Facebook, now known as Meta, has acquired and developed numerous apps and services over the years. Here is a look at some of the major apps that Facebook/Meta has owned:
Facebook’s core app was launched in 2004 as a social networking platform. It allows users to connect with friends and family, share photos and videos, write posts, join groups, play games, and more. The Facebook app is available on iOS, Android, and web platforms.
Instagram is a popular photo and video sharing app that was acquired by Facebook in 2012 for $1 billion. Users can post photos and videos, apply filters, follow other accounts, use hashtags, and share content across other platforms. Instagram was founded in 2010 and quickly grew to have over 1 billion monthly active users.
WhatsApp is a secure messaging and voice over IP service that Facebook acquired in 2014 for $19 billion. It allows users to send messages, make voice and video calls, and share media like photos and videos. WhatsApp uses end-to-end encryption and has over 2 billion users worldwide. It was founded in 2009 before being acquired by Facebook.
Oculus
Oculus is a virtual reality company that produces headsets and platforms for VR gaming and applications. Facebook acquired Oculus for $2 billion in 2014. Oculus has launched several VR headsets including the Oculus Rift and Oculus Quest. It aims to popularize VR technology and make it more accessible to consumers.
Messenger
Facebook Messenger is a messaging app and platform that originally launched as an integrated feature within the core Facebook app. In 2014, Facebook launched Messenger as a standalone app. Users can send messages, photos, videos, audio clips, and engage in video calls. Messenger has over 1.3 billion monthly active users.
Workplace from Facebook
Workplace from Facebook is an enterprise connectivity platform created for businesses and organizations. It functions like a social network but for internal business communication and collaboration. Facebook launched Workplace in 2016 and has over 7 million paid users. It competes with the likes of Slack and Microsoft Teams.
Giphy
Giphy is a search engine and platform for sharing animated GIFs and short videos. Facebook acquired Giphy in 2020 for $400 million. It has an extensive library of GIFs and stickers that users can embed into messages, posts, and apps. Giphy is integrated into Facebook’s apps like Messenger and Instagram.
Parse
Parse was a backend platform as a service (PaaS) that offered tools and services for mobile app developers. Facebook acquired Parse in 2013 to boost its mobile services. Parse enabled push notifications, user management, data storage and other features for mobile apps before it was shut down in 2017.
Onavo
Onavo was an Israeli mobile analytics startup that Facebook acquired in 2013. Onavo provided data and insights on mobile app usage and traffic. Facebook used Onavo data to identify popular up and coming apps to potentially acquire, such as WhatsApp and Instagram. The Onavo app was later shut down in 2019.
LiveRail
LiveRail was an ad-tech startup focused on video advertising on Facebook and other platforms. Facebook acquired LiveRail in 2014 for a reported $500 million. LiveRail’s technology helped Facebook improve its video and display advertising capabilities and performance.
Beluga
Beluga was a startup messaging app that enabled group messaging. It was acquired by Facebook in 2011 and integrated into Facebook Messenger. The Beluga team worked on building out Messenger’s capabilities and helped accelerate the growth of Facebook’s messaging efforts.
FriendFeed
FriendFeed was a real-time feed aggregation service that consolidated updates from social platforms like Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and more. Facebook acquired FriendFeed in 2009 to incorporate some of its features, such as the news feed. FriendFeed was eventually shut down in 2015.
Face.com
Face.com was a face recognition technology startup based in Israel. It provided facial recognition capabilities to identify people in photos. Facebook acquired Face.com in 2012 to boost its facial recognition and photo tagging features. This technology contributed to Facebook’s automated photo tagging.
Jibbigo
Jibbigo was a startup that developed real-time voice translation technology and mobile apps. Facebook acquired Jibbigo in 2013 to help strengthen and expand Facebook’s internationalization capabilities, like translating content across languages. Jibbigo’s technology was likely incorporated into Facebook’s Translate product.
