Facebook Becomes Meta: What It Means for You and the Future of the Platform

Mark Zuckerberg recently introduced Meta, bringing together the company’s apps and technologies under a new brand. Under the Meta umbrella are Facebook, Messenger, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Oculus VR. During the announcement, Zuckerberg spoke about a new world, a new form of the internet: the Metaverse.

What Is the Metaverse?

The term “Meta” comes from metaverse, a combination of meta (beyond) and universe. It can be roughly translated as “beyond the universe” or “beyond the internet as we know it.”

The metaverse refers to an immersive virtual world, using augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR), where people, represented as avatars, can gather to socialize, play, or even work.

Does the Metaverse Exist Already?

Not yet. Early aspects of the metaverse exist in video games, but they don’t fully capture what the metaverse promises. The technology is expected to develop rapidly over the next five years, compatible with VR headsets, mobile devices, tablets, and gaming consoles.

“You can think of the metaverse as an internet where, instead of just viewing content, you are inside it—a shared digital world, a virtual stage where you can experience things that aren’t real but feel very much like they are,” said Mark Zuckerberg.

What Will This New Era Bring?

The metaverse will open up a new world: we could attend concerts from our living rooms, visit the Louvre from our couch, meet people from across the globe in shared spaces, try on clothes virtually, and much more.

Beyond gaming and social media, it will likely integrate digital economies, identities, and applications. Technologies like cryptocurrencies will support essential aspects such as digital ownership, value transfer, governance, and accessibility. Many other companies, including Microsoft, have already announced plans for the metaverse.

While it may seem unfamiliar or even overwhelming, the metaverse represents the future of technology and a rapidly evolving new world.

At Three Sixty Marketing, we closely monitor these developments, stay updated daily, and adapt to the changes coming to the platforms we know today. Our goal is to provide the expertise you need to ensure your business thrives in this exciting new technological landscape.