After all this time, Facebook is looking to seriously shake things up. In fact, the company changed its name to Meta. That’s right! Read on to see why the company changed its name and what it has in store for the future…
Facebookâs New Approach
Yes, you read that right: Facebook has changed its name to Meta. The reason? Well, the company hopes to move forward, focusing less on social media and more on the so-called “metaverse,” a series of interconnected, always online virtual worlds where people can interact with avatars, digital objects, virtual real estate, and more.
Don’t worry, users will not be entering Ready Player One territory anytime soon. The metaverse remains in its infancy, but Facebook and other companies hope that it will become a new version of the internet, one that will serve as a “kind of virtual stand in for the real world.”
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced the rebranding plans last Thursday, telling investors that the company will be at the forefront of the future. “We believe the metaverse will be the successor to the mobile internet,” Zuckerberg said during his presentation. “We’ll be able to feel present like we’re right there with people no matter how far apart we are…Over time I hope that we are seen as a metaverse company.”
For those who love the Facebook app and website, the social media site will retain its name. However, the company is quickly preparing for the metaverse. Zuckerberg also revealed the company’s new VR headset and its first pair of full augmented reality glasses. Of course, Facebook is far from the only company interested in the metaverse…
Not The Only Company Interested In Metaverse
Believe it or not, Facebook is not the only company preparing for the so-called metaverse. Computing company Nvidia has started investing heavily into its “Omniverse” project, which will function as the “plumbing” for most metaverse creations and projects. As you might imagine, Microsoft, Amazon, and Disney have also all made it clear that they are interested in a metaverse world.
Meanwhile, Roblox, a gaming company, has already launched its version of a metaverse, one in which players that allows them to create what they want and host their own game worlds. However, if Facebook wants to create something truly remarkable, it will have to take more control over its own fate. Currently, the company relies on hardware like Google Androids and Apple iPhones to reach consumers. That needs to change – which Zuckerberg mentioned during his reveal of the metaverse.
“Here we are in 2021 and our devices are still designed around apps not people,” the CEO explained. “The experiences we’re allowed to build and use are more tightly controlled than ever. And high taxes on creative, new ideas are stifling.”
Sources: AOL, The Guardian