado sees second-highest number of red flag days since 2005
In Boulder County, officials say the frequency of these warnings in their area is breaking records, too.
“We’ve had 21 thus far since the beginning of 2026, and that number is almost as many as we’ve had in the previous years combined, 2024 and 2025,” said Vinnie Montez, a spokesperson for the Boulder County Sheriff’s Office.
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Fierce winds, high fire danger Thursday across the Denver metro, plains
With the high volume of alerts, Montez worries the frequent warnings will become white noise.
Denver7 asked him if there is some red flag fatigue in the community.
“When you see the same commercial come up over and over again, you’re kind of like, flip the channel, right? I think that can happen in what we’re messaging,” Montez said.
At Chautauqua Park in Boulder, residents are taking note of how often these days are happening.
“It’s almost every day,” Mac Whittington said.
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Levi Brown, a Boulder resident, pointed out that all the ingredients for high fire danger are present.
“You look around, there’s a lot of fuel in the ground, a lot of wind blowing right now, in fact,” Brown said.
For Brown, who has lived in the area for 26 years, every warning carries weight.
“It seems to be more prevalent now. And I don’t take it lightly,” Brown said.
For those who do not take the days seriously, Whittington offered a word of caution.
“Hopefully we don’t have to learn the lesson the hard way,” he said.
This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.
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West Seattle pickleball players rallied this week as they ramp up opposition to Seattle Parks‘ Draft Outdoor Racquet-Sports Strategy, which would – among other things – change dual-striped courts at High Point and Alki to tennis-only. Next milepost along the way: Tomorrow night (Thursday, April 23), the Board of Parks and Recreation Commissioners – a city-convened advisory group – gets briefed on the “strategy.” Though board meetings usually have a public-comment period, the department is directing comments to the three feedback meetings (none in West Seattle, though some local advocates are trying to get one set up). The advocate who contacted us says they’re trying to “show their support to save these vital community resources. These courts are used by hundreds of people every week to stay active and connect with neighbors. We have no idea why the city would seek to do away with such highly used and inclusive gathering places.” They’re describing what they’re doing as a “WS-specific effort … aimed at saving pickleball at Walt Hundley and Alki. We are planning another larger rally on a weekend in Mid/Late May where we hope to turn out the entire West Seattle pickleball community and invite our local elected leaders and city officials to see how many lives are touched by pickleball in West Seattle.” In the meantime, they’re continuing to collect petition signatures here. Tomorrow night’s Parks Board meeting is being held in person downtown and via Zoom at 6 pm – attendance info is here.
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