The parent company of Facebook, WhatsApp and Instagram has been Facebook, Inc. until now, but from here on it will do business under the name Meta, Inc., the company's chief executive Mark Zuckerberg has said. As a result the name Facebook will disappear from the business world and be replaced by the name Meta. After long speculation on the subject, Meta made the announcement public on 28 October.
Why Meta?
The obvious question is why this name. In essence the company is moving from the world of two-dimensional screens towards a three-dimensional world, and towards virtual and augmented reality. It is with that goal that Facebook is going to build the metaverse — and it is from that metaverse that the name Meta was chosen.
Read more: Rumour: Facebook Is Renaming Itself Meta
What is Meta?
‘Meta‘ comes from a Greek word meaning ‘beyond the boundary‘. It is precisely because Facebook is stepping beyond the boundary of ordinary social media to do something new that it has taken such a name.
Announcing @Meta — the Facebook company’s new name. Meta is helping to build the metaverse, a place where we’ll play and connect in 3D. Welcome to the next chapter of social connection. pic.twitter.com/ywSJPLsCoD
— Meta (@Meta) October 28, 2021
Meta's announcement on Twitter
