Rebranding: Facebook changes company name to Meta

Facebook has changed its corporate name to Meta.

This is part of a major rebrand.

The change does not apply to its individual platforms, such as Facebook, Instagram and Whatsapp, only the parent company that owns them.

The name change comes as the company battles criticisms from lawmakers and regulators over its market power, its algorithmic decisions and the policing of abuses on its platforms.

The company said it would better “encompass” what it does, as it broadens its reach beyond social media into areas like virtual reality.

The move follows a series of negative stories about Facebook, based on documents leaked by an ex-employee.

Frances Haugen has accused the company of putting “profits over safety”.

In 2015, Google restructured its company calling its parent firm Alphabet, however, the name has not caught on.