Facebook reportedly believes now is a great time to change its name

Mark Zuckerberg
(Image credit: Glenn Chapman/AFP/Getty Images)

Facebook is planning to change its name next week as part of a rebranding meant to emphasize that it is no longer just a $1 trillion social media giant, The Verge reported late Tuesday, citing "a source with direct knowledge of the matter." The new name is a closely guarded secret, though it might include some iteration of "Horizon."

A name change could certainly help Facebook move past all the recent scrutiny of its algorithm and social media business, exposed by former employee Frances Haugen in The Wall Street Journal, a 60 Minutes interview, and in high-profile congressional testimony. But CEO Mark Zuckerberg is apparently tying the rebrand to his aspirations for Facebook to become "a metaverse company."

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE
https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up
To continue reading this article...
Continue reading this article and get limited website access each month.
Get unlimited website access, exclusive newsletters plus much more.
Cancel or pause at any time.
Already a subscriber to The Week?
Not sure which email you used for your subscription? Contact us
Peter Weber, The Week US

Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.