Launched in February 2004, Facebook initially offered very limited privacy controls. Early users largely operated under the assumption that their profiles were visible to all other students at their university, as reported by The Verge. Privacy settings were basic, primarily focused on controlling who could see basic profile data.
This lack of granular control was largely a product of the platform's initial focus on fostering a close-knit community within universities. However, as Facebook expanded beyond college campuses in September 2006, the need for more elegant privacy options became apparent. The platform began introducing features allowing users to limit profile visibility to specific friend groups, but these settings were often buried within the interface.