Meta Platforms, Inc., known simply as Meta, is a leading American multinational technology company headquartered in Menlo Park, California. It operates some of the world's largest social media and communication platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, Messenger, and Threads. Meta's core business model centers on digital advertising, which accounted for 97.8% of its revenue as of 2023, making it a dominant player in the global advertising ecosystem[1]. Founded in 2004 as TheFacebook, Inc. by Mark Zuckerberg and his college peers, the company quickly rose to prominence, rebranding as Facebook, Inc. in 2005. In 2021, reflecting its strategic pivot toward building the "metaverse"—a connected digital universe blending virtual and augmented reality—Facebook, Inc. rebranded as Meta Platforms, Inc.[1][4]. This shift highlights Meta's ambition to go beyond traditional social networking and pioneer the future of human connection through immersive technology. Meta is recognized as one of the Big Tech giants alongside Apple, Microsoft, Amazon, Alphabet, and Nvidia. As of October 2025, it holds a market capitalization of approximately $1.854 trillion, ranking it as the world's sixth most valuable company by market value[2]. The company is also one of the largest global spenders on research and development, investing over $35 billion in 2022, emphasizing its commitment to innovation[1]. Key achievements include the global expansion of its platforms, with Facebook boasting over 378 million users in India alone, supported by initiatives such as localized language support (111 languages) and mobile-optimized experiences tailored for bandwidth-constrained regions[6]. Meta’s ecosystem fosters social commerce, content creation, and business marketing, driving substantial revenue through advertising and premium services[5]. In 2025, Meta announced a multibillion-dollar investment in AI startup Scale AI, underscoring its focus on artificial intelligence as a growth frontier[1]. Meta’s missio