REUTERS/Thierry Roge
So if you were second youngest person to ever be named TIME’s Person of the Year, and the inventor of Facebook, where would you break the news? (Hint: Wait, you need a hint?)
Early Wednesday morning, Mark Zuckerberg announced via a Facebook status update that he had been given TIME’s lofty title for 2010.
His short and sweet post read simply, “Being named as TIME Person of the Year is a real honor and recognition of how our little team is building something that hundreds of millions of people want to use to make the world more open and connected. I’m happy to be a part of that,” and was followed by a link to TIME’s wide-reaching cover story, including the stunning cover photo that has been stirring quite a bit of buzz online (See TIME’s video of what it’s like to work inside Facebook)
It’s been a big year for the Zuck — the whole National Unfriend Day thing aside. Through Facebook, Zuckerberg has connected more than half a billion people, he’s weathered the potential backlash of that not-so-little movie, and, as if that wasn’t enough, he’s donated $100 million to Newark schools.
Oh, and he’s only 26. Not too shabby.
Read the full explanation: Why TIME chose Mark Zuckerberg as 2010’s Person of the Year