What difference will Facebook changing its name to Meta make?

It’s not just a name change. I heard Zuckerberg talking with almost messianic zeal about, through Meta, growing a whole virtual reality system in which people will be able to create and control a world and identity which will far more appealing than living in the real world. I personally find it quite disconcerting and worrying to blur, to an even greater extent, the distinctions between fantasy and reality. It will, of course, likely be controlled by data captured algorithms.

Sago.....and lots of people still refer to it as the Lottery, not heard many just call it "Lotto". As the old saying goes "if it's not broken, don't fix it" !!

@SaraC I've just read about Zuckerberg's future plans too, I agree it seems he is going to make lives into a virtual reality game! We'll all be holograms and live by other people's brain waves, like the Richard Powers book I'm reading, Bewilderment.

It won't make any difference to me and like Kircubbin and Bluebelle, I have found it positive to use and a convenient way to connect with friends and family and also keep up with the charities that I support I do belong to a couple of local groups, a neighbourhood watch and a nature based group. On Instagram I post pics of my cat and nature based images and view the same. I've also found people who have had the same hip replacement surgery as me and have been very supportive.
Keeping your settings private is important I think and the means is there to do it, as well as blocking people.
Bullies and haters were around long before social media.

Is it true that in Hebrew the word 'meta' means death?

Gabrielle56

You cannot litigate against a company that no longer exists...........ditto tax.......ditto directors of said company.........assets maybe transferred to newco....debts and any other nasties die with it......

Oh yessss!!!

SaraC

It’s not just a name change. I heard Zuckerberg talking with almost messianic zeal about, through Meta, growing a whole virtual reality system in which people will be able to create and control a world and identity which will far more appealing than living in the real world. I personally find it quite disconcerting and worrying to blur, to an even greater extent, the distinctions between fantasy and reality. It will, of course, likely be controlled by data captured algorithms.

yeah the advert for it was bloody bonkers, like Mii characters

I read somewhere that the word Meta is Hebrew for dead, so I wonder if that was known when the name was proposed?
I use Facebook quite a lot for local interest groups and other groups I'm part of, and find info for otherwise not known events useful. However I really don't get why people put pictures on there of what they're having for dinner? Why?

Sago- ?

Yeah, i still say 'lottery' not that i ever do it much,maybe my birthday and xmas.And no, i can't remember post office changing to Consignia either! Must have been a very quick flash in a pan idea?

Could never be bothered with facebook.

GrowingOldDisgracefully regarding pictures of meals etc.
It’s to signal to their piers about the “vital” and “happening” life they are having ?. That, or prove they can cook very ordinary meals.

As someone mentioned above it’s related to the development of their Metaverse. From what I’ve read various other big tech companies are heading in the same direction. It’s fascinating.

Facebook isn't changing its name. It's just the company banner that's changing its name. At least that's what I read.

Facebook, as in the social media site, will still be called Facebook. Meta is the new name of the parent company which also owns Instagram, Whatsapp and a number of other companies. Hope that clarifies the situation.

I had geared myself up to join Facebook, tge thing that’s always bothered me about it is privacy. I find however, to find out about local events, what’s going on in your area and local businesses it always gives you a message, read about it on Facebook.
Can you tell me those of you that use it, do you get privacy issues, is it better to join via your I pad or phone, do you have to give e mail address? Many thanks.