Top 5 Companies Owned by Facebook aka Meta as of 2025: Hey there, social media mavens! Let’s take a trip down memory lane and chat about the OG of online hangouts – Facebook! Or should I say, Meta? Yeah, they pulled a Prince on us and changed their name, but we all know who we’re talking about!
Picture this: It’s 2004, flip phones are all the rage, and a young Mark Zuckerberg is sitting in his dorm room, probably munching on some ramen, when BAM! He launches Facebook. Little did we know this college project would turn into the ultimate digital playground for, well, pretty much everyone on the planet!
Fast forward to today, and Facebook – oops, I mean Meta – is like that friend who’s always inviting you to parties. They’ve got their fingers in so many pies, it’s hard to keep track! Instagram, WhatsApp, Oculus – they’re collecting cool companies like Pokémon cards.
And let’s talk about Zuckerberg for a sec. This guy went from coding in his PJs to rubbing elbows with the big dogs of tech. We’re talking Apple, Google, Amazon – you know, the kind of companies that make your phone autocorrect to their names.
But here’s the kicker – Meta’s got a bit of a “catch ’em all” strategy going on. See a cool new app on the block? Chances are, Zuckerberg’s already sliding into their DMs with a buyout offer. It’s like they’re playing Monopoly, but with real companies!
Love ’em or hate ’em, you gotta admit, Meta’s changed the game. They’ve turned “poking” your crush into a global empire. So next time you’re scrolling through your feed, liking pics of your ex’s dog, just remember – you’re part of a social media revolution, baby!
Table of Contents
| Company name | Founding/Acquisition year |
|---|---|
| 2004 | |
| Messenger | 2011 |
| 2012 | |
| 2013 | |
| Oculus | 2014 |
Whenever you log into Facebook, you can see five icons at the bottom! Those are the popular companies owned by Facebook Inc.
Can you recognise all 5 icons, and to which company it belongs? Many of you probably know, but for those who don’t, we have got you covered!
So let’s explore the list of the top 5 companies owned by Facebook Inc., aka Meta:
1. Facebook
Facebook is arguably the leader in the social media industry. It is the flagship service of the company Meta. It was founded by Mark Zuckerberg, along with fellow Harvard College students and roommates Eduardo Saverin, Andrew McCollum, Dustin Moskovitz and Chris Hughes.
Website: facebook.com
2. Messenger
Facebook Messenger, commonly known as Messenger, was originally developed as Facebook Chat in 2008. The company then revamped its messaging service in 2010 and subsequently released standalone iOS and Android apps in August 2011.
Facebook has launched a dedicated website interface and separated the messaging functionality from the main Facebook app, allowing users to use the web interface or download one of the standalone apps. In April 2020, Facebook officially released Messenger for Desktop, which is supported on Windows 10 and macOS and distributed on Microsoft Store and App Store respectively.
Website: messenger.com
3. Instagram
Instagram is a photo and video-sharing app. It was created by Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger and launched in October 2010 on iOS. The company remained independent until it was acquired by Facebook Inc. for $1.0 billion in 2012.
It is now worth around $100 billion. It is said that the purchase of Instagram turned the tide for Facebook. It is also believed that Instagram generates more revenue in advertising than its parent company.
Website: instagram.com
4. WhatsApp
Whatsapp is a mobile messenger service. It was developed as an alternative to basic text messaging services on our phones. It is primarily built for mobile devices but is also accessible from desktop computers, as long as the user’s mobile device remains connected to the Internet while they use the desktop app.
The service requires users to provide a standard cellular mobile number to register with the service. Facebook Inc. acquired WhatsApp in 2014 for around $19 billion. It became the world’s most popular messaging application by 2015 and has over 2 billion users worldwide as of February 2020.
Website: web.whatsapp.com
5. Oculus
This company was founded in 2012 and is best known for its Oculus Rift product, a virtual reality headset that was designed for video gaming. Facebook Inc. acquired this virtual reality technology company in 2014 just after acquiring WhatsApp. Its acquisition cost around $2.0 billion.
The company partnered with Samsung to develop the Samsung Gear VR in November 2015 for the Samsung Galaxy smartphones. Zuckerberg plans to have 1 billion virtual reality headsets in consumers’ hands.
Website: oculus.com
Read More: Top 5 companies owned by Elon Musk
Other notable companies owned by Facebook Inc:
- Onavo
- FriendFeed
- Ascenta
- LiveRail
- Giphy
- Mapillary
Meta has also acquired a 9.99% stake in Indian digital services company Jio Platforms.
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FAQs
What are the top companies owned by Facebook (Meta)?
The top companies owned by Facebook (Meta Platforms) include
Instagram: Acquired in 2012, Instagram is a photo and video-sharing social media platform that has grown to be one of the most popular apps worldwide.
WhatsApp: Purchased in 2014, WhatsApp is a messaging app that allows users to send text and voice messages, images, videos, and make calls over the internet.
Oculus: Acquired in 2014, Oculus specializes in virtual reality (VR) hardware and software, contributing to Meta’s push into the metaverse.
Facebook Messenger: Initially part of Facebook, Messenger became a standalone app in 2011. It’s widely used for instant messaging and voice/video calling.
Workplace: Launched by Meta, Workplace is a business communication tool used for internal communications within organizations.
Which has been a game-changer in the social media industry?
Facebook aka Meta
Why did Facebook acquire Instagram and WhatsApp?
Facebook acquired Instagram and WhatsApp to expand its influence in the social media and messaging spaces, diversify its user base, and stay competitive with other platforms. Instagram brought in a younger, visually-focused audience, while WhatsApp offered access to a large user base for messaging services, especially in international markets.
How has Instagram changed since Facebook acquired it?
Since Facebook (Meta) acquired Instagram in 2012, the platform has evolved significantly. Some key changes include:
Introduction of Instagram Stories: Inspired by Snapchat, Stories allow users to post content that disappears after 24 hours.
IGTV and Reels: These features were added to encourage longer videos (IGTV) and short-form video content (Reels) to compete with YouTube and TikTok.
Increased Ad Integration: Instagram now includes various ad formats, such as feed ads, Stories ads, and shopping features, making it a critical part of Meta’s advertising business.
What is Oculus, and why did Facebook buy it?
Oculus is a virtual reality (VR) company that was acquired by Facebook (Meta) in 2014. Oculus develops VR headsets and software, with the Oculus Quest series being one of the most popular consumer VR devices. Facebook bought Oculus as part of its long-term vision to enter the metaverse, a virtual space where people can interact, work, and play in immersive digital environments.
How does Facebook Messenger differ from WhatsApp?
While both Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp are messaging apps owned by Meta, they have some key differences:
User Base: WhatsApp has a larger global user base, particularly in countries outside the U.S., while Messenger is popular within Facebook’s ecosystem.
Encryption: WhatsApp uses end-to-end encryption by default, meaning only the sender and receiver can read the messages. Messenger offers this as an optional feature in Secret Conversations.
Features: While both apps allow messaging, voice, and video calls, WhatsApp is more focused on being a phone replacement with features like Status and WhatsApp Web. Messenger integrates more closely with Facebook and offers gaming, chatbots, and more app-based services.