Graph Search
Graph Search was Facebook’s early exploration into search features based on social signals and connections in 2012-2014. It enabled searching for things like “Friends of friends who are single” or “Photos of my friends in New York.” While useful, Graph Search was shut down due to low usage and privacy concerns.
Masquerade
Masquerade was the startup behind the popular MSQRD selfie app that allowed users to apply filters and fun face effects. Facebook acquired Masquerade in 2016 to enhance and expand the camera and visual effects capabilities within Facebook apps like Instagram and Messenger.
Redkix
Redkix offered tools and apps for improving workplace communication, including email and messaging. Facebook acquired Redkix in 2018, likely to incorporate its technology into Workplace from Facebook and boost its functionality as an enterprise collaboration platform.
Ozlo
Ozlo was developing an artificial intelligence knowledge base or “brain” to power virtual assistants and bots. Facebook acquired Ozlo in 2017 likely to utilize its AI technology to improve natural language processing and bots on Messenger and other Facebook platforms.
Confirm
Confirm was a startup focused on authenticating government issued IDs, driver’s licenses, and other identity documents to confirm users’ identities. Facebook acquired Confirm in 2018, likely to boost identity verification and security across Facebook’s apps and services.
Bloomsbury AI
Bloomsbury AI was a UK startup specializing in natural language processing technology. Facebook acquired Bloomsbury AI in 2018 to further advance its AI capabilities, particularly for analyzing and understanding text-based content and documents.
Packagd
Packagd offered a platform to help mobile app developers manage app metadata and store listings. Facebook acquired Packagd in 2018, likely to streamline mobile app development workflows for developers building apps linked with Facebook login and services.
RedHotLabs
RedHotLabs built apps, games and advertising technology for Facebook Platform. One of its products was FbFund, a crowdfunding app. Facebook acquired RedHotLabs in 2012, likely to boost its internal app development capabilities.
Atlas
Atlas was an advertising platform that Facebook acquired from Microsoft in 2013. Atlas provided tools for marketers to measure cross-device ad performance and optimize campaigns. Facebook likely acquired Atlas to improve its ad targeting and measurement capabilities across devices.
Octazen
Octazen offered real-time customer service solutions using artificial intelligence and machine learning. Facebook acquired Octazen in 2015 to incorporate its technology into Facebook’s customer service systems, likely to help automate and scale support across Facebook’s apps.
Pebbles
Pebbles developed an AI assistant to help schedule meetings, book conference rooms, manage tasks and more. Facebook acquired this startup in 2017 likely to incorporate these features into Workplace from Facebook to automate scheduling and administrative tasks.
Two Big Ears
Two Big Ears specialized in using artificial intelligence for processing and analyzing audio. Facebook acquired this Edinburgh-based startup in 2016, likely to leverage its technology to enhance audio capabilities across messaging, video and other multimedia use cases.
Tbh
tbh was a polling app popular among teens where they could anonymously answer lighthearted questions about each other. Facebook acquired tbh in 2017, likely to maintain its popularity among younger demographics and integrate some of its features into apps like Messenger or Instagram.
Moves
Moves offered a mobile app and analytics platform for tracking fitness data like steps and exercise activity. Facebook acquired Moves in 2014, likely to boost its own mobile fitness tracking capabilities on apps like Facebook and Messenger.
FameBit
FameBit was a marketing platform that connected video creators and influencers with brands for sponsored content opportunities. Facebook acquired FameBit in 2016 and integrated it into its own influencer marketing platforms that are now used across Facebook and Instagram.
ProtoGeo
ProtoGeo offered Moves, a fitness tracking app and analytics platform. Facebook acquired ProtoGeo in 2014 primarily to obtain the Moves app and strengthen its own fitness tracking capabilities across Facebook’s mobile apps and services.
Zurich Eye
Zurich Eye was a computer vision startup focused on artificial intelligence and deep learning. Facebook acquired Zurich Eye’s technology in 2015 to further enhance its computer vision capabilities for applications like facial recognition, photo tagging, augmented reality filters and more.
