On Facebook’s 12th Birthday, Some FB Stories That Melt Our Heart

The website that started in 2004 has given people many reasons to love it. We look at the top reasons.

Facebook turns 12. (Photo: The Quint)

Facebook turns 12-years-old on 4 February, and no matter how young or old you are, everyone seems to be on the site reconnecting with old friends, sharing trending stories and cute animal videos (we all do it, don’t worry.)

Since today is it’s 12th birthday and is known as #friendsday, we’ve decided to ‘share’ some heartwarming stories that took place thanks to Facebook.

Full of Surprises

Who said adding strangers on Facebook is only bad news? Sixty-year-old ‘mom’ Deb Miller, flew half-way across the world, from California to Gorakhpur in UP, to attend the wedding of her ‘son’ Krishna Mohan Tripathi.

How comforting to know that some unknown ‘friend requests’ on Facebook can lead to long-lasting relationships.

Facebook mother and son, Deb Miller and Krishna Mohan Tripathi, at Krishna’s wedding. (Photo: ANI)

Shikhar Dhawan Found Love on Facebook

The story goes that Shikar Dhawan met his wife Ayesha on Facebook. He sent her a friend request after finding her on Harbhajan Singh’s ‘friends list’. The couple were engaged in 2009 and married in 2012.

Ah! A perfect digital-age love story.

Dhawan and his family. (Photo Courtesy: Shikhar Dhawan’s Facebook Page)

Friends for Life...Death Won’t Do Us Apart

People tend to express their shock and emotions even if that ‘friend’ is no longer alive. It can come across as strange to some people, but ‘I miss you’, ‘you were a great person’, ‘happy birthday, you will never be forgotten’ restores your faith in relationships.

Names and pictures blurred to keep identity secure. (Photo: Facebook screenshot)

Names and pictures blurred to keep identity secure. (Photo: Facebook screenshot)

Reunited After Years

Facebook has become such a wonderful means of reconnecting with old friends and keeping in touch with family from all around the world.

To commemorate its role in reuniting folks, Facebook has declared its birthday as ‘Friend’s Day’. Facebook founder/CEO Mark Zuckerberg asked people to share their stories. Below is one of his favourite stories:

Epic Reunions...She Found Her Biological Mother

This is the story of Elizabeth Boys, a woman who set out to find her biological mother. She set up a Facebook page and to no surprise, thousands of people set out on a mission to help her find her mom Marcy, 29 years later.

Betsy and her mom Marcy. (Photo: Betsy’s Biological Journey Facebook Page)

Spreading Awareness on Social Issues

On 27 June 2015, the US lifted a ban on same sex marriage in 14 states. Mark and his team celebrated by creating a rainbow profile filter tool. He introduced it by first changing his profile picture.

Facebook has become a means of spreading awareness on various social issues and finding like-minded people who are willing to raise their voice through this platform.

The CEO’s profile picture on Facebook. (Photo: Mark Zuckerberg’s Facebook page)

Mark Zuckerberg

Need we say anything more? He’s an inspiration to many, a doting father to his young daughter, a big sport (remember his big Modi Hug?) and a lovable husband.

An iconic photo of Prisiclla, Mark and their beloved dog. This is the photo where Mark told Facebook about their story of Priscilla’s miscarriage and how they were finally pregnant with baby Max. (Photo: Mark’s Facebook Page)

Mark, thank you for being your genius self. You gave the world the biggest platform to connect with loved ones.

Although ‘net neutrality’ and ‘free basics’ debates are surrounding Facebook, Indians seem to love this platform with more people joining it everyday.

Thank you Facebook! Happy birthday and cheers to many more.