The announcement by Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg that the social media giant is to will change the name of his company to «Meta», has triggered reactions, as the rebranding comes at a time when the company is facing a series of public relations crises.
Zuckerberg announced on Thursday 28/10 that «Meta» will include Facebook as well as apps such as Instagram, WhatsApp and the virtual reality service Oculus.
«We announce Meta - the new name of the Facebook company,» the tech giant said in a tweet. «Meta helps create the metaverse, a space where we play and connect in 3D. Welcome to the next chapter of social connection.».
At the same time, however, in the United States, politicians from all parties reacted, calling it a controversial rebranding. The satirical news outlet, Daily Show, also altered the video of Zuckerberg's «Meta» presentation, placing the billionaire in footage of the January 6 Capitol riots and the 2017 white nationalist march in Charlottesville, both events in which Facebook was involved.
«Imagine that you've put on your glasses or your headphones, you're in your home space, and you have an incredibly inspiring view of everything you find most beautiful,» Zuckerberg is shown saying in the satirical show's video of footage of the Capitol riots.
New York Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, did not hesitate to call the company a «cancer of democracy» and «a global surveillance and propaganda machine to strengthen authoritarian regimes and destroy civil society».
US Senators Richard Blumenthal and Ed Markey also reacted strongly.
Blumenthal, a former Connecticut Attorney General, claimed that the name change was nothing more than an attempt to cause «confusion» and «distract public attention», but ultimately «will not erase years of deceitful practices and indifference to privacy, the well-being of children and the spread of hatred».
Markie refused to acknowledge the name change. «Facebook wants us to start calling it ‘Meta,’ but we will continue to call it what it is: a threat to privacy, democracy and children,» he said.
Beyond the motivations for the rebranding, some people disagreed with the Meta name itself.
«Meta is such a low-effort name that I'm sure a lot of consulting firms were paid millions of dollars to come up with it,» comedian and producer Mike Drucker said wryly.
Some companies even joined the «campaign» against rebranding. The fast food chain Wendy's tweeted, «We have changed our name to Meat».
