Feb 05, 4:49 AM EST Newsletter Signup BusinessTechnologyWorldNationalMedia & CultureOpinionSportsLuxury Business By Saiph Savage AND Carlos Toxtli AND Eber Betanzos 02/04/19 AT 12:13 AM Facebook’s rise to become one of the world’s largest advertising platforms began in 2004 with US$382,000 in revenue in just its first year, serving 400,000 college students. The site displayed basic banner ads called “Flyers,” which cost between $10 and $40 a day. Many of them promoted events at Harvard University, where Facebook’s founders were based.Three years later, after opening membership to anyone 13 and over, not just college students, the company took its first step toward what it has become famous – even notorious – for: micro-targeted advertising. It launched an ad program called “Flyers Pro,” in which advertisers could target specific ads to particular audiences based on their age, gender, home location, workplace, level of education, relationship status and other personal information.Facebook’s approach to ads has been transformative for businesses, letting them expand their advertising options significantly. Just as the internet helped millions of people find others who shared their interests and hobbies all around the world, Facebook made it easy for businesses to advertise to large numbers of very specialized audiences. That power has created many new opportunities for businesses, as well as…