Facebook has announced it will change its name to “Meta” as part of a major rebrand.
The new name is an attempt to focus on the metaverse that Facebook says will be the future of social networking.
But it is also likely an attempt to move on from the intense scrutiny and criticism it has faced in recent weeks and years, which has focused on everything from privacy to the damage it is doing to young people.
The blue app will continue to be known as Facebook, chief executive Mark Zuckerberg said. But the branding will be removed from everywhere else, such as the WhatsApp and Instagram.
All of those various apps will now instead live under the “Meta” brand, with Facebook just one of those many different apps.
Mr Zuckerberg published a “Founders Letter” explaining his reasonings for the rebrand, and noted that he would not be stepping down as CEO of the company.
Some journalists have treated the rebrand with a hefty dose of skepticism, even calling on other reporters to ignore the change and to continue referring to the company as “Facebook.”
The name change is Facebook’s second. In 2005, the company changed it’s name from theFacebook to just “Facebook.”
