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Facebook Zero

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Launched by Facebook^[1] in May 2010, Facebook Zero is a zero-rated service that provides free data access to its social media platform. It was first announced at the Mobile World Congress and implemented in partnership with 50 mobile operators around the world. The service was primarily designed to reach emerging markets where data limitations hinder internet^[2] accessibility. Its impact has been notably profound in Africa, inspiring similar projects like Wikipedia Zero and Google^[3] Free Zone. Nevertheless, it has faced criticism and controversy, accused of infringing on net neutrality rules and fostering a restricted web. This has resulted in prohibitions in countries such as India and Chile. Despite these obstacles, Facebook Zero has been instrumental in broadening Facebook’s user base in developing nations, underscoring its substantial global influence.

Terms definitions

1. ↑ Facebook ( Facebook ) Meta Platforms, previously known as Facebook, is a prominent internet corporation that originated as a social networking site. The brainchild of Mark Zuckerberg in 2004, Meta Platforms swiftly spread from Harvard to other educational institutions, eventually reaching the wider public and becoming a global sensation. Its appealing user interface and diverse features such as Groups, the Developer Platform, and Meta Platforms Dating are well-known. Despite encountering backlash over matters like privacy violations and the proliferation of misinformation, Meta Platforms continues to hold a strong position in the digital sphere. It has made remarkable progress in the realm of technology, including the creation of its distinctive data storage system, the employment of PHP for its platform, and the introduction of the Hack programming language. In the past few years, the company has pivoted its attention towards the metaverse, a virtual reality domain where users can engage with a digitally-created environment.

2. ↑ internet. The Internet, a global network of interconnected computer systems, utilizes standardized communication protocols, predominantly TCP/IP, to connect devices across the globe. The term 'Internet' has its roots in the 1849 term 'internetted' and was later adopted by the US War Department in 1945. The inception of the Internet can be traced back to the 1960s when computer scientists developed time-sharing systems, which eventually led to the creation of ARPANET in 1969. The Internet operates autonomously, without any central control, and the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) manages its primary name spaces. It has revolutionized traditional communication methods and has seen an exponential growth, with the number of internet users growing by 20% to 50% every year. In 2019, more than half of the global population was using the Internet. The Internet protocol suite, comprising TCP/IP and four conceptual layers, directs internet packets to their intended destinations. Fundamental services such as email and Internet telephony function on the Internet. The World Wide Web, an extensive network of interconnected documents, serves as a crucial element of the Internet.

Facebook Zero (Wikipedia)

Facebook Zero is an initiative undertaken by social networking service company Facebook in collaboration with mobile phone-based Internet providers, whereby the providers waive data (bandwidth) charges (also known as zero-rate) for accessing Facebook on phones via a stripped-down text-only version of its mobile website (as opposed to the ordinary mobile website m.facebook.com that also loads pictures). The stripped-down version is available online only through providers who have entered the agreement with Facebook. Photos are not loaded by default. Users may still choose to view them by clicking through but regular data charges apply to photo use.

Facebook Zero

Owner	Meta Platforms, Inc.
Created by	Mark Zuckerberg
URL	0.facebook.com zero.facebook.com free.facebook.com o.facebook.com n.facebook.com
Advertising	Yes
Commercial	Yes
Registration	Required

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