Facebook announced on Thursday that it changed its name to “Meta” to focus on building a “meta universe.”The company’s CEO Zuckerberg said in an interview broadcast after the name change was announced that it was “ridiculous” to think he changed his name because of the recent wave of opposition to Facebook.Zuckerberg said that the current negative news surrounding Facebook has no influence on this decision.
He said: “Although I think some people may want to establish this connection, I think it is a ridiculous thing.” “If there is any impact, it is that I think this is not a new brand you want to introduce. environment of.”
In recent weeks, Facebook whistleblower and former employee Frances Haugen (Frances Haugen) shared a large number of internal documents with the media and the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), which shocked Facebook. These materials are called “Facebook files” and include employees’ concerns and doubts about the company’s behavior.
Facebook refuted these descriptions, saying that the documents did not portray the full picture of the company.
Zuckerberg said in an interview on Thursday that he has been considering rebranding since Facebook acquired Instagram and WhatsApp in 2014. But it wasn’t until earlier this year that he decided it was time to make a change.
Zuckerberg said: “I think this helps people build a relationship with a company, which is different from any relationship with any particular product. This relationship can replace all relationships.”
The name change is believed to reflect Facebook’s efforts to enter the “meta universe”. “Meta universe” is a virtual world in which people can use virtual characters to interact digitally. Zuckerberg showed what this will look like at the Oculus Connect event on Thursday, showing examples of how the metaverse affects our society and work life.
But some critics of Facebook believe that the name change can prevent the company’s other projects, such as “Horizon”, from being linked to negative news.
Ashley Cooksley, Social Element’s North American managing director, said: “If only the holding company changes its name, it may be more to keep the parent company away from Facebook’s products, so that any toxicity of Facebook will stay in this product. Instead of’infecting’ other brands under the parent company.”