Facebook, at the time, was all-in on mobile and desktop experiences. They officially released a in 2013. It was free, had notifications, chat (before Messenger was forced separate), and integrated with the OS’s share charm.
It sounds like you’re looking for the backstory behind that specific search phrase: free download facebook app for windows 8.1
Here’s the story of why that search exists—and why it’s now a dead end. When Microsoft launched Windows 8 and later Windows 8.1 , they introduced a radical new interface: the Start screen with “live tiles.” To make this work, Microsoft pushed Windows Store apps (modern, touch-friendly apps) as the future. Facebook, at the time, was all-in on mobile