ANDAlthough it began as just a social network created in a university dorm, Facebook has, over the years, transformed into one of the largest technology conglomerates in the world. Now renamed Meta, the company led by Mark Zuckerberg built part of its empire by purchasing applications, platforms and companies that became digital giants.
Since its founding, Meta has invested billions of dollars in strategic acquisitions to expand its presence in areas such as social media, messaging, virtual reality and artificial intelligence.
Many of the most popular platforms on the internet currently belong to the company, even if many users do not immediately make this association.
Among the main examples are the Instagram and WhatsApppurchased by Meta in billion-dollar deals and which ended up becoming central parts of the company.
THE Instagram was acquired in 2012 and helped consolidate the company’s dominance in social networks focused on photos and videos. WhatsApp joined the group in 2014, in one of the biggest purchases in the history of technology.
In addition to the best-known applications, Meta has also expanded its business into other areas. The company purchased the Oculus, manufacturer of virtual reality equipment, betting on the development of the so-called metaverse.
Another less remembered acquisition is the Belugathe messaging application that served as the basis for the emergence of Facebook Messenger.
In recent years, the company has also intensified investments in artificial intelligence, a technology considered a strategic priority by Mark Zuckerberg for the future of Meta.
Among the least remembered investments is Motobook, a platform aimed at integrating digital experiences and mobility, mentioned in different company strategies over the last few years.
Still, the combination of social networks, messaging applications, virtual reality and AI has transformed Meta into one of the most influential and powerful companies in the global technology sector.
