Facebook is changing its name - it will soon be called Meta

The rebranding could be an attempt to improve Facebook's reputation, shaken by a series of problems - from spreading misinformation on the platform, failure to moderate comment section, and discoveries about the negative impact of its products on the mental health of individual users, writes CNN.

Mark Zuckerberg announced the new name during the company’s Connect virtual event.

"Facebook is one of the most used products in history. It is a recognizable brand of social media, but it covers less and less what we do," said Zuckerberg.

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

He added that the "metauniverse" would be "the next frontier, just as social networking was the frontier when we started."

He hinted at an online world where people can game, work, and communicate in a virtual environment using VR headsets.

Facebook showed a series of videos that show the company's vision of a "metauniverse", such as the ability for a user to send their holographic image to a friend who is at a real-life concert, sitting at virtual tables, and playing games with friends.

"Your devices will no longer be the focus of your attention. We will see many of these technologies in the next five to 10 years. A lot of it will be mainstream and many of us will create and inhabit worlds that are as detailed and convincing as ours, every day," Zuckerberg said.

By: Helen B.