Two of the most popular apps are about to be renamed.
Facebook, which owns WhatsApp and Instagram, has revealed that it is going to add ‘Facebook’ into their names.
This means that Instagram will soon be called ‘Instagram from Facebook’, while WhatsApp will become ‘WhatsApp from Facebook.’
The change was first reported by The Information , and has now been confirmed by Facebook itself.
A spokesperson said: “We want to be clearer about the products and services that are part of Facebook.”
The new titles will appear in the apps’ listings on the App Store and Google Play Store, as well as on the apps themselves.
It remains unclear when the change will be rolled out, reports MirrorOnlne.
Users of the apps are not happy about the update, with many taking to Twitter to vent their frustrations.
One user said: “This better be August Fools”, while another wrote: “This feels like a bad move.”
Meanwhile, another user pointed out: “This seems like a slight shooting-in-foot move for Facebook to remind people that don't use Facebook (and outright hate it after all that's gone down) that they are using a Facebook product.”
Facebook bought Instagram back in 2012, before also purchasing WhatsApp in 2014.
When the WhatsApp acquisition was announced, Jan Koum, co-founder of WhatsApp said: “We’re excited and honoured to partner with Mark and Facebook as we continue to bring our product to more people around the world.”
However, Mr Koum’s relationship with Facebook recently turned sour, after it was revealed that WhatsApp will soon start showing adverts.
The move is controversial because it goes directly against the wishes of Mr Koum and his co-founder, Brian Acton.
Mr Acton and Mr Koum both quit the firm last year, after the news emerged that Facebook was planning to monetise the app by selling services to business and advertising.
Acton said he had to leave because Mark Zuckerberg's rush to make money from the app was making him "unhappy".
