FACEBOOK has revealed a new company name and brand, Meta.
The move is designed to represent the firm’s broadening business portfolio beyond social networking, particularly as it pushes on with plans to develop the so-called metaverse, an online world where people can meet, play and work virtually, often using VR headsets.
But it also comes amid a string of controversies that have followed the company’s various ventures, particularly the main Facebook platform, Instagram and WhatsApp.
While the wider company name is being rebranded to Meta, the core Facebook service will remain unchanged.
READ MORE: Facebook rebrands wider company as Meta amid string of controversies
Mark Zuckerberg has revealed a first glimpse of what Facebook’s new Metaverse will look like.
The Metaverse is essentially the internet in 3-D, an online world in which people can meet, play and work virtually, often entering this world using virtual reality headsets.
Facebook boss Zuckerberg has described it as being a place where rather than just viewing content “you are in it”, and as an early example has used the idea of people watching a concert video on their smartphone but then jumping in it using the metaverse to create the sense they are really there.
Anyone who has seen films such as Ready Player One will have a sense of what this could look like.
The social media platform, which also owns Instagram and WhatsApp, unveiled the new plans on a livestream from Zuckerberg’s Facebook account.
It shows the Facebook owner socialising with virtual versions of his friends in space while being able to call friends via the app’s messenger service.
Here’s our first sneak peek at Facebook’s so called metaverse, a virtual place where you can hang out with friends and so much more. pic.twitter.com/Ld5AY0WIz3
— Nathie (@NathieVR) October 28, 2021
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article