Facebook: How Mark Zuckerberg Connected More Than a Billion Friends

by Celicia Scott

Overview

Today, Facebook is one of the most-used websites on the Internet, visited by millions of users each day and home to more than 500 million accounts. Many people use Facebook to share pictures, news, and ideas with friends—but they may not know the true story behind Facebook's massive success. Facebook began as the idea of one college student: Mark Zuckerberg. Discover how Mark founded one of the most successful social networking sites on the Internet while he was still in school. Learn how he first got Facebook growing, and how he keeps millions of people logging in day after day. Find out more about the man behind Facebook—and learn what's next for his company.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781422231814
Publisher:	National Highlights Inc.
Publication date:	08/28/2014
Series:	Wizards of Technology Series
Pages:	64
Product dimensions:	7.30(w) x 9.30(h) x 0.40(d)
Lexile:	1180L (what's this?)
Age Range:	12 - 17 Years

Editorial Reviews

11/01/2014
Gr 9 Up—This series introduces readers to the people who created well-known social media and entertainment products. Written with an intense business focus, they analyze why Netflix and others brands are popular and illustrate their inventors' creative journeys. At times, conceptual graphics seem geared toward a business audience rather than an educational arena. For example, an image of people floating above an outstretched palm is meant to convey that Reed struggled to manage his employees, but it may not be clear to students. Well-written study questions encourage readers to return to the text and skim for relevant passages. Some questions call upon students to conduct Internet research or analyze different business models. These texts provide a realistic view of how adults learn and grow in the working world, learning from their mistakes. Students will understand what an innovator or entrepreneur is and how personal challenges—such as Twitter founder Jack Dorsey's speech impediment—can lead to new forms of communication. An inspiring series.

School Library Journal

Today’s teens have a new set of heroes, explored here in the “Wizards of Technology” series. In this volume, they will meet Mark Zuckerberg, founder, in 2004, of Facebook. Always interested in computer programming, Mark attended Phillips Exeter Academy, where he studied classics and became captain of his fencing team. While there, he developed Synapse, a music selection program that brought him offers of employment from AOL and Microsoft. Instead, Mark went to Harvard. Readers who have seen the film, The Social Network, will know what happened there and how it led to Facebook. Scott tells all (well, mostly all—but not the anguish Zuckerberg’s exposure of private information caused Harvard’s female students), including accusations that he stole his idea from friends. Eventually, several brought a long-running lawsuit against him and were awarded 65 million dollars by the judge. That did not stop Zuckerberg, who went on to expand Facebook’s reach and add features like apps and Platform, that can be used by other innovators to add games and even change Facebook. The social network now has over a hundred million users. Zuckerberg is a billionaire, still criticized about privacy issues, but donating a vast sum to Newark, New Jersey’s school system and claiming that he wants to help every person on earth connect with the Internet. Illustrations are large color photos, some of former associates, one of Jesse Eisenberg who played Zuckerberg in the movie, and several of President Obama visiting Facebook—a day on which Zuckerberg wore a suit, not his famous hoodies. Included are glossaries, quizzes on the text, and ideas for research projects. A timeline would have been useful, too. Reviewer: Barbara L. Talcroft; Ages 12 up.

Children's Literature - Barbara L. Talcroft