Facebook rebrands as 'Meta' to emphasise metaverse vision
Oakland (US), Oct 28: Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg said his company is rebranding itself as Meta in an effort to encompass its virtual-reality vision for the future, what Zuckerberg calls the metaverse.
Sceptics point out that it also appears to be an attempt to change the subject from the Facebook Papers, a leaked document trove that has revealed the ways Facebook ignored internal reports and warnings of the harms its social network created or magnified across the world.
Zuckerberg says he expects the metaverse to reach a billion people within the next decade. The metaverse, he says, will be a place people will be able to interact, work and create products and content in what he hopes will be a new ecosystem that creates millions of jobs for creators.
The announcement comes amid an existential crisis for Facebook. It faces legislative and regulatory scrutiny in many parts of the world following revelations in the Facebook Papers.
In explaining the rebrand, Zuckerberg said the name Facebook just doesn't encompass everything we do any more. In addition to its primary social network, that now includes Instagram, Messenger, its Quest VR headset, its Horizon VR platform and more.
Today we are seen as a social media company, Zuckerberg said. But in our DNA we are a company that builds technology to connect people.
Metaverse, he said, is the new way. Zuckerberg, who is a fan of classics, explained that the word meta comes from the Greek word beyond.
Announcing @Meta — the Facebook company’s new name. Meta is helping to build the metaverse, a place where we’ll play and connect in 3D. Welcome to the next chapter of social connection. pic.twitter.com/ywSJPLsCoD
— Facebook (@Facebook) October 28, 2021
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Rickshaw driver assaulted with deadly weapon in Mangaluru
Mangaluru: A rickshaw driver fell victim to a violent assault on Panambur Beach Road, yesterday. Identified as Arafat (30), a resident of Bunder was attacked while he parked near Panambur beach awaiting passengers.
Reports indicate that Arafat, a rickshaw driver from Mangalore city, had arrived at the beach area. However, tensions escalated when he encountered resistance from four rickshaw drivers already stationed there, allegedly upset over Mangaluru city drivers encroaching on their territory. The confrontation turned violent, with Arafat sustaining injuries to his hand.
Following the incident, Panambur police registered a case and initiated further investigation.
The incident has sparked outrage among rickshaw drivers in Mangaluru, who staged a protest outside Wenlock Hospital. They termed the attack as yet another instance of hooliganism at the Panambur rickshaw park, calling for the immediate arrest of the perpetrators. Rickshaw drivers demanded an end to such acts of violence, and demanded for urban permit rickshaws to have the freedom to operate within the city limits without fear of reprisal.
Arafat stated that while parked near the beach, he was attacked by a fellow rickshaw driver. Amidst the confrontation, another individual appeared, striking him on the head with a spanner before wielding a sharp weapon.
