Facebook Changes Its Name to Meta
The rumors are true – this week Facebook announced that it would be changing its company name to ‘Meta’ to better reflect its growing focus. The social media corporation has been in the news recently due to the controversy surrounding the Facebook Files and information that came from them. Meta will serve as an overarching company which looks over Facebook and its existing apps.
WHAT DOES IT MEAN?
The existing Facebook business structure will now operate under Meta, which will now be divided into 2 parts: the company’s current ‘Family of Apps’ which are Facebook as we know it, Instagram, WhatsApp and Messenger, as well as the ‘Reality Labs,’ where it will expand on new and existing AR and VR technologies.
Like Google switching to ‘Alphabet,’ Meta is a broader company title to unite all of Facebook’s current projects to grow digital connections. Over time, it won’t be necessary to have a Facebook account to use the Meta’s other services.
WHAT’S NEW?
Name changes are always an usher to something new, but in practice there aren’t any major changes on the horizon. The ‘Family of Apps’ will remain the same as we know them, with a couple of recent updates to better support digital marketers, creators, and small-to-midsize businesses. What’s new(er) are the updates teased from the ‘Reality Labs,’ including new AR tools and expanded VR options.
Horizon Home: Facebook’s new platform built into the Oculus VR experience, Horizon Home, will allow you to send messages, make audio or video calls, and arrange meet-ups in a virtual space to collaborate with friends or colleagues. Users will be able to create and modify digital avatars. We’re hoping that this will create opportunities for brands to display products (like our Pride campaign between Vans & Bitmoji).
VR for business: Meta is developing new tools that lean into the WFH shift including testing “Quest for Business” platform. Users will be able to use their Quest VR headsets with a work account to log into Slack, Dropbox, Facebook, and Instagram.
World & People AR: Meta is developing its artificial reality technology to create a more immersive AR & geo-anchored experiences. The company’s AR glasses will allow users to experience temporary digital overlays and frames which could serve as potential new revenue streams.
We’re excited about Meta and what this means for the future of digital engagement. As always, we’ll continue to keep up with any changes and explore new opportunities!