Facebook on Wednesday confirmed that it now has 500 million users on its site. To celebrate, the social-networking site has launched an app known as "Facebook Stories," which will highlight stories about the impact Facebook has had on people's lives.

"Half a billion is a nice number but the number isn't what really matters here. What matters are all of the stories we hear from all of you about the impact your connections have had on your lives," Facebook chief executive Mark Zuckerberg said in a video message. "Instead of focusing on numbers, we want to help people around the world hear about these stories for themselves, and we awant to let you tell your own story."

The app, available on stories.facebook.com, lets users search stories by location or theme. Among the 30 themes are crime fighting, grief, health, politics, love, rescues, and reunions. An interactive map on the site will help you drill down to search stories by location. You can "like" or share certain stories you find interesting and submit your own Facebook anecdote.

Stories include everything from people who have returned misplaced wallets or found jobs via Facebook to those who have located long-lost family members or used the social-networking site to communicate during natural disasters.

Facebook also had its employees post for "thank you" photos, which the company put together in a public photo album.

"Our mission at Facebook is to help make the world more open and connected," Zuckerberg wrote in a blog post. "Stories like these are examples of that mission and are both humbling and inspiring."

What's notable is that just a year ago, Facebook hit 250 million users, so despite recent privacy snafus, the company has managed to double its membership in one year.