Facebook Inc. rebrands as Meta; names of mobile apps will remain the same

Facebook Inc. rebrands as Meta: Facebook Inc. has announced that it will be rebranding as Meta, starting with the company's annual hardware event called Connect. Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg made the announcement at the conference this morning. Meta is a new name for Facebook, but not much else is changing about what you'll see on your phone -- all of their apps will still remain named Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, and WhatsApp respectively. The decision to change the company's name comes amid a broader attempt to divert attention from damning revelations about how they handle user data and protect users' privacy in light of recent scandals like Cambridge Analytica. "From now on, we are going to be the metaverse first," Zuckerberg said in his keynote address. Facebook Inc. rebrands as Meta, "We're turning a new page," Zuckerberg shared. "It's not just about what we do, but why we do it." Since the beginning of Facebook in 2004, the company has always been dedicated to making life more open and connected for people around the world through products that are free, reliable, and easy to use. "It's important to us that when people come together on Facebook, it's because of something they care about," Zuckerberg said. "We're going to change our name from 'Facebook' to 'Meta.' This is just one small part of a larger effort." https://twitter.com/Meta/status/1453795115701440524  The company will still be called Facebook, but the rebranding of the company's name will make a statement, especially in light of its recent efforts to change its focus on connecting people and shifting away from being a "digital community." "We want Facebook to be open and connected," Zuckerberg added. "It feels like we're getting back to what this has always been about: 'I'm here because I want to connect with people around something that matters.' That's what we're going to build." However, this isn't the first time Facebook has considered a name change. In fact, Zuckerberg said they chose not to rebrand in 2012 when it was suggested because "people already knew us" under the name of Facebook. Facebook Inc. rebrands as Meta, At the event, Zuckerberg also talked about how Facebook's VR company, Oculus Rift is now available at a price of $399 -- the lowest-priced headset yet. Zuckerberg said they are working on building out AR and VR technology to make it more accessible for everyone. Read More: FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM, WHATSAPP COME BACK TO LIFE AFTER 6-HOUR GLOBAL OUTAGE