Facebook Over Two Decades – History and Future

Mark Zuckerberg launched Facebook in February 2004 from his Harvard dorm when he was just turning 19 years old. 11 years later in 2025 Facebook celebrated its 21st birthday. Facebook has reached its age of majority since its inception in February 2004, so it turns 21 this year 2025 in the same manner a typical adult becomes eligible to drink alcohol. The platform exists today, but I ponder whether it has current success or continues to be launched from its previous era. Through this ExpressVPN survey with 4,000 participants from the U.S., UK and other areas worldwide, I investigated the presence of apps like TikTok and Instagram. Different age groups have different connections with Facebook, yet I feel eager to predict its future growth.

How Facebook Blew Up Big

Historical accounts claim that Facebook experienced enormous chaos during its initial period of operation. Since its origins in the college community during late 2004, Facebook had achieved a staggering one million user base which was truly astounding. The user population of Facebook reached one billion monthly users in 2012, just before it seemed to absorb the entire world. News Feed appeared in 2006 after Pages and Groups launched, while users currently utilize the platform for messaging and for observing updates and joining clubs without reason. The platform influenced both politics and shopping habits among business users across the entire platform.

Growth wasn’t all smooth, though. The 2018 Cambridge Analytica mess—privacy got shaky for users while many believed in reduced trust toward the platform. Elections introduced fake news scandals which provoked public outrage throughout the population. Facebook managed to recover its position by acquiring Instagram during 2012, while adding WhatsApp to its portfolio in 2014, followed by its focus on the metaverse concept. In 2021, the company renamed to Meta, which appeared audacious. The current status of Facebook at 21 makes me ask whether its success has already reached its highest point.

Who’s Still On in 2025?

The ExpressVPN survey became irresistible to me because of its exclusive findings. The numbers suggest Facebook continues to have broad usage by more than 60% of its audience despite rumors of its death. The surveys from the UK show that 73% use the service continually while the US population sits near 68%. But France? Statistics reveal that Facebook usage reaches only 58% in France and 49% in Germany while 26% of users in Germany show minimal interest in this platform.

Age splits it hardcore. Me and my Gen Z crew (18-24)? The global popularity of Facebook surprises us as too many users just stop logging in with 19% of active members, yet many people refrain from creating an account. Users among us representing 33% maintain active Facebook profiles while 27% look at it occasionally despite having an account. Older peeps, though? People aged 35-44 retain their Facebook usage at 72% while the numbers for 45-54-year-olds sit at 68% and users aged 55-65 maintain 63% usage of the platform. Most members from the 55-65 gang group tie their social lives to Facebook while the 45-54 group spends over 50% of their time on daily social media use.

What I do on it changed too. The majority of my Gen Z generation (80%) uses Facebook, whether for entertainment or maintaining relationships, yet a minimal 26% interacts with news coverage or social groups. Among all age groups. Millennials represent the largest percentage of Facebook users because they find connecting with others most enjoyable (54%) followed by memes (44%) and news feed (37%). Basic needs dominate the Facebook preferences of older users since only 11% from ages 55-65 and 4% from this same group promote businesses.

Why I’m Seeing People Bail

Despite all the observed changes, I observe diminished activity throughout society. A massive 32% of individuals aged 18-24 reduced their activity substantially while 35% of users aged 25-34 followed suit because they hold TikTok responsible along with Instagram for the changes. The majority of 25-34 year olds and 47% of 18-24 year olds are exiting platforms because they dislike advertisements along with monotonous content (24-27% each).

Individuals who are more mature in age also experience these problems. According to 41% of the 55-65 age group, their connections cut off from social media altogether, while 40% face problems with excessive advertising. The removal of fact-checkers by Meta in 2025 makes 28% of users worry about privacy issues, so that the platform might become a platform for fake news. Among users aged 35-44, social interaction disconnects bother 38% of people who choose to move to TikTok (30%). The older generation shows decreased activity even though most users from 55-65 report sticking with Facebook (45%).

Future—Fresh Start or Fade Out?

Can it last another 10 years? I see mixed vibes by age. Of the Gen Z group that includes me, only twenty-one percent predict Facebook will persist, whereas thirty-one percent foresee its total decline through usage migration toward TikTok and Instagram. Millennials display differing opinions about Facebook: a third of them predict its development while a quarter believe its time has passed. Young adults embrace Facebook updates while 35- 44-year-olds alongside 55-65-year-olds expect the platform to evolve but middle-aged adults aged 45-54 view it as an old-person social media with limited functionality.

What do I want? Easy stuff and trust. Most members of my social group desire a fun platform without ads that delivers the same positive impact as TikTok. The simplicity request is strong from older demographics since 40% of people aged 55-65 dislike clutter and privacy concerns bother everyone—28% from the Boomer generation and 21% from the Millennial generation. The latest survey indicates that 35% of users believe Meta can reboot, but the challenge seems impossible. The metaverse investment might succeed if Facebook executes improvements on their core application.

Big Past, Shaky Now

With 20 years in existence, the story appears unbelievable because of its initial college project origins that now serve billions of users. Life experienced a total transformation when this innovation went online. But 2025? The younger generation among Gen Z labels it “mom’s app” outside a committed number of older users who endure the advertisement chaos. The survey shows that 60% of users continue using Facebook while my 18-24 year old friends belong to a community population of just 34% and 32% from the 55-65 age group share this experience.

In the past, Instagram recovered through acquisitions such as Instagram Buy and mobile shift. The platform needs to generate excitement for the younger audience while satisfying the comfort needs of older users to survive. Instagram remains prepared to adapt if TikTok faces a ban since it already serves an audience of young users. The history and following base of Instagram at age 21 keep it strong despite its current shaky state. The platform will it rise higher or will it maintain an unchanging calmness? Depends if Meta hears us. Are you still into it—or nah?