Facebook is now ‘Meta’! Facebook says it will “encompass” what it does, as it broadens its reach beyond social media into areas like virtual reality (VR). They have taken the initiative of Changing their Brand name to “Meta”.
The company also unveiled a new sign at its headquarters in Menlo Park, California, replacing its thumbs-up-like logo with a blue infinity shape.
It should be noted that that the rebranding doesn’t apply to its social platform names like Facebook, Instagram, etc.
The rebranding of its corporate name took place during a live event in which it unveiled plans to build a “metaverse”… an online virtual environment where people can work, game, and communicate using VR headsets.
And according to Zuckerberg, the Facebook brand is too limited to represent what the company wants to do in the future. The new name and brand will represent Facebook’s apps and its evolving work on augmented and virtual reality products.
Renaming Facebook may help distance the company from the social networking controversies it is facing, including how it is used to spread hate speech and misinformation.
“I’ve been thinking a lot about our identity” with this new chapter, Mr. Zuckerberg said, speaking at a virtual event on Thursday to showcase Facebook’s technological bets on the future. “Over time, I hope we’re seen as a metaverse company.”
“From now on, we’re going to be metaverse first, not Facebook first,” said Zuckerberg. “I hope that people come to know the Meta brand and the future that we stand for.”
“We’re now looking at and reporting on our business as two different segments, one for our family of apps, and one for our work on future platforms,” he added.
Trying to name a company is difficult. Zuckerberg says he’s chosen Meta, because of its meaning in Greek – “beyond”. It also alludes to the “Metaverse”, an online virtual oasis that he wants to build.
Again, according to info spotted on Philipstar.com, the company’s critics pounced on the rebranding, with an activist group calling itself The Real Facebook Oversight Board saying the platform is harming democracy while spreading disinformation and hate.
“Their meaningless name change should not distract from the investigation, regulation, and real, independent oversight needed to hold Facebook accountable,” the group said in a statement.
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