We’ve heard increasing rumors about a Facebook rebranding and it turns out some of them were true. Facebook the company is now called Meta.
A bit of an odd name, but Facebook the social network is still going to be Facebook. Meta is now the name of the company that owns Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram, and Oculus.
Why Meta? Well, the company says it’s developing what it calls “the metaverse”, that’ll help people connect, find communities and grow businesses.
The company further explained, “the metaverse will feel like a hybrid of today’s online social experiences, sometimes expanded into three dimensions or projected into the physical world-letting you share immersive experiences with people even when you can’t be together.”
I know what you’re thinking, the concept is still ways off, but parts of it are already here. For instance, Horizon Home, which was called Home up until now, is the company’s “early vision for a homebase in the metaverse”
Here, you can invite your friends to join you and hang out, watch videos and jump into games and apps together. Sounds pretty futuristic.
Later this year, you’ll also be able to make messenger audio calls in VR. Eventually, the metaverse will soon encompass work, entertainment, and everything in between. Yeah, they said that, with a straight, not-terrified face. Anyways, a limited beta will be available this year while the full launch will happen in 2023.
Alfred Gitonga is a passionate tech news writer with a deep interest in smartphones and related technologies. He is a staff writer at Mobitrends.co.ke.