WIT.AI
WIT.AI developed speech recognition and natural language processing tools for developers. Facebook acquired WIT.AI in 2015 to boost its bots and voice interface capabilities across Messenger, Workplace, Portal and other products powered by AI technology.
Ascenta
Ascenta developed solar-powered drones and high altitude aircraft technology. Facebook acquired Ascenta in 2014, likely to incorporate aspects of its technology into Facebook’s own Connectivity Lab that is working on high-altitude networking platforms and drones.
PrivateCore
PrivateCore offered technology to encrypt data in use, preventing access from kernel, hypervisor and other privileged components. Facebook acquired PrivateCore in 2014 to likely incorporate its technology into securing sensitive data across Facebook’s infrastructure and apps.
Nascent Objects
Nascent Objects was a modular electronics startup exploring the use of shape-shifting materials for reconfigurable products. Facebook acquired this startup in 2015, likely to explore novel applications and use cases for morphing materials and modular devices.
Ori Inc.
Ori Inc. was developing robotic furniture that could transform and change shapes. Facebook acquired this startup in 2018, potentially to expand its research into new human-computer interaction technologies like shape-shifting interfaces.
EyeGroove
EyeGroove developed augmented reality technology and tools focused on math and music education. Facebook acquired it in 2016 to likely incorporate its AR capabilities into Facebook’s own augmented and virtual reality initiatives across gaming, education and entertainment.
TheFind
TheFind offered a visual search and discovery platform connecting shoppers with products across stores and brands. Facebook acquired TheFind in 2013 to likely enhance its own search and discovery capabilities, particularly for visual content and shopping.
Megenta
Megenta offered solutions for automated translation, natural language processing and language analytics. Facebook acquired it in 2010, early on likely to translate and analyze content and engagement across regions and improve internationalization.
Spaces
Spaces offered a virtual reality app for Oculus that let users create 3D art. Facebook acquired Spaces in 2017 along with the team that built it to boost social VR capabilities and content creation tools across Oculus platforms.
Surreal Vision
Surreal Vision specialized in developing devices, holograms and content to deliver lifelike augmented reality and VR experiences. Facebook acquired this UK-based startup in 2020 to further build out and enhance AR/VR technologies across its hardware, platforms and apps.
Ctrl-Labs
Ctrl-Labs developed an electromyography wristband that detects neuron signals for controlling digital devices. Facebook acquired it in 2019 to boost its wrist-based interfaces for AR/VR technology and control systems.
Scape Technologies
Scape Technologies worked on location accuracy beyond GPS using computer vision and AI. Facebook acquired Scape in 2020 to likely improve geospatial and location capabilities for AR, mobility, maps and gaming applications.
Tyro Typeworks
Tyro offered technology to optimize and compress fonts for improved web/mobile performance. Facebook acquired it in 2020 to likely improve font handling across its stacks from React Native to content rendering.
Lemnis Technologies
Lemnis built computer vision and machine learning technology for analyzing hardware and motion. Facebook acquired the company in 2021, likely to enhance its capabilities in tracking movement and interactions with AR/VR headsets.
BigBox VR
BigBox VR developed virtual reality games and applications. Facebook acquired BigBox in 2020 to obtain its VR game studio to expand Oculus’ gaming content portfolio.
Downpour Interactive
Downpour Interactive offered the popular VR multiplayer shooter Onward. Facebook acquired Downpour in 2021 to grow its VR gaming ecosystem on Oculus with more advanced multiplayer capabilities.
Conclusion
Facebook/Meta has acquired dozens of companies over the years that have expanded its capabilities in areas like messaging, VR/AR, AI, mobile apps, marketing, advertising, analytics, search, computer vision, infrastructure, and more. Major acquisitions have included Instagram, WhatsApp, Oculus, and others that have become core parts of Meta’s apps and technology portfolio. While not every acquisition succeeded, many have been instrumental to Facebook’s growth into a tech giant with 3 billion+ users across its family of apps.