"We often talk about inventions like the printing press and the television," Zuckerberg said in a letter accompanying the filing. "Today, our society has reached another tipping point."

"Facebook was not originally created to be a company. It was built to accomplish a social mission — to make the world more open and connected," Zuckerberg wrote. "We think a more open and connected world will help create a stronger economy with more authentic businesses that build better products and services."

The long-awaited submission kicks off a months-long process that will culminate in Silicon Valley's biggest coming-out party since the heyday of the dot-com boom and bust.

The stock is expected to trade under the symbol "FB," though the exchange it will be traded on has yet to be determined.