Facebook, Inc.—the parent company of apps such as Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp—changed its name to Meta on Thursday, along with ditching the iconic blue-and-white Facebook logo for a sleek infinity symbol that resembles the letter M.
As previously announced by CEO Mark Zuckerberg on Oct. 20, the new name represents a shift in the company’s focus. Meta is putting social media platforms on the back burner and exploring the “metaverse,” a virtual-reality world in which users can use real-life cryptocurrency to purchase fictional avatars, buildings and land. Zuckerberg predicts the metaverse will be “the successor to mobile internet.”
The name change also comes at a convenient time. Lately, Facebook has been heavily criticized again after former employee Frances Haugen revealed the company’s unethical practices that promoted the spread of misinformation. Although Facebook will keep its name, the rebranding allows Meta to distance itself and its new projects from the bad reputation of the social media platform.
All other companies under Meta will also retain their current name, except Oculus. The brand that develops virtual-reality products will also be renamed Meta to emphasize the parent company’s new focus on the metaverse.
