Meta Platforms adopted its corporate name in October 2021 while retaining Facebook as its flagship social network.
The renaming signaled a strategic focus on the metaverse, a broad idea involving immersive digital environments, virtual reality, and augmented reality. Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Messenger remained important products under the new parent company.
Facebook was founded in 2004 by Mark Zuckerberg, Eduardo Saverin, Andrew McCollum, Dustin Moskovitz, and Chris Hughes. The company went public in 2012 and later acquired Instagram and WhatsApp, expanding its global communications network.
The company’s market capitalization is attached to Meta Platforms, not just the Facebook app. This distinction matters because one listed corporation can own several major consumer brands and services.