Meta Platforms changed its name from Facebook in 2021 while operating Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp.
The company announced the corporate rebrand to Meta Platforms in October 2021. The change separated the parent company’s identity from the Facebook social network and highlighted its stated interest in building the metaverse, a concept involving immersive digital environments.
Facebook itself was founded by Mark Zuckerberg and fellow Harvard students in 2004. The company acquired Instagram in 2012 and WhatsApp in 2014, giving the parent group several of the world’s largest communication platforms.
The name change did not rename the Facebook app. That distinction is a common source of confusion: Meta Platforms is the corporate parent, while Facebook remains one of its products. Market capitalization refers to the value of Meta’s publicly traded shares and can fluctuate substantially.