It’s official - Facebook Inc. is now called Meta. 

Now, let’s get things clear first, this is not the social media we’re talking about. You will still be writing posts and sharing memes on Facebook, but the holding company in charge of the social media (also WhatsApp and Instagram) will bear that new name.

The Metaverse

So, why the name change and why Meta? According to the company’s live streamed virtual and augmented reality event, the “metaverse” is the future. It is a virtual environment where people will go to for anything from gaming to socializing (think “Ready Player One”). Therefore, the company is going all in on VR and AR, especially since they also developed the Oculus Rift, a VR headset.

One Company to Rule Them All

The company also mentioned that the rebrand better represents the company that is in charge of so many different products other than Facebook.

"Right now, our brand is so tightly linked to one product that it can't possibly represent everything that we're doing today, let alone in the future," said Zuckerberg.

They are not the first big tech company to do so, however, as Google’s parent company also changed their name to Alphabet so as to more clearly differentiate itself from just the “Google” brand.

Controversy & Scandals

When the rebranding plan was leaked last week, many have hypothesised that Facebook / Meta was trying to escape its ruined reputation, which has already caused many to stay off its platforms.

From election scandals to selling user data, Facebook / Meta has been under fire in the past few years in the name of online privacy and cybersecurity. It’s CEO Mark Zuckerberg has also been called to answer the US Congress regarding this issue multiple times.

Whether it’s to prevent confusion, align their focus, or just to escape controversy, Facebook Inc. is no more and Meta is here to stay. So, what do you think about the new name?