Facebook at 15: Zuckerberg still thinks he's empowering you all

Monday marks the 15th anniversary of when Mark Zuckerberg co-founded Facebook . In that short decade and a half, it's gone from a project in his Harvard dorm room to an internet titan, used by more than 2.7 billion people.

It hasn't been an easy ride. 

Zuckerberg has become a polarizing figure, particularly in the past couple years. He and the tech industry broadly have grappled with privacy screw-ups like Cambridge Analytica, or hacks and major security concerns. Both Zuckerberg and his leadership team have been criticized for underhanded political activity. And don't forget ongoing concerns that Facebook is being used for Russian election interference and to inspire ethnic cleansing.

"These are all critical issues, and we have a responsibility to manage these networks more proactively to prevent harm," Zuckerberg wrote in a post Monday, reflecting on the anniversary. And he noted that Facebook is now spending more on security than the $5.1 billion in revenue the company reported during its 2012 IPO (PDF).

Zuckerberg also rang a note of optimism. He said that while some people are uncomfortable with the changes social networks like his have brought to society, they ultimately are doing good. 

"Before the internet, if you had different views or interests from the people in your neighborhood, it was harder to find a community that shared your interests. If someone you knew moved away, you'd often lose touch. If you wanted to raise attention for an issue, you usually had to go through politicians or the press -- someone with the power to distribute your message. If you wanted to reach new customers for your business, you often had to buy expensive ads or billboards," he wrote. "Now, you can connect with anyone and use your voice."

You can read his entire post below:

Cambridge Analytica: Everything you need to know about Facebook's data mining scandal.

iHate: CNET looks at how intolerance is taking over the internet.