Facebook.com Zero Jun 2026

Facebook Zero acted as a "gateway drug" to the internet. For many users in regions with low smartphone penetration and high data costs, Facebook Zero was their first experience with the digital world. By making Facebook synonymous with the internet, the company aimed to lock users into their ecosystem before competitors like Google or local startups could reach them.

Carriers in emerging markets (like Vodafone, Airtel, and T-Mobile) made a deal with Facebook: If a user accessed facebook.com/zero (or used a special "zero" mobile app), the data would not count against their mobile data plan. facebook.com zero

Want to test it? Try visiting https://mbasic.facebook.com on a slow connection—it’s the spiritual successor to the original Zero experience. Facebook Zero acted as a "gateway drug" to the internet

By partnering with hundreds of operators across Africa, Asia, and Latin America, Facebook successfully introduced millions of people to the internet for the first time. For many of these users, "Facebook" essentially became synonymous with "the internet" because it was the only service they could access without a paid plan. The Net Neutrality Controversy Carriers in emerging markets (like Vodafone, Airtel, and

As smartphone adoption grew and users demanded more than just text, Facebook Zero evolved. In 2013, Facebook launched , an umbrella initiative that eventually morphed into Free Basics .